Truck towing and storage coverage: the bills after a wreck

Truck towing and storage coverage is something most drivers never think about until a truck is on its side and a heavy wrecker is on the way. After a wreck, the repair is only one of the bills. The tow, the storage yard and the cleanup each send their own. Here is what those bills are, where a policy may deal with them, and what you can do to keep them from growing.

The three bills after a wreck

The tow and recovery. Moving a damaged tractor-trailer is not like towing a car. It can take a heavy wrecker, more than one truck and special equipment to upright a unit, pull it out of a ditch or move a loaded trailer. Recovery work is usually billed by the equipment used and the time on scene.

The storage. After the tow, the truck and trailer are taken to a yard. Storage is normally charged by the day, for each unit. The charges keep adding up every day the equipment sits there, even while everyone is still deciding what to do with it.

The cleanup. If the load ends up on the road, or the truck spills fuel or oil, someone has to clean it. That can mean picking up freight, removing debris and treating a spill. The bill may come from the tow company, a cleanup contractor or a public agency.

On a non-consent tow, which is when the police call the wrecker and not you, you usually do not choose the company.

Truck towing and storage coverage: where a policy may address it

There is no single line called "everything after a wreck." These costs can touch different parts of a policy, and every policy is written differently. This is a map of where to look, not a promise of what yours pays.

• Physical damage. This is the coverage for your own truck and trailer. Many physical damage forms address towing and storage of the covered unit after a covered loss, often up to a set limit or for a reasonable amount. Some limit the number of days of storage.
• Motor truck cargo. This covers the freight. Some cargo forms include debris removal, which is the cost of picking up and removing damaged cargo, usually with its own limit.
• Liability and pollution. Spilled fuel or cargo that harms other people's property, or the road, may be looked at under liability coverage or a pollution-related coverage if you have one. This area has many conditions.
• Roadside or towing add-ons. Some policies offer an optional towing coverage for breakdowns. A breakdown tow and a crash recovery are usually treated differently.

If you only carry liability and no physical damage, the cost to tow and store your own truck may fall on you. Our physical damage coverage basics article explains that coverage.

What to check on your policy today

Sit down with your policy or your agent and ask:

1. Does my physical damage coverage include towing and storage after a covered loss?
2. Is there a dollar limit or a limit on days?
3. Does my cargo coverage include debris removal, and up to what amount?
4. What would respond if fuel or cargo spilled on the road?
5. Do I have any towing coverage for a breakdown that is not a crash?

Write the answers down. You will not have time to look them up on the side of the highway.

What to do right after a wreck

The fastest way to keep storage bills small is to move quickly. Once everyone is safe:

• Report the claim early. Call your agent or your insurer the same day if you can. The sooner an adjuster is assigned, the sooner the truck can be looked at and moved.
• Find out where the truck and trailer are. Get the name, address and phone of the tow company and the storage yard.
• Ask for an itemized bill. Ask what the daily storage charge is and when it started.
• Do not let the units sit. Work with your adjuster to move the truck to a repair shop or another agreed place as soon as it can be released. Every day in the yard adds to the bill.
• Get your things and your papers. Ask the yard how to pick up personal items, your permits and your ELD records.
• Keep every receipt and take photos.
• Tell the broker or shipper about the load right away.

Do not sign documents you do not understand at the yard. If something about a bill looks wrong, tell your adjuster. Our truck insurance claim tips article walks through the claim steps.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting days to report the claim.
• Leaving the truck in storage while you decide. Decide with your adjuster, quickly.
• Assuming all three bills are handled the same way. They may fall under different coverages, with different limits.
• Forgetting the trailer and the cargo. Each can add storage and cleanup costs.
• Never asking about limits until the bill arrives.

When to call us

Want to know how your policy treats towing, storage and cleanup? Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727. We will go over your coverages and their limits with you before you need them. We cannot promise what any policy will pay, but we can help you know where you stand.

Common questions

Does truck insurance pay for towing after a crash? It depends on the policy. Many physical damage coverages address towing of the covered truck after a covered loss, often with a limit. Liability-only policies usually do not cover your own truck.

Who pays for storage at the tow yard? It depends on your coverage and its limits. Storage is charged by the day, so reporting the claim early and moving the truck quickly matters either way.

Is cargo cleanup covered? Some cargo policies include debris removal with its own limit. Ask your agent if yours does.