Commercial Driver Insurance – Just One Slice Of The Pie For Pizza Delivery Drivers
Starting a new job is always stressful, but if you (or your teenager) have gotten a job as a pizza delivery driver your stress levels may soon be off the charts. Delivery driving can be more dangerous than you might imagine and if you are in an accident, you will want to make sure your insurance is in order.
Delivery Driving Can be Dangerous
While slinging pizzas seems simple enough, it can be a dangerous job. Accidents, bad weather, and even unhappy customers can turn a routine delivery in to a life-changing event. The more time you spend on the road the greater your odds of an accident and if you or your employer is not carrying the right coverage, the consequences can be dire.
While nobody keeps accident statistics on pizza delivery drivers they do fall into a category that is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which ranks dangerous jobs, found that the driver/sales worker and truck driver category, including all types of delivery drivers was the 8th most dangerous job in America.
Despite the danger of zooming around town delivery drivers earn on average a measly $7.32 per hour.
Delivery Driver Insurance
Delivery driving can quickly put you in the poorhouse if you are in a serious accident and don’t have the proper coverage. It pays to fully understand the restrictions on personal policies and what type of insurance you need to make sure you are fully protected.
If your job requires you to drive a company owned vehicle, the pizzeria accepts all of the liability which lets you off the hook.
One the other hand, if you are driving your own car you will need to do a little research before you get behind the wheel. The majority of personal policies have exclusions when it comes to using a personal vehicle for deliveries. This means that if you are in an accident while slinging pies you will be on the hook for repair costs and possible lawsuits if your liability coverage is not enough.
Insurers give a number of reasons for not covering delivery drivers under personal policies:
- The vehicle is often driven in bad weather.
- The car is driven into a variety of different areas and at all hours of the day and night.
- Delivery drivers are frequently distracted looking for an address.
Hiding your delivery job from your insurer can have serious repercussions. Not only will any accident claim be denied if the accident happened at work, but more than likely your coverage will be dropped.
Many insurers will offer coverage if the job is only part time and your policy is changed to business use. While switching to business use will result in a premium increase, it shouldn’t be too hefty.
It’s Important to Protect Yourself
In the end, making sure you are properly covered falls to you. Even if the pizzeria claims to have coverage, they may end up dropping it or not paying the premium if times get tough. If that happens you could end up being sued by the victim if the pizzeria is uninsured or underinsured.
Experts recommend the following if you or your teenager is considering a delivery job using a personal vehicle:
- Check your personal policy for exclusions.
- Check your employment agreement in regards to insurance and who will be liable.
- If there is any chance you could be liable, purchase a commercial driver policy.
While most people don’t give insurance issues much thought when applying for a delivery job…they should. If you have the wrong type of coverage, your next delivery could end up costing a fortune.
