If you own or manage a fleet of commercial vehicles – especially in Alberta – being proactive about protecting them from hail damage is a very good idea. In addition to carrying the right kind of commercial auto insurance for Calgary businesses, there are several other steps you can take to protect your assets and reduce the likelihood of needing to file a claim, which is an essential strategy for keeping your premiums as low as possible.
Commercial Auto Insurance Calgary: Why Hail Is a Real Threat
Calgary’s weather is notoriously volatile, and southern Alberta tends to experience strong storms several times a year, many of which can bring hail along with them. Hail is produced by fierce wind updrafts in the upper levels of the atmosphere, and it occurs when rising warm air collides with falling cool air. The end result is precipitation that reaches ground in ice form, and it can occur during any season.
Chances are you already know that Calgary vehicles are more prone to weather damage than cars and trucks in many other regions of the country. In fact, most Alberta-based insurance companies require vehicle owners to carry extra protection to cover windshield cracks and breakages. While you can get what is known as a “13D endorsement” to cover windshield damage, this type of coverage only provided limited protection. You should always discuss your particular needs in detail with your insurance provider to make sure you have the right amount of coverage.
Commercial Auto Insurance Calgary: Protect Your Fleet from Hail Damage
Hail can strike suddenly, with little warning, and ice pellets come down in large sizes capable of inflicting significant damage. To help prevent hail damage, insurers recommend that commercial vehicle owners take the following proactive steps:
- Park vehicles in a garage. If your fleet is too large to fit in a garage, consider installing overhead protection to shield your cars and trucks from the elements when they’re not in use. This investment can pay big dividends, particularly if you’ve got an extensive fleet; repair costs and rising premiums can be very expensive if multiple vehicles are affected by a weather event.
- Instruct drivers on proper steps to take if they get caught in a hailstorm. For example, make sure your drivers know that they should seek temporary overhead shelter if hail strikes while they’re on the road. In a pinch, drivers can also remove floor mats from vehicles and use them to cover windshields to prevent chips and cracks in a hailstorm.
- Provide drivers with blankets or specially designed hail covers to use if bad weather blows into town.
- Review your commercial auto insurance policy annually to make sure it offers all the different types of protection you will need. Remember that the term “comprehensive” has a very specific meaning in the world of auto insurance. It doesn’t necessarily mean that every possible peril is covered; instead, it refers to a list of specific perils, which must be individually identified when you re-evaluate your policy.
If any of the vehicles in your fleet suffer a chipped windshield, be sure to get it repaired promptly. If the chip isn’t very large, sealing it may be an option, which will help you save the cost of replacing the windshield. However, driving a vehicle with a chipped windshield can cause the chip to grow into a large crack, which cannot be repaired. That’s why it’s important to address the problem right away if it occurs.
Commercial Auto Insurance Calgary: Trust Lane’s for Great Rates and Excellent Service
At Lane’s Insurance, we want you to enjoy the lowest possible premiums on your commercial auto coverage. We provide all our clients with extensive resources for keeping insurance costs as low as possible, and because our brokers work for you and not for the insurance companies, we’re always able to offer you a range of affordable and competitively priced options from competing providers.
Visit Lane’s Insurance online to get a fast, free, no-obligation commercial business insurance quote, or contact a Lane’s customer service representative to discuss your unique coverage needs in more detail.
