To borrow from Spiderman: with heavy haulage comes heavy responsibility. Anyone who has had their claim rejected in the past will tell you that it is accompanied with great disappointment. For this reason, we want to help you make sure your heavy haulage clients understand the terms, conditions and exclusions on their insurance policies. Here is a list of things to look out for to ensure your clients are not in breach of the conditions of their policies:
1. Always notify the insurer of the status of the driver’s licence: Your client has to let us know (in writing) if their driver’s licence or that of their authorised driver is endorsed, suspended or cancelled, or if they are charged or convicted of negligent, reckless or improper driving.
2. Drive roadworthy vehicles: It is a legal requirement that all cars on South African roads – including trucks – must be in a roadworthy condition. All trucks must undergo a roadworthy test annually. Owners will not be able to renew their licenses without the presentation of a valid roadworthy certificate. The insurance policy stipulates that truck/fleet operators must ensure their trucks comply with the Road Traffic Act in terms of roadworthy conditions.
3. Make sure all driver’s licences are valid: According to the National Road Traffic Act (Act 93 of 1996), any person who drives a vehicle on a public road must be in possession of a valid driving licence. In the event of a collision, an insurer will not honour any claims where individuals driving a vehicle are not in possession of the relevant valid driver’s license, as required by the terms and conditions of their policy.
4. Ensure that all drivers have the appropriate licences: A driver who is not licenced to drive a heavy haulage vehicle or who drives without a Professional Driving Permit (PDP) are two more instances in which a claim might be rejected. A PDP is issued in addition to an ordinary driving license and is a requirement for people driving on a public road transporting goods, dangerous goods or passengers for an income. Remind clients that all drivers must have the correct permits according to the type of vehicle being operated, and suggest that they create a system to ensure that licences are renewed timeously before they expire.
Peace of mind: the Santam Heavy Haulage excess reducer
At Santam, we understand the financial implication of a 10% or 15% excess on a vehicle valued at R1 million or more. Encourage clients to consider our excess reducer solutions (own damage, theft and hijack or third party). These options are available to reduce the excess payable in the event of a claim to a flat amount, without any percentage applied.
We usually receive questions and/or requests for excess reducer at claims stage which unfortunately is too late to add onto the policy. Kindly discuss all the terms and conditions of the policy with a policyholder to ensure they have a smooth claims experience in the event of a claim.
Get in touch with your relationship manager if you have any queries about Santam products. For more information, view our heavy commercial vehicle insurance offering here. For a new quote request email us quotes.transport@santam.co.za.