The Washington herald., 1920-12-01
TRUCK CARGO
RISK DEMAND
Protection for Truckmen
and Shippers in New
Policies Issued.
BY II. C. MEYER,

Manager Aetna A0iiated Companies
The nationwide adoption Of the
motor truck as an auxiliary means
OF transportation. by nearly every
branch Of industry, has resulted In
rapidly-growing demand for In
| surance protection covering motor
T! truck shipments of all kinds.
The demand for protection from
| the losses to which motor truck
| shipments are subject has come not
only from the shipper who ships
In his own trucks who has pre-
| viously had no opportunity what
ever for recovery in case Of loss.
but also from shippers who ship
by public truckmen, the liability OF
whom is limited to loss or damage
due primarily to negligence. \.
The difficulty of effecting recov-
cry from public carriers. even
where clear cases of legal liabil-
ity is established. is generally
known and, at best, large sums OF
money may be tied up for months.
and even for years, before the
shipper can obtain a satisfactory
settlement.
Losses 0stitned.
Analyses show that such losses
|
the carriers are not legally liable;
fire resulting prior to delivery to
common carrier and subsequent to
4S-hour Limitation at destination:
claim denied on technicality; a
forced compromised settlement; In
solvency Of carriers, and costly lit
fgation.
In order to provide shippers with
this very necessary form Of pro-
| lection. some companies are now
prepared to extend to motor truck
shippers the same comprehensive
service and prompt payment Of
claims in case of loss that 10 being
rendered shippers in connection
with other forms Of transportation
insurance.
Motor truck contents. insurance
provides shippers with the COM
plete protection made necessary by
the many and diversified perils to
which motor truck shipments are
exposed.
The shipper carrying a motor
truck merchandise policy is pro-
! tected against loss or damage TO
motor truck shipments of mercher
disc or goods from fire, self-kgni-
tion. lightning. collision. overturn.
collapse Of bridges. riot. strike.
flood (rising navigable waters), cy-
clone, tornado and marine perils
while on ferries.
Several Forms written.
In order to meet the particular
requirements of every class of
shipper. motor truck merchandise
policies are written in the follow
+, ing forms:
! 1. Covering shippers goods on
own trucks~This form of policy
Is intended for the use Of shippers
who make shipments on their own
trucks. II covers merchandise and
goods owned by the assured in
course of delivery anywhere within
the limits of the United States and
Canada.
:. Covering shippers goods in
the custody Of truckmen- This
form is intended for the use of
shippers who make shipments by
licensed public truckmen or public
auto trucks. It covers merchan-
disc and goods owned by the as
sured In the course of delivery
within the limits of the United
States while the custody of IL
eensed public truckmen.
3. Covering truckmen's liability
for goods in their custody. This
form is intended for the use Of H.
censed public truckmen. 1t COW
ers merchandise and goods Of 9TH
ers while in their care or custody
for transportation.
The blanket form Of insurance is
the most convenient method of
protecting shippers against loss
on merchandise, or goods in transit
when shipments are made continu-
ousiy. from day to day, or at fire.
quent intervals. 1t is an open or
blanket form Of policy insurine the
Interest Of the shipper on all ship
lments during a specified length OF
time.
The convenience of this form OF
policy is readily apparent as 1t re-
lieves the shipper of the necessity
OF taking out a separate policy
covering each individual shipment
II has the great advantage from
the standpoint Of the shipper that
all shipments during the period the
policy is in force are automatically
covered against loss. thereby pre-
venting the possibility Of neglect
Ing, to insure any individual ship
ment.