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Dave, when I had my trailer I know that my insurance didn't cover
any damage to the animals, only to the truck and trailer, most
auto insurance companies won't insure them. A good person to talk
to might be Joe Lombard out in Medway. He talked at one of our QH
meetings last winter. Insurance companies that do insure the horses
being trucked would like to have the waiver, although it can't prevent
anyone from sueing or being sued.
Good luck.
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| The reason that commercial horse transport costs are high are because
their expenses are high. Depreciation on equipment is one factor, but I
believe the regulatory requirements (federal and state) and liability
insurance are what will stop you in your tracks. Many people who offer
horse transport are, strictly speaking, breaking the law, because
they haven't "bothered" with complying with their state's Public
Utility Commission or the Interstate Commerce Commission if they
are going across state lines. A common carrier has a fair number
of legal obligations to meet. Then one has to consider liability
insurance.
Normal auto, truck and trailer insurance specifically excludes covering
liability for situations where transportation is "for a fee". Now,
quite a number of people provide horse transport to others without
considering any of this. I believe that as an adjunct to a boarding
or stable business the transport of horses associated with that
stable (i.e. boarders) can be covered under the stable's general
liabilty insurance, which is high enough already, and the common
carrier regulatory requirements don't apply.
However, if none of this applies, and an accident occurs, the legal
exposure can be quite large. I suggest that you thoroughly research
these issues first, before anything happens.
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| I looked into insurance last year: $1,000/year! That prevents
me from trailering other people's horses for a fee (although I would
probably ask them for gas money payable AFTER the horse is delivered.)
You know about interstate health certificates? As a carrier, you
would have to have one for each horse you take across state lines.
I think there is a table of information about what each state requires
in this notesfile.
You might require that any horses you transport be insured by the
owner.
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