Prime mover, trailers and dollies
Damage to the powered unit, each trailer and the converter dollies, which are usually scheduled individually.
Road Train Insurance
0418 166 122Compare road train insurance quotes from multiple Australian insurers. Insurance quotes from a licensed Australian broker with Steadfast network access.
By requesting a quote you accept our financial services guide and privacy policy. General information only.
Road Train Insurance
Cover for double and triple road trains working remote and outback routes.
A road train is the most exposed combination on Australian roads, not because of accident frequency but because of where it stops. A rollover several hundred kilometres from the nearest town brings recovery, salvage, environmental clean-up and lost freight into the same claim, and those costs can dwarf the repair bill on the trailers themselves.
What is it?
A road train is a prime mover pulling two or more trailers linked by converter dollies, running on gazetted road train networks in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia. Common configurations include A-doubles, B-triples, and double and triple road trains, hauling livestock, fuel, general freight, mining consumables and bulk product over long remote distances.
What does road train insurance cover?
Recovery and salvage
The cost of recovering a unit from a remote location, generally a specified benefit carrying its own limit.
Carriers liability
Freight carried for others, addressed by carriers or goods-in-transit cover rather than the motor section.
What affects the cost?
- Configuration and number of trailers
- Routes travelled and distance from major centres
- Commodity carried, including livestock and dangerous goods
- Proportion of the run on unsealed road
- Driver experience and fatigue-management systems
Worth raising on the call
- Remote recovery and clean-up costs often exceed the repair bill, so that limit is worth checking specifically.
- Each trailer and dolly should be separately identified with its own sum insured.
- Livestock and fuel loads bring conditions that general freight does not.
Claims we are commonly asked about
Triple rolls on a soft shoulder
A wheel drops off the sealed edge on an outback highway and the rear trailers roll several hundred kilometres from the nearest town. Recovery gear has to travel to the site, the load has to be transhipped, and the recovery bill frequently exceeds the trailer repair.
Cattle escape after a wildlife strike
A night strike damages a livestock deck and part of the mob gets out onto an unfenced stretch of highway before help arrives. Beyond the trailer damage there is stock loss, mustering cost and a real liability exposure to other road users.
Wheel-end fire destroys a trailer
A bearing runs hot on a long remote leg and the resulting fire takes the trailer and its load before the driver can uncouple. Remote fires often mean total losses because there is no help within reach, and the clean-up on the roadside becomes part of the claim.
Worth confirming in the wording
- Worth confirming what recovery and salvage limit applies and whether environmental clean-up of spilled fuel, product or freight sits inside that limit or is addressed separately.
- Worth confirming that every trailer, converter dolly and spare is individually listed with its own sum insured, and that cover applies while a trailer sits at a remote changeover pad.
- Worth confirming how livestock, dangerous goods and mining consumables are treated, since those commodities commonly attract their own conditions, limits and declarations.
Common questions
Does the policy cover recovering a rolled road train from a remote road?
Recovery and salvage is generally addressed as a specified benefit with its own limit rather than as an unlimited cost. On remote routes that limit is the number worth stress-testing, because mobilising equipment hundreds of kilometres is expensive. It is worth asking what limit applies before the route changes, subject to the policy terms.
Are livestock covered if they die or escape after an accident?
Livestock carried for a client is generally addressed by carriers liability or a specific livestock in transit cover rather than by the motor policy, and those covers commonly carry their own conditions. Mustering and third-party liability from escaped stock may be treated differently again. Livestock work is worth quoting as its own risk.
Are trailers covered while parked at a changeover point?
Often yes, but the conditions matter, particularly at unfenced or unattended changeover pads. Whether cover for theft and damage continues while a trailer is detached and left is a wording question rather than a given. If your operation relies on remote changeovers, raise it specifically at quote.
What does road train insurance cost?
It depends on the combination and the country it crosses. Configuration and trailer count, routes and distance from major centres, the commodity carried including livestock and dangerous goods, the proportion of unsealed running, and driver experience and fatigue systems all feed in. A broker who writes remote heavy transport can approach the right insurers.
General information only. Cover, limits and exclusions depend on the PDS, TMD, eligibility, underwriting and the policy terms. See truck insurance for the wider picture.
10 Years Advising Steadfast Network Access Licensed Australian Brokers Australia-Wide
Quotes That Are Fast And Easy
Get a quote fast. Compare quotes from multiple insurers. Get the best deal for your road train insurance.
How Do You Get Started?
We make road train insurance fast and easy at Insurance Time. Get a quote today.
-
Start a quote.
Fill the quote form above, or call us on 0418 166 122.
-
Quotes gathered.
Our team will approach insurers and gather your options.
-
You're covered.
Choose your option and receive your policy documents.
Why Choose Insurance Time
Protect yourself with cover arranged by a licensed Australian broker who explains it in plain English.
Professional
Our team are experienced in road train insurance and licensed to advise on it.
Experienced
Ten years advising Australian families and businesses, with Steadfast network access.
Renewal management
Our team will manage your renewals and keep you informed and up to date.
24/7 claims
Notify us of a claim 24/7, 365 days a year.
Cover Options
We can arrange different levels of cover for you and your business.
Motor vehicles and fleets
Third party to comprehensive motor and fleet cover.
Public liability
Protection for third party property damage or personal injury.
Business package
Customised cover for your business assets and liabilities.
Personal insurance
Protection for you and your family.
Property
Protection for your personal and business premises and contents.
Workers compensation
Cover questions for your employees and workers.
Get A Quote. It's Complimentary.
It's time to review your road train insurance.
General information only. Any cover depends on the PDS, TMD, eligibility, underwriting, and policy terms. We use your details to respond to this enquiry.