Trailer, curtains and gates
Damage to the trailer, curtains, roof, gates and load-restraint hardware, including wind damage on open road.
Tautliner and Curtainsider Insurance
0418 166 122Compare tautliner and curtainsider 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.
Tautliner and Curtainsider Insurance
Cover for curtain-sided trailers and rigid bodies carrying palletised freight.
Curtains are weather protection, not load restraint, and that single point sits behind a lot of tautliner claims. Loads shift and push through curtains, wind tears them on open highway, and thieves slash them at truck stops precisely because they are fabric. The freight inside is usually someone else's, which is a separate section again from the trailer itself.
What is it?
A tautliner or curtainsider is a trailer or rigid body with a fixed roof and sliding fabric curtains along each side, allowing forklift loading from either side. Vawdrey, Freighter, MaxiTRANS and Krueger are among the Australian builders. Configurations include single semi-trailers, B-double sets, drop-deck curtainsiders and rigid curtain-sided bodies, mostly carrying palletised general freight. Many are fitted with load-rated gates, internal restraint rails and rear barn doors.
What does tautliner and curtainsider insurance cover?
Freight carried
The goods on board are generally addressed by carriers liability or goods-in-transit cover rather than the trailer policy.
Theft through the curtains
Loss of freight through slashed or forced curtains, subject to the security conditions set out in the wording.
What affects the cost?
- Number of trailers and combination type
- Commodity carried and its value
- Interstate versus metropolitan work
- Where trailers are parked and loaded overnight
- Load restraint equipment and driver training
Worth raising on the call
- Curtains do not restrain a load, and a claim can turn on whether internal restraint was actually used.
- Slash-and-grab theft at truck stops is why overnight parking arrangements get asked about.
- Wind damage to curtains and roofs on open highway is common and worth confirming is included.
Claims we are commonly asked about
Load pushes out through a curtain
Pallets shift under heavy braking and burst through the curtain on a freeway, spilling freight across a lane. The trailer, the freight and the third-party clean-up all come into it, and the restraint actually used inside the trailer becomes central to the outcome.
Curtain slashed at a highway roadhouse
A trailer parked overnight at a roadhouse has a curtain cut and pallets of stock removed. How far the claim goes generally depends on the freight cover in place and what the wording says about unattended vehicles and secured parking.
Crosswind tears a curtain on open road
A gust catches a partly unbuckled curtain on an exposed stretch and tears it along the roof track. The repair itself is quick, but the trailer is out of service until a replacement curtain is fitted, which is where downtime is felt.
Worth confirming in the wording
- Worth confirming whether the freight you carry is insured under a separate carriers goods or marine transit section, since the trailer cover generally responds to the trailer rather than the load.
- Worth confirming what applies to theft from an unattended trailer overnight, including any requirement about secured parking, seals, alarms or where the unit may be left.
- Worth confirming how damage caused by an inadequately restrained load is treated, given curtains are weather protection rather than load restraint under the load restraint guidance.
Common questions
Does trailer insurance cover the freight inside?
Generally not. The trailer section typically responds to the trailer, curtains and gates, while the goods belong to your customer and usually need carriers liability, goods in transit or marine transit cover. Which one suits depends on the contracts you carry under.
Am I covered if a curtain gets slashed at a truck stop?
Curtain damage itself is commonly covered as malicious damage, subject to the policy terms, but the stolen freight is a separate question and usually falls to the goods cover. Overnight parking conditions are where wordings differ most, so it is worth reading them before you plan a run. Insurers often ask about secured yards for exactly this reason.
Do I need goods in transit or carriers liability?
It depends on what your customer contracts require and how you want to handle a loss. Carriers liability generally responds to your legal liability for the freight under your conditions of carriage, while goods in transit can cover the goods more directly. Freight forwarders and major shippers often specify which one they expect to see.
Are B-double sets insured as one unit or separately?
Trailers are commonly listed individually, each with its own value, even when they only ever run as a set. That matters because a single trailer can be damaged, stolen or written off on its own. Make sure dollies and converters are on the schedule too.
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 tautliner and curtainsider insurance.
How Do You Get Started?
We make tautliner and curtainsider 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 tautliner and curtainsider 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 tautliner and curtainsider 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.