The Hartford is a well-known name in the insurance industry. From its beginnings as a fire insurance company to today’s offerings of multiple coverages for countless situations, the Hartford has stood behind its customers and made a lasting name for itself in the insurance industry. How did the Hartford go from only insuring against fire to today’s powerhouse? Continue reading as we look at the company’s history, the commercial truck insurance options they offer, and the ratings they have received over the years.
History
The Hartford began in 1810 as a fire insurance company. The company was built with a commitment to helping others. Fifteen years after being founded, the company wrote the first insurance policy for Yale University.
In 1835, when a large fire destroyed a large portion of the New York City Financial District, the Hartford stood by their customers. The president and the directors pledged their personal fortunes to pay for claims brought by their clients in an effort to help them come out of the other side of the tragedy still standing.
From protecting a president’s personal home in 1861 (Abraham Lincoln’s Illinois home) to standing by the city of Chicago after the fire of 1871, the Hartford has remained committed to customer service. In 1906, an earthquake destroyed almost 500 city blocks in San Francisco, once again testing the company’s resilience and commitment to its customers. In that instance, the company paid over $11 million in damages to their customers.
Automobiles entered the Hartford picture in 1913 with the Accident and Indemnity Company formation. This branch of the company aims to provide better protection for automobiles and property, whether the loss is by fire, accident, or liability. They continued to provide coverage to great names like Babe Ruth and President Dwight Eisenhower.
The Hartford has helped insure landmarks such as the Hoover Dam, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the St. Lawrence Seaway. They are committed to providing education programs such as the Junior Fire Marshal program they established in 1947. In 1983, they renewed their commitment to small businesses by offering a dedicated small business service center.
In 2010, the Hartford celebrated 200 years in business. The commitment to stand by customers through triumph and tragedy has remained unchanged for those 200 years, and there is no intention to change that going forward.
The Hartford commercial truck insurance coverages
The Hartford offers a large variety of insurance coverages to its commercial truck insurance customers. They go well beyond the primary offerings required by law. Here are some of the coverages they offer.
- General liability – Learn more at the best trucking general liability insurance companies
- Property coverage
- Commercial auto coverage – Learn more at the best commercial auto insurance companies
- Workers’ compensation insurance – Learn more at the best workers comp insurance companies for truckers
- Umbrella and excess liability coverage – Learn more at the best trucking umbrella insurance companies
- Physical damage – Learn more at the best trucking physical damage insurance companies
- Dealer plates coverage
- Newly acquired property
- Business income coverage
- Business income for off-premises utility services coverage
- Accounts receivable
- Property in transit
- Loss-of-use coverage
- Management liability coverage
- Cyber security coverage
- Multinational coverage
- Risk engineering
The minimum coverages required by federal law are general liability coverages with specified limits based on your truck and cargo. Each state and company reserves the right to require other minimum coverages as well. While all of these coverages likely don’t apply to your business, the Hartford has agents across the nation to help you determine which coverages apply to you and help you customize your policy.
Learn more about commercial truck insurance minimum requirements in different states
The Hartford has those minimums covered and then some. Here are the common coverages they list on their commercial auto page.
- Bodily injury liability coverage
- Property damage liability coverage
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage
- Rental car coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Hired and non-owned auto insurance
As you can see, the Hartford offers a variety of services for you to be able to tailor your insurance policies to your business needs.
The Hartford commercial truck insurance praises and ratings
The Hartford is a financially sound company. They have earned high ratings from the three leading credit rating agencies. A.M. Best gives the company an A+, S&P rated it an A+, and Moody’s Investors Service rates the Hartford as A1.
A good NAIC rating (0.36) indicates the Hartford receives overall positive customer reviews. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating is an A+ as well. J.D. Power ranks the Hartford at 4.1/5. One of the areas the company lost points is on the customer service rating by not offering 24/7 customer support.
Final thoughts
The Hartford has been in the insurance business for more than 200 years. It began as a fire insurance company and branched into other forms of coverage. Throughout that time, the company has remained committed to helping customers stand through triumph as well as tragedy.
The Hartford offers an extensive array of coverages for your commercial trucking needs. For assistance choosing a policy that will work well for you, contact one of the many agents for the Hartford to discover if they have a policy that’s right for you.
