Truckers Coverage and Leased Vehicles

Our insured has coverage for specifically described vehicles and hired autos under his truckers coverage form. He entered into a permanent lease with an independent owner-operator. The vehicle belonging to this independent was not added to our insured's policy. If the independent owner-operator was involved in an accident while in the course of our insured's business, would the truckers coverage be triggered by the hired auto symbol?

North Carolina Subscriber

Yes, the hired auto symbol under the truckers coverage form describes those autos leased, hired, rented, or borrowed by the named insured, and makes such vehicles covered autos. And the insured has liability coverage for bodily injury or property damage caused by an accident resulting from the use of a covered auto. This liability coverage is primary even though the accident involved a nonowned auto. The truckers coverage form states that the liability coverage is primary for any covered auto while hired or borrowed by the named insured, and used exclusively in the named insured's business as a trucker, and pursuant to operating rights granted to the named insured by a public authority.