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Inland Marine Policy for Tools?

barrelroll

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
90
Location
Alaska
Occupation
Mill Mechanic
I have a fair amount of personal tools at work and a new tool box on the way. It's to the point I'm thinking insurance for my tools and tool box would be a good idea. I work at a mine off the road system in Alaska, the new box will head out by barge which isn't known for handling things gently. When I quit my box gets crated up and shipped via barge and truck to the next place. The odds of my junk getting stolen at this place aren't very high though things disappear in shipping. I never underestimate my coworker's abilities to screw things up so it could get screwed up just sitting there while I'm on days off.

I called my State Farm office I have all my policies with, they quoted me $825 a year for a $1k deductible on $40k of coverage. It didn't sound horrible till I started reading the fine print for the policy. I attached a picture of the fine print. It sound like it doesn't cover shipping damage. It's questionable if theft is considered a mysterious disappearance which isn't covered and it's questionable if a coworker was to steal something if it was covered.

Any other recommendations for who else to get a quote from? I'm an employee with personal tools at work. I'd like some insurance on my new box before I send it out to work.




Screenshot_20221201-162045_Drive.jpg
 

mowingman

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2010
Messages
1,228
Location
SE Ohio
Occupation
Retired
I have had inland Marine on quite a few various machines over the years. I never could make a deal with St. Farm Insurance for this insurance. I went to a different agent, and they shopped around for the best coverage and best overall deal. I can not remember any of the names of the insurance companies they selected for me though. I would shop around for a better policy.
Jeff
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,292
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
I’m in a similar situation and have never found a good policy. It’s a waste of time. I had one box destroyed by the barge. Since then, I’ve been fairly lucky. Most of the shippers offer insurance. You can crate them on a pallet with fairly good success. Boxes get beat up. It always happens. Especially nice boxes.

I’ve tried everything over the years. I use Milwaukee Action Packers, now. They fly nice and they stack on a pallet securely. Especially, if you shrink wrap them.
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,292
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
935C1B6C-93CF-4F07-B503-369940D21245.jpeg I’ve had good luck with Rubbermaid Action Packers, filled with Klein tool bags and Milwaukee Packout. The Action Packers got stupid expensive and they don’t stack very well. I’ve moved away from using them.
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,292
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
Mines, boats, construction camps, logging camps, fuel terminals, power plants, my stuff has always been secure. No worries.

But, the villages are a different matter. Expect a percentage of your stuff to disappear. It’s a given. Perhaps even, a social & political necessity. Then, I bill the customer for the loss.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,436
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
When operated as a Independent LONG ago had a Inland policy thinking needed for being out in the field so much, at year two let it drop as just not a affordable expense. Went with standard auto insurer on truck with contents they would only go $4k on so kept inventory down as much as practical.

Homeowners will pay for Stolen losses based on photos and inventory numbers, up to $50k but HAVE to update inventory annually. Added considerable to policy where have also let that drop back to $25k. May let it drop altogether being at home more, and once RSH arrives may start selling some stuff off to no longer need..
 

Old Doug

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2013
Messages
4,486
Location
Mo
There should be a way to insure tools i worked at a shop that got broken into often . I never found any insurance that was afordable . Luckly the place never got broke into while i was there. A buddy had his tools stolen 2 times while at a IH dealer he said it was the best thing that ever happen. He had alot of cheaper stuff. When the insurance guy got ready to pay out they gave him a snapon catalog and told him to mark the pages and stuff he had.
 

donkey doctor

Senior Member
Joined
May 18, 2010
Messages
425
Location
Ladysmith bc canada
Occupation
retired
Where I worked the company paid 100% for broken tools and 50% on lost tools. No policy re stolen stuff but I don't remember stuff getting stolen. Maybe the guys just claimed them lost but I think it would be tough to do that with a straight face for a whole toolbox d.d.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
I've seen a couple of times in forty years of field mechanics getting tools stolen out of trucks. Company insurance paid both times but everyone had to have a tool list on file from then on. Never worked in any shop where tools would disappear.
 

barrelroll

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2016
Messages
90
Location
Alaska
Occupation
Mill Mechanic
Mines, boats, construction camps, logging camps, fuel terminals, power plants, my stuff has always been secure. No worries.

But, the villages are a different matter. Expect a percentage of your stuff to disappear. It’s a given. Perhaps even, a social & political necessity. Then, I bill the customer for the loss.

I'm not too worried about stuff disappearing at work. I did have a miner announce on the radio one day we left our tool bags underground when we were running out for parts, luckily we weren't gone long, miners like shiny things even if they don't know what they are for. Using tool bags as targets when they are washing the floor is another story. I went to go give a shifter crap because one of his operators covered my tool bag in gold slurry, turns out it was the shifter running the hose. My stuff lives at work full time. AML has been rough on tool boxes lately so I'm slightly concerned. I'm at that dollar amount and adding $5-7k a year of junk to my box it would be nice to have some coverage.

I lived in the bush for a year north of Bethel about 10 years ago, that's an interesting world and a year was plenty. I wouldn't mind working in the villages but would never willingly move to one again.
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,292
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
I just reviewed the Lynden Freight Prep & Handling Guidelines for Western Alaska and they say “goodwill and faith” we won’t destroy your stuff, but it will probably get messed up anyways disclaimer.

I’ve never been to Crooked Creek or the Donlin Project. Donlin was a good customer when I was with DW. I hear Nova is decent to work for. Since the Wuflu, I haven’t been back to Bethel. I spent way too much of my life there.

It’s 3rd world place with the Albanian taxi mafia running the show on one side, Koreans trying to mind their own business and the Yup’ik wondering what happened.
 
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