How do I check a trucking company’s accident and incident log before buying?
Ask for the full log, not a summary, and trace each event from report to cause to repair to any claim. Compare the log with insurance records and driver files to see whether anything was left out. The pattern of causes and the company’s response matter more than any single event.
Start by asking how incidents are reported. Is there a form, a deadline and a person who reviews each one? Minor events such as scrapes, near misses and cargo damage are as telling as serious ones, because a company that records small things usually catches big things early. If the log looks suspiciously clean, ask how drivers are encouraged or discouraged to report.
Pick several entries and follow them through. What caused the event? Was the driver retrained or the truck repaired? Was there an injury, a claim or a dispute with a customer? Look for the same driver, the same unit, the same lane or the same time of day showing up again and again. That is where a fixable problem usually hides.
Then cross-check. Compare the log with the insurer’s claim history, repair invoices and any customer complaints. A claim with no entry in the log, or the reverse, is worth a direct question. Ask about open matters that could still turn into claims after closing, and who carries them. Ask your lawyer how a purchase agreement should deal with events from before the sale.
Key takeaways
- Ask for the full log, including near misses and minor damage.
- Trace entries to cause, fix and any claim.
- Cross-check the log against insurance and repair records.
- Ask which matters are still open and who carries them.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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