A commercial vehicle is not a means of transport but a means of production. When the van stands still, runs are cancelled, delivery dates collapse and, at worst, contractual penalties from the framework agreement kick in – and the damage to the bodywork is often the smaller part of it. We appraise vans, trucks, trailers and semi-trailers after an accident and quantify chassis, body and downtime separately, so that you can substantiate to the at-fault party's liability insurer not only the repair but also what standing still is costing you.
✓Your right to choose your own expert – guaranteed by law
✓A personal contact, no waiting on hold
✓On site across Europe
✓Report usually within 24 hours of the inspection
What the appraisal report covers
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Chassis and cab: ladder frame and frame rails, cab mounts and tilt mechanism, axles, steering, air suspension and the compressed-air and braking system including EBS. On a ladder frame the load path runs differently than on a unitary body, so the frame is measured as soon as the impact has reached it.
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The body as an item in its own right: box body, tarpaulin and bows, tail lift, refrigeration unit, false floors, roller tracks and the racking system in a tradesman's vehicle are each recorded and calculated individually. A bent tail lift takes the vehicle out of service even when the cab is untouched – and without its own item in the appraisal report, that damage simply does not appear in the settlement.
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Trailers, semi-trailers and coupling equipment: semi-trailer frame, fifth wheel plate and kingpin with wear measurement, drawbar, drawbar eye, turntable and landing legs. After an impact to a coupled combination, both units are inspected, because distortion in the trailer often only shows once it is coupled up.
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Cargo and load securing: damage to the cargo itself, and the question of whether the securing contributed to how the loss unfolded. We record lashing points, blocking bars, lashing equipment and the load distribution as a separate inspection point, because the answer bears directly on liability and insurance cover.
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Downtime and lost profit: lost profit is a head of damage in its own right and is not estimated but evidenced. We record the repair duration, parts availability and the cost of hiring a replacement, and quantify the downtime using figures from your own operation – run schedules, freight orders, utilization.
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VAT and input tax deduction: for owners entitled to deduct input tax, settlement is on a net basis. The appraisal report states the amounts cleanly separated, so that the insurer does not make cuts on the wrong basis and your accounting can take the items over directly.
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Inspection intervals: the German roadworthiness inspection and safety inspection, the recurring workplace-safety inspection of the tail lift and crane, and the refrigeration system check. A vehicle that stands for weeks after a loss runs past its due dates – the report states which of them fall within the downtime.
How it works
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Appointment: you report the damage and we come to the vehicle – to the depot, the haulier, the commercial vehicle workshop or the recovery yard.
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Inspection: recording of chassis and body, functional testing of the tail lift and refrigeration unit, review of the cargo and load securing, photo documentation and reading out the fault memories.
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Calculation: repair route separated by commercial vehicle workshop and body manufacturer, net or gross depending on input tax status, plus the downtime, replacement hire and the basis for the lost profit.
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Delivery: you receive the appraisal report digitally, as a rule on the same business day once it is complete. On request, a copy goes directly to the insurer, your attorney and your fleet management.
On the cost:
After a not-at-fault accident, the cost of the appraisal report is
generally borne by the liability insurer of the other party. On request
we bill that insurer directly, so that you do not have to pay up front.
Frequently asked questions
How is lost profit evidenced?
With figures from the business, not with a flat rate. The basis is run schedules, freight orders, utilization and the management accounts. We document the downtime and the cost of hiring a replacement; the commercial derivation is agreed with your accounting department or your tax adviser.
The cab is fine, only the tail lift is hanging crooked. Is a repair estimate enough?
Usually not. Tail lifts are inspected work equipment, distortion in the lifting arms or hydraulics takes the vehicle out of service, and the repair runs through the body manufacturer. The downtime here regularly weighs more heavily than the repair itself and therefore belongs in the appraisal report.
Who bears damage to the cargo?
That depends on how the accident unfolded and on whether the load securing was proper. We document the loading condition, the lashing equipment used and the load distribution as a separate finding. That finding is the basis for the later clarification between the transport, liability and goods insurers.
Is a company vehicle calculated net or gross?
Net for owners entitled to deduct input tax, because the VAT flows back through the input tax deduction. The appraisal report states both figures separately. Owners not entitled to deduct input tax, such as small businesses or associations, settle on a gross basis – we note that classification expressly in the report.
More on this in our guide:
Loss-of-use compensation or a rental vehicle
