Auto versus Mobile Equipment in the CGL

The Concept—Paragraph a.

This paragraph, which begins by listing specific types of equipment (bulldozers, farm machinery, and forklifts), is significant in that it shapes the CGL's initial approach to "mobile equipment." By including "other vehicles designed for use principally off public roads," the definition begins with a very expansive description. The paragraphs that follow either add to or refine this concept.

Whether a vehicle is actually used on public roads is not the gauge here—the determining factor is the vehicle's design. To be "mobile equipment," the vehicle must be intended to be used mostly off public streets and roads.

Autos That Are Mobile Equipment—Paragraph b.

Vehicles that are designed for use on public roads, such as pickup trucks, vans, dump trucks, etc., are "mobile equipment" if the vehicles are "maintained for use solely on the premises you own or rent." How paragraph b. applies may be illustrated with an example of a trucking company that owns an old truck tractor they keep and use only for moving trailers around on the trucking company's premises.

The term "maintained," as used here, has been the subject of some dispute. The Virginia Supreme Court ruled the following.

For example, "mobile equipment" as used in the Policy, may refer to "vehicles maintained for use solely on or next to the premises you own or rent" … the term "maintained" …means kept, e.g., vehicles maintained for a specific purpose or use."

— James River Ins. Co. v. Doswell Truck Stop, LLC, 297 Va. 304, 827 S.E.2d 374 (2019).

Notice that the court did not determine that the "maintained for use solely on the premises …" means the auto can never leave the premises. Instead, the court noted that this phrase meant that the auto is kept for a specific purpose—and that purpose is for use on the premises.

Thus, "maintained for use" would include the truck tractor in the previous example even if the tractor is being operated on a public roadway—such as driving the tractor across the street to have it serviced, repaired, or to obtain motor fuel.

However, "maintained for use solely on the premises you own or rent" would not include an "auto" taken off the road due to the seasonal nature of a business, as the vehicle is not kept solely for use on the insured's premises. In the case of seasonal use, the vehicle is being kept for use away from the premises. Liability coverage for a seasonal vehicle that is "off the road" needs to be included on the business auto coverage form policy by including the appropriate coverage symbol.

In short, "maintained for use" is not identical to "use." Still, at the risk of being repetitive, if the truck tractor is subject to the compulsory insurance law or financial responsibility law, then the truck tractor would be considered an "auto."

The Excavator—Paragraph c.

Vehicles that move on crawler treads are considered "mobile equipment." Crawler treads are also known as continuous track and is a system of propulsion running on a continuous band of treads or track plates driven by two or more wheels. The purpose is to keep from sinking into mud, snow, etc. ² In addition to an excavator, a snowcat (snow caterpillar) also travels on crawler treads, often used in and around ski areas as trail groomers. These vehicles fall into the CGL policy's definition of "mobile equipment."

Heavy Equipment—Paragraph d.

Any vehicles with permanently attached cranes, shovels, loaders, diggers, or drills are considered "mobile equipment," provided the vehicle affords mobility to the attached equipment. Further, vehicles that provide mobility to road constructing or resurfacing equipment are also "mobile equipment." Road graders, road scrapers, and steam rollers are specifically listed as types of road construction or resurfacing equipment included in this category. Paragraph d. applies whether or not the equipment is able to move under its own power.

None of the Above—Paragraph e.

Vehicles that afford mobility to specifically listed permanently attached equipment and that cannot move under their own power are also considered "mobile equipment." The listed equipment are the following.

• Air compressors
• Pumps
• Generators
• Spraying equipment
• Welding equipment
• Building cleaning equipment (power washers)
• Geophysical exploration equipment (geophysics deals with the physical properties of the Earth)
• Lighting equipment
• Well servicing equipment
• Cherry pickers or similar devices used to raise or lower workers

If none of the above falls within the first four paragraphs (paragraphs a, b, c, or d), paragraph e. acts as a catchall by enumerating specific items of permanently attached equipment, which, if the vehicle affording movement of the equipment is not self-propelled, is "mobile equipment."

Not for Transportation of Persons or Cargo—Paragraph f.

Paragraph f. of the definition of "mobile equipment" deserves considerable attention. This section begins with a catchall. If a vehicle is not already described in the first five paragraphs (paragraphs a, b, c, d, or e) and the vehicle's most important use is for purposes other than the transportation of persons or cargo, it is considered "mobile equipment."

Courts have read this part of the definition quite broadly and have included fire trucks as well as food trucks as "mobile equipment" as vehicles "maintained primarily for purposes other than the transportation of persons or cargo."

Because they [fire trucks] have the power of self-propulsion and are designed to travel on public roads, they might appear to meet the definition of "auto." But they obviously fall within … vehicles maintained primarily for purposes other than the transportation of persons or cargo. The truck's primary purpose, design, and use become clear only when that truck arrives at the scene of a fire. The essence of the massive machinery is the ladder, which can elevate the firefighters to heights where high-rise blazes may be fought and lives saved. The truck has no real function apart from serving as a mobile platform for that ladder. Or consider the ordinary pumper. It too transports persons and cargo. But not until its hoses are connected and its pumping apparatus is engaged does its core function identity emerge.

— Alpine Ins. Co. v. Planchon, 72 Cal. App. 4th 1316, 85 Cal. Rptr. 2d 777 (1999).

More recently, consider this ruling on a food truck.

Like a fire truck, a secondary purpose of the Gómezes' food truck was the transportation of persons—i.e., the driver and the cook. Like an "ordinary pumper" a food truck may transport persons or cargo—i.e., food, but its "core functional identity emerge[s] when it operates as a mobile kitchen at specified locations."

— American States Ins. Co. v. Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am., 223 Cal. App. 4th 495, 167 Cal. Rptr. 3d 288 (2014).

It is curious that in the latter case, American States, decided in January 2014, the court did not comment on whether the food truck was subject to compulsory insurance or other motor vehicle insurance laws in determining that the food truck was "mobile equipment."

Snow Removal, Road Maintenance, and Street Cleaning—Paragraph f. (1)

The second passage of paragraph f. announces that if a vehicle is permanently fitted with equipment designed chiefly for snow removal, road maintenance, and street cleaning and is capable of moving under its own power, it is an "auto" and not "mobile equipment." And despite the 2004 changes, vehicles included in paragraph f. are considered "autos" regardless of whether insurance laws apply.

Subparagraph f. (1) lists equipment that is designed primarily for the following.

• Snow removal
• Road maintenance (but not road construction or resurfacing equipment—paragraph d. expressly includes as "mobile equipment" such equipment)
• Street cleaning

Once again, the idea of "design" is governing. In times of heavy snow, in particular, it is not unusual for real estate owners or municipalities to use front-end loaders to remove snow. As front-end loaders can be used for snow removal but are primarily designed to move dirt, sand, or other solid fill into a dump truck, such vehicles typically remain within the definition of "mobile equipment." However, self-propelled sidewalk snowblowers or sidewalk snowplows, which are designed for snow removal, would fit squarely into subparagraph f. (1) and are, therefore, "autos."

Any vehicle with permanently attached equipment designed primarily to maintain roads (but not for the construction or resurfacing of roads using graders, scrapers, or rollers) is an "auto." For example, vehicles with permanently attached salting and sanding equipment would likely be considered road maintenance equipment and thus an "auto."

Likewise, any type of street cleaning equipment, such as self-propelled street sweepers, is clearly considered "autos" and is not covered by the CGL policy for any liability arising out of their use. Keep in mind that just because such equipment may be covered for damage by an inland marine policy does not change this—the self-propelled street cleaners are still "autos."

Cherry Pickers Mounted on Auto or Truck Chassis—Paragraph f. (2)

Self-propelled vehicles with equipment permanently mounted on autos or truck chassis and used to raise or lower workers are considered "autos." Cherry pickers or bucket trucks are examples that qualify under paragraph f. (2). Equipment that is used to raise and lower workers that is not mounted on an auto or truck chassis, but is self-propelled, does not fit within section f. (2). For instance, a motorized scaffold used by workers to change indoor ceiling lights would not be considered an "auto" but would be considered "mobile equipment."

Harleysville argues that the scissor lift upon which DeJesus was standing when he was injured is a device "similar" to a cherry picker.… The exact same question was addressed in the New Jersey Superior Courts Appellate decision in Clemente v. N.J. Transit.… In ruling against the insurer, the Clemente court held that a scissor lift is not "similar" to a cherry picker, noting that OSHA recognizes a distinction between "cherry pickers" and "scissor-lifts" and "categorizes and regulates them differently." This court is persuaded by the analysis in Clemente and adopts it here.

— Harleysville Preferred Ins. Co. v. E. Coast Painting & Maint., LLC, No. 16-8603-SDW-LDW, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135295 (D.N.J. Aug. 12, 2019).

Other Types of Equipment—Paragraph f. (3)

Paragraph f. (3) enumerates certain other types of equipment when permanently attached to a vehicle are deemed to be "autos" and not "mobile equipment." With the exception of cherry pickers, paragraph f. (3) repeats exactly the same equipment listed in paragraph e. The following are considered "autos" if they can move under their own power.

• Air compressors
• Pumps
• Generators
• Spraying equipment
• Welding equipment
• Building cleaning equipment
• Geophysical exploration equipment
• Lighting equipment
• Well servicing equipment

The 2004 Changes to Definitions Mobile Equipment and Auto

An additional paragraph has been inserted into the definition of "mobile equipment" in the December 2004 and later editions of the CGL policy and reads as follows.

However, "mobile equipment" does not include any land vehicles that are subject to a compulsory or financial responsibility law or other motor vehicle insurance law in the state where it is licensed or principally garaged. Land vehicles subject to a compulsory or financial responsibility law or other motor vehicle insurance law are considered "autos."

Further, and also first appearing in its December 2004 edition of its CGL policy, ISO changed the definition of "auto" by adding a second paragraph, which reads the following.

"Auto" means:

Any other land vehicle that is subject to a compulsory or financial responsibility law or other motor vehicle insurance law in the state where it is licensed or principally garaged.

The changed definition of "mobile equipment" and "auto" starting with the ISO December 2004 edition of the CGL states that land vehicles that obviously meet the definition of "mobile equipment" as spelled out in paragraphs 12 a. through 12 f. become an "auto" and not "mobile equipment" if the vehicle is "subject to a compulsory or financial responsibility law or other motor vehicle insurance law in the state where it is licensed or principally garaged." Liability coverage for such vehicles should be obtained by adding the appropriate symbol to a business auto coverage policy.

Land Vehicles Subject to Insurance or Financial Responsibility Laws

Here is where a determination of both fact and law has to be made. First, how is the land vehicle used? This is a determination of fact. Keep in mind, however, that the use of the land vehicle, and thus the facts, may change from day to day or week to week or even job to job. Second, presuming the use of the land vehicle can be determined, does that use require the owner or user of that land vehicle to do the following?

• Purchase compulsory insurance; or
• Demonstrate financial responsibility; or
• Purchase other motor vehicle insurance?

This is a determination of law—how does the insurance or financial responsibility law apply to this land vehicle. Of course, if the answer is one or more of the above laws apply, the land vehicle is considered an "auto."

Two Exceptions to the CGL Auto Exclusion

Autos owned, operated, rented to, or loaned to any insured are ordinarily not covered by the CGL policy—via exclusion g. The aircraft, auto, or watercraft exclusion (exclusion g.) of the CGL policy does include two very important exceptions.

Paragraph (5) (a)—The first exception states exclusion g. does not apply to liability for the operation of equipment or machinery attached to land vehicles that would otherwise fit the definition of "mobile equipment," but now is an "auto" solely due to a financial responsibility law or insurance law that applies to that land vehicle.

Paragraph (5) (b)—The second exception states exclusion g. does not apply to bodily injury or property damage arising out of the operation of any machinery or equipment attached to "autos" listed in paragraph f. (2) and f. (3) of the definition of "mobile equipment." In short, vehicles expressly described as "autos" are covered by the CGL, policy but only for liability arising out of their "operation"—use of the described autos attached equipment.

Paragraph f. (2) lists cherry pickers mounted on auto or truck chassis used to raise or lower workers, and paragraph f. (3) lists other types of permanently attached equipment—air compressors, pumps, generators, spraying, welding, building cleaning, geophysical exploration, lighting, and well servicing equipment.

The intent of both exceptions is to provide bodily injury or property damage coverage under the CGL policy if the injury or damage results from the use of the land vehicle's attached equipment or machinery but not if the injury or damage results while moving or traveling in the vehicle. Accidents involving an "auto" that take place during "mobility" that result in bodily injury or property damage are not covered by the CGL, and therefore, liability coverage must be included on the business auto coverage form policy.

Covered by the CGL

Not Covered by the CGL

After lowering and securing the bucket, the worker climbs into the truck cab and drives to the next jobsite located two towns away. En route to the new jobsite, the worker is talking on his cell phone when he accidentally hits a car that had stopped in front of him. The damage to the other auto and injury to the driver of the other auto is not covered by the CGL policy as the bodily injury and property damage did not arise out the operation of equipment attached to the "autos" listed in f. (2) or f. (3). The CGL policy exclusion would apply in a similar manner to the backhoe subject to compulsory insurance that struck the pedestrian while driving to the jobsite—the injury did not arise out of the use of attached equipment but out of the use of the backhoe for travel or mobility.

Thus, the self-propelled vehicles described in f. (2) and f. (3) of the definition of "mobile equipment" and the backhoe subject to compulsory insurance are, in fact, "autos" but are nonetheless covered by the CGL policy provided the bodily injury or property damage arises out of the "operation" of attached equipment.