Truckers & Motor Cargo Insurance
Commercial trucking carries federal filing requirements, significant liability exposure, and cargo in motion. We build specialized trucking programs for owner-operators, small fleets, and freight brokers across every commodity class.
Trucking is one of the most regulated — and most exposed — commercial risks we write.
Motor carriers operating in interstate commerce are subject to FMCSA minimum insurance requirements, mandatory filing with the DOT, and a liability structure that differs significantly from standard commercial auto. Trucking insurance is a specialty market that requires carriers and coverage forms purpose-built for the transportation industry.
The core components of a trucking program are primary auto liability (covering bodily injury and property damage from accidents), physical damage (covering your truck and trailer), and motor truck cargo (covering the freight you're hauling). Beyond those, trailer interchange, non-trucking liability, and occupational accident coverage round out a complete program.
We write trucking programs for owner-operators, small to mid-size fleets, freight brokers, and specialized haulers — including flatbed, refrigerated, hazmat, and oversize/overweight operations. Rates and markets vary significantly based on commodity, radius of operation, driver records, and loss history.
What this coverage does for you
- Primary auto liability meeting FMCSA minimums ($750K–$5M depending on commodity)
- Physical damage for truck and trailer — collision, comprehensive, and fire/theft
- Motor truck cargo covering freight in transit against loss or damage
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail) for when the truck is used off-dispatch
- Trailer interchange coverage for non-owned trailers under written agreement
- Occupational accident coverage for owner-operators not covered by workers' comp
What a trucking program includes.
A complete trucking program is built from several distinct coverage components — each addresses a different exposure.
Trucking Auto Liability
Primary liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage arising from trucking operations. Must meet FMCSA minimums — $750K for general freight, $1M for oil/hazardous materials, $5M for certain hazmat commodities.
Physical Damage
Covers damage to your truck and trailer — collision (accident damage), comprehensive (theft, fire, weather, vandalism), and specified perils. Typically written on actual cash value or agreed value basis.
Motor Truck Cargo
Covers the freight you're hauling against physical loss or damage during transit — fire, theft, collision, overturn. Coverage limits and exclusions vary by commodity type. Essential for any carrier with liability for cargo under a bill of lading.
Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail)
Covers the truck when it's operated without a trailer and not under dispatch — personal use, repositioning between loads, or deadheading. The primary trucking policy typically excludes these periods; bobtail fills that gap.
Trailer Interchange
Covers physical damage to non-owned trailers in your care, custody, or control under a written trailer interchange agreement. Required by most interchange arrangements — physical damage on your own policy only covers trailers you own.
Occupational Accident
Provides medical benefits and disability income for owner-operators who are injured while working — covering the gap for owner-operators who are not employees and are not covered by workers' compensation.
Common questions.
For general freight in interstate commerce: $750,000. For household goods: $300,000. For hazardous materials (certain classifications): $1,000,000 to $5,000,000. These are minimums — most shippers and freight brokers require higher limits, and we'll build your program to meet both regulatory and contractual requirements.
Yes. Your trucking auto liability and physical damage policies cover your truck and your liability to others — they do not cover the freight you're hauling. Motor truck cargo is a separate coverage that protects the goods in transit. Whether you need it depends on your contracts and whether you have legal liability for the cargo under your bills of lading.
A motor carrier actually hauls freight and needs auto liability, physical damage, and cargo coverage. A freight broker arranges transportation but doesn't haul — brokers need contingent cargo coverage and freight broker liability, not trucking auto coverage. We write programs for both.
Driver MVRs are one of the most significant pricing factors in trucking insurance. Violations, accidents, and out-of-service orders on driver records can substantially increase premiums or make placement difficult. We'll review your driver roster and help you understand the impact before going to market.
Yes, but the coverage structure depends on whether you're under permanent lease to an authorized carrier or operating under your own authority. Under permanent lease, the carrier's insurance typically covers you while under dispatch — but you still need non-trucking liability (bobtail) for personal use periods. We'll map out your specific situation.
Built for the road — and for your operation.
From single-truck owner-operators to growing fleets, we build trucking programs that meet your FMCSA requirements and protect what you haul.