Trucking Insurance for Owner-Operators, New Authorities & Fleets

Primary Auto Liability and FMCSA Requirements

Primary liability is the core of every trucking insurance program. It pays for bodily injury and property damage your truck causes to others. FMCSA sets minimum financial responsibility limits for for-hire interstate carriers — generally $750,000 for general freight, with higher minimums for certain hazardous materials.

In practice, most shippers and freight brokers require $1,000,000 in auto liability before they will work with you. Once a policy is bound, the insurance company can submit the required federal and state filings.

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Cargo insurance protects the freight you haul against loss or damage from accidents, fire, theft and other covered events. Common limits range from $100,000 to $250,000, and some loads require more. Coverage options such as reefer breakdown are important for temperature-controlled freight. Make sure your cargo policy fits the commodities you actually haul — exclusions matter.

Physical Damage Coverage for Trucks and Trailers

Physical damage insurance covers repair or replacement of your tractor and trailer after a collision, fire, theft or weather event. If your equipment is financed or leased, the lienholder will usually require it. Coverage is typically written on a stated value basis, so accurate equipment values are important.

Non-Trucking Liability, Bobtail and Trailer Interchange

• Non-trucking liability — for owner-operators leased to a motor carrier when driving for personal use
• Bobtail coverage — liability when operating a tractor without a trailer
• Trailer interchange — damage to non-owned trailers pulled under an interchange agreement
• General liability — protection for non-auto business risks such as premises claims
• Occupational accident — injury protection often used by independent owner-operators

New Venture Trucking Insurance

New authorities are often considered higher risk because they do not yet have an operating history, which can make coverage harder to place and more expensive. Having experienced drivers, clean MVRs, accurate equipment information and a clear description of your operations helps underwriters evaluate your business. Our application walks you through what carriers typically ask for.

What Affects Trucking Insurance Costs?

• Commodities hauled and cargo value
• Radius of operation — local, regional or long haul
• Driver age, CDL experience and MVR history
• Truck and trailer type, year and value
• Authority age and years in business
• Safety record, inspections and CSA scores
• Garaging location and states of operation

Information to Have Ready for a Trucking Quote

• USDOT number and MC number (if applicable)
• Truck and trailer VINs, years and values
• CDL drivers with license numbers, dates of birth and years of experience
• Commodities hauled and percentage of each
• Operating radius and states traveled
• Prior insurance and loss runs, if available