★ Commercial · Trucking / motor carrier
Authority, filings, and coverage that keeps the wheels turning.
For-hire trucking runs on insurance: FMCSA requires minimum liability just to hold authority, brokers demand $1M and cargo limits before they will load you, and one serious accident without the right coverage ends the company. We quote the whole motor carrier package: primary liability, cargo, physical damage, and the filings.
Free quotes · No obligation · A licensed specialist answers, usually within one business day
★ Who needs it
Built for these carriers.
The businesses that buy Trucking Insurance most, and the one-line reason each one does.
Owner-operators
One truck, your authority or leased on. The classic trucking account.
Small fleets (2 to 20 power units)
Growing carriers where one bad year reshapes pricing. We shop it honestly.
New authorities
Higher rates for the first 2 to 3 years is the market, not a penalty. It improves with time and clean inspections.
Hotshot and expedite
Smaller trucks, same for-hire rules when hauling for hire across state lines.
Private carriers with big exposure
Even not-for-hire fleets need serious liability limits when the trucks are heavy.
★ What it covers
What’s covered, and where compliance draws the line.
Plain English, no fine-print games. Every policy has exclusions; here are the ones that actually matter for Trucking Insurance.
What it covers
- Primary auto liabilityThe federally required coverage: $750K minimum for most carriers, $1M in practice because brokers demand it.
- Motor truck cargoThe freight you are hauling: theft, collision damage, refrigeration breakdown.
- Physical damageYour tractor and trailer: collision, theft, fire.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail)When you are driving without a dispatch: between loads or for personal use.
- Trailer interchangeTrailers you don't own but pull under interchange agreements.
- MCS-90 and filingsThe federal endorsements and state filings that keep your authority active. Handled as part of the package.
What it doesn’t cover
- Excluded commoditiesMany cargo policies exclude high-target freight (electronics, pharmaceuticals) unless specifically scheduled.
- Personal use beyond the policyBobtail and non-trucking liability have strict definitions. Know exactly when each applies.
- Unlisted driversThe driver file is the policy. Undisclosed drivers are the number-one trucking claim denial.
- Mechanical breakdownMaintenance is not an insurance event, no matter how expensive the turbo was.
- Operating outside your authorityWrong cargo, wrong radius, lapsed filings. Coverage follows compliance.
All quotes are subject to carrier underwriting and final approval. Coverage availability, terms, and pricing vary by state and carrier. The lists above describe typical Trucking Insurance policies, not any specific carrier’s form.
★ What it costs
What moves a trucking premium.
Carriers price Trucking Insurance on exposure, not vibes. Here’s what moves your number, and what you can actually influence.
- Driving record and experience: CDL history, violations, and years of experience move the needle more than anything else.
- Radius and commodities: Long-haul general freight rates differently from local building materials.
- New venture status: Under 2 to 3 years of authority means fewer markets and higher rates. It improves with time.
- Safety scores: CSA scores, inspections, and DOT compliance follow the carrier everywhere.
- Cargo values and deductibles: Higher cargo limits and lower deductibles cost more, and brokers set the floor.
New authority or shopping a renewal?List every driver. Undisclosed drivers are the number-one trucking claim denial. We quote the full motor carrier package: liability, cargo, physical damage, and the filings.
★ Straight answers
Questions from the driver’s seat.
The short version of what our licensed specialists explain on calls every week.
What insurance do I need to get my MC authority?
Why is new-authority insurance so expensive?
What is the difference between bobtail and non-trucking liability?
Does cargo insurance cover everything I haul?
What limits do brokers actually require?
Can I haul for hire with my personal pickup?
★ Often quoted together
Quoted alongside the truck.
Most businesses don’t buy one policy in isolation. These are the lines trucking buyers usually quote at the same time. One specialist quotes the whole package.
Commercial Auto
Work cars, trucks, and fleets: liability and physical damage your personal policy excludes.
Inland Marine
Tools, equipment, and goods in transit. The property your property policy doesn't follow.
Commercial Umbrella
Extra millions stacked over your GL, auto, and employers liability, for the catastrophic claim.
Get my quote
Get your Trucking Insurance quote. Two minutes.
Tell us about the business. A licensed specialist shops the carriers and comes back with real options.
- About 2 minutes, built for Trucking Insurance
- A licensed specialist follows up, usually within one business day
- No bait prices, no call centers, no selling your information
Free quotes. No obligation. Written through Patriot Independent Insurance Partners, licensed in TX, FL, GA, SC, AL, MS, NC, CA, and CO. Your information is never sold to lead brokers.