Industries
Trucking & Transportation Insurance
Auto liability, physical damage, cargo and filings for for-hire carriers, owner-operators and local delivery fleets, reviewed against your broker and shipper requirements.
- For-hire interstate carriers hauling dry van, flatbed or reefer freight
- Owner-operators leased to a motor carrier
- Owner-operators running under their own authority
- Box truck and straight truck operations
- Hotshot carriers
- Dump truck and aggregate haulers
- Auto haulers and car carriers
- Local delivery and last-mile contractors
- New ventures with recently issued authority
Trucking insurance comes down to your drivers, your operation and your loss history. Insurance companies look closely at driving records, safety scores, radius, commodities and how long you've held your authority, and those details shape which insurance companies will quote and on what terms.
We work with new ventures, owner-operators and established fleets across the U.S., with insurance options shaped by their vehicles, drivers, freight and routes. That includes box trucks and hotshot rigs as well as tractor-trailers, dump trucks and car haulers. We help coordinate the filings your insurance company makes for your authority and the certificates brokers and shippers ask for. Insurance options depend on your operation, location, licensing requirements and insurance company availability.
Most trucking coverage problems start with a mismatch: a driver not on the schedule, a commodity excluded from cargo, a trailer you don't own or a radius the policy doesn't allow. We help you check for those before a load goes out.
Common risks
Auto liability
A serious accident involving a loaded truck can produce claims well beyond basic limits. Primary auto liability is the foundation of a trucking program, and many fleets add an umbrella or excess layer because jury awards in trucking cases can be large.
Cargo loss and damage
Theft, fire, collision, load shifts and spoiled reefer loads are common cargo claims. Cargo forms vary widely, and unattended-vehicle conditions, excluded or unlisted commodities and missing reefer breakdown are frequent reasons claims are denied.
Physical damage
Tractors, trucks and trailers are expensive to repair or replace. Physical damage is usually written on a stated amount basis, and many policies pay the lesser of that amount or actual cash value, so the values you list matter. Financed units need the lender shown as loss payee.
Driver qualification and MVRs
Insurance companies review each driver's experience, license class and motor vehicle record (MVR). A driver with recent violations or limited experience can be declined, surcharged or excluded, and putting a driver in a truck before they're approved can leave a serious gap.
Filings and authority
For-hire interstate carriers typically need a USDOT number and MC authority, with proof of liability filed with FMCSA by their insurance company, usually on a BMC-91 or BMC-91X. The MCS-90 is different: it is an endorsement on the auto liability policy, not a filing. A lapse can put your authority at risk, and requirements depend on your operation, cargo, vehicles and state; we'll help you check yours.
Broker and shipper contract requirements
Brokers and shippers often require higher limits than the federal minimum, specific cargo limits, reefer breakdown and their name on the certificate. Some agreements add indemnity and additional insured terms, so we review the carrier packet with you before you sign.
Coverage to consider
- Trucking InsurancePrimary auto liability and physical damage for tractors, trucks and trailers, with the federal or state filings your authority depends on.
- Motor Truck Cargo InsuranceLoss or damage to the freight you haul, subject to commodity lists, theft conditions and reefer breakdown terms.
- Non-Trucking Liability InsuranceFor owner-operators leased to a carrier, liability for personal use of the tractor that isn't part of anyone's business. Being off dispatch doesn't by itself make a trip personal; the lease and policy wording decide.
- Trailer Interchange InsurancePhysical damage to trailers you don't own but pull under a written interchange agreement.
- General Liability InsurancePremises and operations claims at your yard, office or shop that an auto policy isn't built for, and often required by shippers.
- Workers' Compensation InsuranceInjuries to employee drivers, mechanics and yard staff; requirements vary by state, and owner-operators often look at occupational accident instead.
- Umbrella & Excess Liability InsuranceAdditional liability limits above primary auto liability for larger contracts and higher-risk freight.
- Commercial Auto InsuranceVans, pickups and light box trucks used for local delivery that may be written as commercial auto rather than trucking.
How quoting works
- 01
Start with your business
Tell us what you do, where you work and what you want to protect — or send your current policy.
- 02
Explore your options
We approach insurance companies that consider your type of business and explain the available choices.
- 03
Talk it through
A licensed ALP agent reviews coverage, limits, deductibles and price with you before you decide.
Common contract and certificate requirements
- Auto liability limits set by the broker or shipper; $1,000,000 is a common requirement
- Motor truck cargo limits, often $100,000, with reefer breakdown for temperature-controlled freight
- Broker or shipper listed as certificate holder, and sometimes as additional insured on auto or general liability
- Trailer interchange when you pull trailers you don't own under an interchange agreement
- Scheduled units or VINs shown on the certificate to match the trucks you dispatch
- An active BMC-91 or BMC-91X liability filing that matches the name and MC number on your authority
A certificate is evidence of insurance; the policy and its endorsements provide the coverage.
Certificate Center →Helpful information for a quote
- USDOT and MC numbers, with the date your authority was granted
- Driver names and years of CDL experience; license numbers and dates of birth only if the insurance company needs to check driving records
- Vehicle and trailer schedule with year, make, VIN and stated values
- Commodities hauled, operating radius and states traveled
- Current declarations pages, and loss runs for the last 3–5 years if you've been insured before
- Annual mileage and gross revenue
- Insurance requirements from your brokers, shippers or the carrier you lease to
Start with basic business information. If more detailed driver information is needed, we'll arrange an appropriate way to collect it.
Upload your current policyFrequently asked questions
Can a new venture get trucking insurance?
Often, yes. Some insurance companies consider new authorities, though options are narrower and they weigh driver experience and the owner's background heavily.
What is the difference between primary liability and non-trucking liability?
Primary auto liability is usually provided by the motor carrier whose authority the truck runs under, while the truck is used in that carrier's business. Non-trucking liability is bought by a leased owner-operator for personal use that isn't part of anyone's business, such as a personal errand on a day off with no load and no dispatch. Being off dispatch or heading home doesn't by itself make a trip personal; the lease and the policy wording decide.
What is the difference between the MCS-90 and a BMC-91X filing?
The MCS-90 is an endorsement on a for-hire carrier's auto liability policy that protects the public; it is part of the policy, not a filing. A BMC-91 or BMC-91X is the filing your insurance company sends to FMCSA to show your liability insurance is in force for your authority.
Why do cargo claims get denied?
Common reasons include a commodity that isn't listed, an unattended-vehicle or theft condition, missing reefer breakdown, or a driver or unit not on the schedule. We review those conditions with you before coverage is put in place.
How fast can I add a truck or a driver?
It depends on the insurance company. Many changes move quickly once we have the VIN, stated value and driver details, but some drivers need the insurance company's approval first, so add them before they're dispatched.