10 Coverage Types

Coverage Solutions

Complete commercial trucking insurance coverage tailored to your operation — from federally required liability to specialized endorsements.

Primary Auto Liability

FMCSA Required

Federally mandated coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused by your commercial vehicles. Required by the FMCSA for interstate carriers. Limits depend on cargo type — general freight requires $750K minimum, hazmat carriers need $1M–$5M.

Typical Limits: $750,000 – $5,000,000
Who Needs It: All for-hire motor carriers operating under FMCSA authority

Physical Damage

Recommended

Comprehensive and collision coverage for your tractors, trailers, and attached equipment. Covers damage from accidents, theft, vandalism, fire, weather events, and more. Lienholders typically require this coverage.

Typical Limits: Actual Cash Value or Stated Amount
Who Needs It: Any carrier with financed or high-value equipment

Motor Truck Cargo

Essential

Protects the freight you haul against loss or damage during transit. Commodity-specific — rates and terms vary by cargo type (dry van, refrigerated, flatbed, tanker). Shippers and brokers often require proof of cargo insurance.

Typical Limits: $100,000 – $500,000
Who Needs It: For-hire carriers transporting goods for others

General Liability

Recommended

Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage claims arising from your business operations, premises, and products. Protects against slip-and-fall, advertising injury, and other non-auto claims.

Typical Limits: $1,000,000 / $2,000,000
Who Needs It: Carriers with a physical location, yard, or terminal

Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail)

Owner-Operators

Covers liability when operating your truck for personal use or when not under dispatch — driving to the shop, heading home, or bobtailing without a trailer. Essential gap coverage for leased owner-operators.

Typical Limits: $1,000,000
Who Needs It: Owner-operators leased to a motor carrier

Trailer Interchange

Specialized

Covers physical damage to trailers you do not own but pull under a trailer interchange agreement. Required by many shippers and intermodal carriers when you pull their equipment.

Typical Limits: Per trailer value, typically $30K–$100K
Who Needs It: Carriers pulling trailers owned by others under interchange agreements

Workers' Compensation

Required

Covers medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation for employees injured on the job. Required by law in nearly every state. Rates are based on payroll and job classification codes.

Typical Limits: Statutory limits per state
Who Needs It: All carriers with W-2 employees (required in most states)

Occupational Accident

Owner-Operators

An alternative to workers' compensation for independent contractors. Covers accidental death, dismemberment, medical expenses, and disability benefits. Many motor carriers require this for leased owner-operators.

Typical Limits: $500,000 – $1,000,000
Who Needs It: Independent contractors / owner-operators not eligible for workers' comp

Umbrella / Excess Liability

High Value

Provides additional liability limits above your primary auto liability, general liability, and employers' liability. Critical for carriers hauling high-value freight, hazmat, or operating large fleets.

Typical Limits: $1M – $10M+ excess
Who Needs It: Carriers needing limits above their primary policy

On-Hook / Garagekeepers

Specialized

On-Hook coverage protects vehicles being towed or transported on your truck. Garagekeepers covers customer vehicles stored at your facility. Essential for towing operations and carriers with terminal storage.

Typical Limits: Varies by operation
Who Needs It: Tow operators and carriers with yard storage

Need help determining the right coverage for your operation?