Trucking insurance is several coverages working together. A single accident can involve three of them at once, and a gap in any one leaves you paying out of pocket.
One accident, three coverages
Say your driver rear-ends a car on the highway and the load shifts and is damaged.
- Auto liability pays for the other driver’s injuries and the damage to their car
- Physical damage pays to repair your truck and trailer, less your deductible
- Motor truck cargo pays for the damaged freight, subject to the policy’s terms
Situations that are not about driving
- A visitor is hurt at your yard or office: general liability
- Your driver damages property at a customer’s dock while not operating the truck: general liability
- A trailer you pulled under an interchange agreement is damaged: trailer interchange
- A leased-on truck is in an accident while being used for personal errands: non-trucking liability
Where gaps usually hide
- A cargo policy that excludes or limits the commodity you actually haul
- Refrigerated loads without reefer breakdown coverage
- Trucks insured for less than what is owed on them
- Equipment such as tarps, chains and electronics left out of the stated value
You can read more about each coverage on our Services page.
This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage depends on the policy that is issued, and requirements can change. Confirm current federal rules at fmcsa.dot.gov.