Trucking is one of the most specialized corners of commercial insurance. Between federal filing requirements, high liability limits, and coverage for both the vehicles and what they haul, a motor carrier's program looks very different from a typical business.
The core coverages
- Commercial auto liability — the foundation, often written at the higher limits federal and contract requirements demand.
- Motor truck cargo — covers the freight you're hauling against loss or damage.
- Physical damage — collision and comprehensive on your tractors and trailers.
- General liability — for exposures off the vehicle (premises, loading, operations).
Depending on how you operate, you may also need non-trucking liability or bobtail coverage for times a unit is driven without a dispatched load.
Federal filings
Interstate motor carriers generally must demonstrate financial responsibility through FMCSA filings (such as the MCS-90 / Form BMC-91). Your insurer makes these filings on your behalf, and they're a prerequisite for operating authority — a reason to work with a broker who knows trucking, not a generalist.
What drives your cost
- Driver records (MVRs) and CDL experience — the single biggest factor.
- Radius of operation — local vs. long-haul.
- Commodity hauled — general freight vs. hazardous or high-value.
- Fleet size, vehicle values, and safety scores (CSA).
Clean MVRs, a real safety program, and telematics all help your pricing over time — the same discipline that lowers your workers' comp experience mod.
Getting covered
You can complete our Trucking & Motor Carrier application online — with VIN lookup that fills in your units automatically — or request a quote and we'll structure auto, cargo, and physical damage with the right filings for your authority.
Frequently Asked
What coverages does a trucking company need?
Primary auto liability (often at federally required limits), motor truck cargo, physical damage on the units, and general liability — plus non-trucking or bobtail coverage depending on operations.
What is an MCS-90 / FMCSA filing?
Federal filings that prove a motor carrier meets minimum financial-responsibility requirements. Interstate carriers generally must have them on file, and your insurer files them.
What's the difference between bobtail and non-trucking liability?
Both cover a tractor being used without a trailer/dispatch, but they apply in different situations — the right one depends on whether you're an owner-operator under a lease.
This article is general information for business owners, not insurance or legal advice, and does not bind or alter coverage. Policy terms, eligibility, and pricing vary by carrier and state — confirm specifics with our licensed team before making decisions.