Commercial Truck Insurance — Liability, Cargo, Physical Damage

Protect your rig, freight, and contracts. Whether you’re an owner-operator or a growing fleet, get the right mix of auto liability, motor truck cargo, and physical damage—with filings, certificates, and rapid binds. Compare coverage and typical costs below, then request a custom quote.

Start my truck quote Quick facts

Quick facts

Topic	Fast answer
Auto liability	Protects third-party injury/property damage. Limits set by contract, motor carrier requirements, and filings.
Physical damage	Comprehensive & collision for your tractor/trailer; includes stated/agreed values and deductibles.
Motor truck cargo	Covers freight you haul (limits/deductibles vary by commodity). Watch exclusions and reefer breakdown options.
Bobtail/NTL	Liability when operating without a trailer (bobtail) or off dispatch under permanent lease (Non-Trucking Liability).
Filings & COIs	We handle common filings (e.g., financial responsibility) and issue Certificates of Insurance fast for shippers/brokers.
Last updated	October 15, 2025

Coverage terms, filings, and minimums depend on your operation, commodities, and where you run. We’ll verify specifics during quoting.

Coverage snapshot (what truckers usually carry)

Auto Liability

Protects third parties if you’re at fault. Limits driven by contracts, lanes, and freight. Add UM/UIM and MedPay/PIP as available.

Physical Damage

Comp/Collision for tractor and trailer; choose stated/agreed value and set glass/towing coverage where available.

Motor Truck Cargo

Commodity-specific cargo limits and sub-limits; consider debris removal, earned freight, and reefer breakdown endorsements.

General Liability (Trucking)

Premises/operations liability at terminals, docks, and customer locations; often required by facilities.

Bobtail / NTL

Liability when not under dispatch or hauling a trailer (leased owner-operators often need this per lease agreement).

Workers’ Comp / OccAcc

Workers’ Comp for employees; Occupational Accident for qualifying owner-operators. Verify contract or state requirements.

Coverage compare by truck & operation

Truck / operation	Core coverages	Common add-ons	Notes
Tractor-trailer (OTR)	Auto Liability, Physical Damage, Cargo	Reefer breakdown, Towing, UM/UIM	Long-haul lanes may need higher limits and filings
Box truck / Hotshot	Auto Liability, Physical Damage, Cargo	Loading/unloading, Tools/Equipment	Verify commodities and radius; light/med duty classes
Dry van / Flatbed / Step deck	Auto Liability, Physical Damage, Cargo	Debris removal, Earned freight	Securement and tarp claims—check endorsements
Tanker / Hazmat (where eligible)	Auto Liability, Physical Damage, Cargo	Pollution buy-backs, Higher limits	Driver experience and safety program crucial
Leased owner-operator	NTL/Bobtail (per lease), Physical Damage	Gap for financed units, OEM parts options	Motor carrier often provides primary auto liability

We tailor limits to your contracts, shippers, and broker requirements and supply COIs “near me” quickly.

Pricing snapshot (typical ranges)

Coverage	Typical range	Main pricing drivers
Auto Liability	$8,000–$20,000+/yr per unit	Driver MVRs, CDL years, radius, lanes, commodities, safety tech
Physical Damage	2–6% of stated value/yr	Unit value, deductibles, garaging, loss history
Motor Truck Cargo	$800–$3,500+/yr	Commodity class, limit/deductible, security controls
Trucking GL	$400–$1,500+/yr	Locations, gross receipts, operations
Bobtail / NTL	$350–$1,200+/yr	Lease terms, driver use, radius

Estimates only—actual premiums depend on underwriting (drivers, units, radius, commodities, safety program, losses). We’ll quote multiple carriers.

How to choose & speed up COIs

Pro tips

Match contracts first: verify required limits, additional insured wording, waiver of subrogation, and cargo specs.
Dial in values & deductibles: use realistic stated/agreed values; consider higher deductibles to manage premium.
List your lanes & commodities: rating improves with clear, consistent operations and driver experience.
Safety earns credits: telematics, dash cams, ELD compliance, and clean MVRs can influence pricing.
COIs fast: send contract wording; we’ll issue certificates and broker/shippers can be added as needed.

Start my truck quote Read FAQs

Frequently asked questions

What cargo limit do I need?

Match your highest contract or broker requirement by commodity. Many haulers select $100k–$250k, but higher may be needed for high-value freight.

Do I need Bobtail or Non-Trucking Liability?

Leased owner-operators are often required to carry NTL or Bobtail for when you’re not under dispatch or hauling. Your lease spells out which one.

How do filings and COIs work?

We’ll handle standard filings and issue Certificates of Insurance with additional insured/waiver wording your shipper or broker requests.

Can I cover reefer breakdown?

Yes—available on eligible cargo forms. Confirm temperature control requirements and deductibles for your commodities.

How can I lower premiums?

Clean MVRs, stable lanes, safety tech (cams/telematics), realistic unit values, higher deductibles, and loss-control practices typically help.

Disclosure

Blake Insurance Group LLC is an independent agency. Coverage availability, limits, filings, and pricing vary by state, carrier, and operation. Trademarks belong to their owners. Licensed insurance producer (NPR/NPN 16944666).