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Trucking Insurance Premium Ranges (Per Truck/Year)

Premiums depend on cargo type, operating radius, driver experience, CSA scores, fleet size, and equipment value. Here are typical annual per-truck ranges:

Coverage Type	Local / Regional	Long-Haul / OTR	Hazmat / Specialized
Primary Auto Liability ($1M)	$5,000 - $9,000	$8,000 - $14,000	$12,000 - $25,000+
Physical Damage (per unit)	$1,000 - $3,000	$1,500 - $4,000	$2,000 - $5,000
Motor Cargo ($100K limit)	$400 - $1,200	$800 - $2,500	$1,500 - $5,000+
General Liability	$500 - $1,500	$800 - $2,000	$1,200 - $3,000
Workers' Compensation	$2,000 - $5,000	$3,000 - $7,000	$4,000 - $10,000
Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail)	$400 - $800	$500 - $1,200	$600 - $1,500
Trailer Interchange	$200 - $600	$300 - $900	$400 - $1,200
Umbrella / Excess ($1M)	$1,500 - $4,000	$3,000 - $8,000	$5,000 - $15,000+

Trucking Insurance Coverage Checklist

DOT compliance requires specific coverages. Make sure your program includes:

Primary Auto Liability with MCS-90 -- FMCSA-required for all interstate for-hire carriers; $750K minimum for general freight
BMC-91 Filing -- proof of financial responsibility filed with FMCSA; required to maintain operating authority
Motor Cargo Insurance -- protects freight in transit; limits based on cargo type and value
Physical Damage -- comprehensive and collision on your tractors and owned trailers
Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail) -- covers the truck when not under dispatch; fills the gap when primary auto doesn't apply
Trailer Interchange -- covers non-owned trailers you're hauling under a trailer interchange agreement
General Liability -- covers your terminal, yard, loading dock operations, and premises exposure
Workers' Compensation -- covers drivers and dock workers for on-the-job injuries
Occupational Accident -- for independent contractors / owner-operators not covered by WC
Umbrella / Excess Liability -- extends auto and GL limits; brokers increasingly require $2M+ total
Pollution Liability -- for fuel haulers, hazmat, and tanker operations
Refrigeration Breakdown -- for reefer operations; covers spoilage from mechanical failure

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Coverage Gaps That Cost Trucking Companies the Most

Inadequate auto liability limits -- nuclear verdicts in trucking regularly exceed $10M. A $1M primary policy without excess coverage leaves catastrophic exposure. Brokers are increasingly requiring $2M+ total limits to haul loads.
No non-trucking liability -- when your truck is bobtailing (not under dispatch), your primary auto liability doesn't apply. One accident driving to a truck stop can be an uninsured loss.
Missing cargo coverage for commodity changes -- your cargo policy covers specific commodities. If you start hauling electronics but your policy only covers dry goods, that load is uninsured.
CSA score impact ignored -- poor CSA scores from violations and inspections directly increase premiums 20-50%+. Proactive safety programs and driver training lower scores and premiums.
No trailer interchange -- if you damage a non-owned trailer under an interchange agreement, your physical damage policy won't cover it. Trailer interchange coverage fills this gap.
Owner-operators without occupational accident -- independent contractors aren't covered by your WC policy. Without occupational accident coverage, a serious injury creates litigation exposure for your company.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does trucking insurance cost?

Most trucking operations pay between $8,000 and $20,000+ per truck per year for a full insurance program. Local and regional operations with clean CSA scores pay less. Long-haul, hazmat, and new-venture carriers pay significantly more. Driver experience and safety record are the biggest rate factors after cargo type.

What insurance does a trucking company need?

At minimum: primary auto liability with MCS-90 endorsement, motor cargo insurance, physical damage, and general liability. You also need workers' comp for employees and non-trucking liability for bobtail coverage. Hazmat carriers need pollution liability. Most brokers now require $2M+ in total liability coverage.

What is MCS-90 endorsement?

The MCS-90 is an FMCSA-required endorsement for interstate for-hire carriers. It guarantees minimum liability coverage ($750K general freight, $1M oil, $5M hazmat) to pay third-party bodily injury and property damage claims, even if the underlying policy would otherwise deny coverage.

Can new trucking companies get insurance?

Yes, but premiums are higher for new-venture carriers (operating less than 2-3 years). With 300+ carrier markets including new-venture specialists, we regularly place startups that other agencies can't. Clean driving records and a solid safety plan help keep rates manageable.

How do CSA scores affect trucking insurance rates?

Poor CSA scores from violations, out-of-service orders, and failed inspections can increase premiums 20-50% or more. Some carriers won't insure fleets with high BASIC scores. Proactive driver training, pre-trip inspections, and addressing violations promptly are the best ways to keep scores -- and premiums -- down.

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