Commercial trucking insurance for owner-operators and fleets

Commercial trucking insurance is a bundled program that protects your trucks, drivers, cargo, and business from accidents, breakdowns, cargo loss, and liability claims. It combines primary auto liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo, and coverages like bobtail and trailer interchange, built around how your operation runs.

Yes. The FMCSA mandates minimum liability for interstate carriers, and Illinois requires liability on all commercial trucks. General freight commonly needs a $750,000 limit, most freight brokers now require $1,000,000, and hazardous materials can require up to $5,000,000. You cannot get or keep operating authority without it.

An owner-operator under their own authority typically pays $10,800 to $19,200 per truck per year, while a driver leased to a carrier who only needs bobtail and physical damage pays about $3,000 to $6,000. Illinois operators commonly land between $11,000 and $18,000 per truck. Cargo type, radius, driver records, and where the truck is garaged drive the number.

Bobtail and non-trucking liability cover your truck when it is driven off-dispatch or for personal use, when your primary policy does not apply. Leased drivers often carry it because the motor carrier provides liability only while under dispatch. One uncovered off-duty incident can otherwise end your operation.

Trailer interchange covers physical damage to a trailer you pull but do not own under a trailer interchange agreement. If you haul other companies' trailers, it protects you against damage to that equipment while it is in your possession.

Most shippers and brokers require at least $100,000 in motor truck cargo coverage, though some loads need more. FMCSA rules also set cargo minimums by vehicle and freight type, and hazardous cargo requires the highest limits. We match your cargo coverage to both your contracts and federal rules.

These are federal filings that prove you carry the required liability to hold motor carrier authority. Your insurer files the MCS-90 endorsement and a BMC-91 or BMC-91X with the FMCSA, and without them you cannot legally operate. We handle these filings as part of placing your policy.

Yes. An owner-operator running under their own authority needs the full program, including primary liability, cargo, physical damage, and FMCSA filings. A driver leased to a carrier usually only needs bobtail or non-trucking liability and physical damage, because the carrier provides primary liability under dispatch.