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Commercial Trucking Insurance
Commercial trucking insurance for owner-operators and fleets
Trucking insurance is the package of commercial policies a motor carrier needs to run legally: primary auto liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo, and the FMCSA filings that activate your authority. Pro Insurance Group builds that package for owner-operators, small fleets, and new authorities in Illinois and 40 other states.
Get a Trucking Quote Call 833-776-4671- Specialty Insurance
- Commercial Trucking Insurance
40+
States covered
FMCSA
Filings & MCS-90
Independent
Top-rated carriers
1 to 300
Units insured
Quick Answer: Commercial trucking insurance is a bundled program that protects your trucks, drivers, cargo, and business. The core is primary auto liability, physical damage, and motor truck cargo, plus bobtail, trailer interchange, and FMCSA filings. Insureon reports a median of $816 per month for commercial auto among the trucking businesses that apply through it. Owner-operators under their own authority pay more than drivers leased to a carrier, because they buy the primary liability themselves.
Pro Insurance Group is an independent trucking insurance brokerage with offices in Elgin and Huntley, Illinois. We write motor carriers in Illinois and 40 other states, from a single owner-operator to fleets of 300 units, and we place each account with the carriers that actually want trucking risk. Our team files the MCS-90 and BMC-91X, turns certificates around the same day in most cases, and reads your broker and shipper contracts so the limits on the policy match what the loads require. If you run out of Illinois, we also know the Chicago-area litigation climate and the rate environment that comes with it.
In this guide
Coverage types | Who we insure | Owner-operator vs fleet vs new authority | FMCSA & compliance | Cost | Guides & resources | FAQ
Types of commercial trucking coverage
A complete trucking program stacks several coverages. We build the right combination around your equipment, freight, and authority.
Primary auto liability
The legally required foundation. Pays for injury and property damage your truck causes to others, and the limit your authority and brokers demand.
Physical damage
Repairs or replaces your truck and trailer after a collision, theft, fire, or weather. Required if financed, and what keeps a bad week from ending your business.
Motor truck cargo
Protects the freight you haul from pickup through delivery. Brokers such as C.H. Robinson and TQL require $100,000. See our cargo insurance guide.
Bobtail & non-trucking liability
Covers your truck off-dispatch and between jobs, when your primary policy does not apply. Essential for leased drivers. See bobtail coverage.
Trailer interchange
Covers physical damage to trailers you pull but do not own under an interchange agreement, protecting you while that equipment is in your possession.
Truckers general liability
Covers claims off the road, at your yard, terminal, or during loading. Works alongside auto liability. See general liability.
Reefer breakdown
Covers loss to refrigerated freight when the reefer unit fails, closing a gap standard cargo policies often exclude.
FMCSA filings & MCS-90
We file the MCS-90 endorsement and BMC-91X with the FMCSA to activate and maintain your authority, handled as part of placing your policy.
Who we insure
From a single rig to a 300-unit fleet, we tailor coverage to how you run and what you haul.
Owner-operators
Running under your own authority, with the full program and FMCSA filings handled. See owner operator insurance.
Small fleets (2 to 10)
One coordinated fleet policy instead of separate plans per truck.
Multi-state carriers
Interstate authority, higher limits, and full permit and audit documentation.
Leased drivers
Bobtail and non-trucking liability standby protection when the carrier provides primary.
Box trucks, hot shot & delivery
Lighter units for local freight, expedited loads, and last mile. See box truck, hot shot, and last-mile delivery.
Specialized & hazmat
Higher-risk freight and tow operations, including towing and dump trucks, with the right limits.
Owner-operator vs fleet vs new authority: what changes
The coverages are the same names on every trucking policy. What changes is how the carrier rates you, which carriers will quote you at all, and how much paperwork sits between you and a bound policy. Here is the short version for the three situations we see most.
Owner-operator with your own authority
One truck, your own MC number, your own loads. You need the full program: primary liability at $750,000 to $1,000,000, physical damage on the tractor and trailer, motor truck cargo (large brokers ask for $100,000), and the MCS-90 endorsement on your policy.
Leased to a carrier instead? Their policy carries the liability. You only buy non-trucking liability and physical damage, which costs far less than a full program. Our owner operator insurance page compares the two.
Fleet of two or more trucks
Rating moves from the driver to the operation. Carriers price a fleet on three years of loss runs, the driver roster, and the safety program, so a clean CSA score and a telematics record lower the number directly. You choose scheduled autos or a blanket any-auto form, add hired and non-owned auto, trailer interchange, and an umbrella when shipper contracts ask for $2,000,000 or more.
Bigger fleets often pay by monthly reporting forms instead of a fixed schedule, so premium follows the trucks you actually run. See our fleet insurance page.
New authority (first 24 months)
The hardest buy in trucking. Fewer carriers quote a new MC number, so premiums generally run higher, and some carriers ask for a larger down payment or payment in full. Your authority does not go active until the BMC-91X is on file with the FMCSA, so the policy has to be bound before you can book a load.
Years of CDL experience, a clean MVR, and a short radius are what move the quote. Once you clear 12 to 24 months of filings and loss history, the broader market opens up and rates ease. Start with new authority insurance in Illinois.
FMCSA requirements and compliance
Operating authority depends on carrying the right liability and filing proof with the federal government. The FMCSA sets minimums under 49 CFR Part 387: general freight requires $750,000 in trucks rated 10,001 pounds or more, large freight brokers such as C.H. Robinson and TQL require $1,000,000, and hazardous materials can require up to $5,000,000. Carrying too little is not just risky, it can stop you from booking loads.
Your insurer must file an MCS-90 endorsement and a BMC-91X with the FMCSA to activate or maintain your motor carrier authority, and motor truck cargo minimums apply by vehicle weight and freight type. We handle every filing, confirm your limits match your contracts, and pair trucking coverage with a commercial umbrella when brokers demand higher limits. For the foundational coverage beneath your trucks, see commercial auto insurance.
What commercial trucking insurance costs
There is no flat rate in trucking. Cost depends on authority status, equipment, cargo, radius, driver records, and where the truck is garaged. These are the most recent published figures:
| Published figure | Cost and source |
|---|---|
| Commercial auto, trucking businesses | $816 per month ($9,794 per year), median Insureon, updated June 2025 |
| Commercial truck insurance, national average | $734 to $926 per month Progressive Commercial, new policies, 2025 |
| Liability only, $1,000,000 limit | $421 per month ($5,051 per year), average MoneyGeek, updated September 2026 |
| Motor truck cargo | $129 per month ($1,553 per year), median Insureon, updated June 2025 |
Insureon's figures are medians for the trucking businesses that apply for quotes through it. Progressive's are averages for its own new policies, per truck, for liability and physical damage with no driver violations. MoneyGeek's is an estimate for liability alone. None is a quote. Nobody publishes a figure split by authority: an owner-operator under their own authority pays more than a leased driver because the primary liability is theirs. For detail, see semi-truck insurance cost in 2026, the Illinois 2026 guide, and our box truck pricing.
Trucking insurance guides and resources
Deeper reading from our team on coverage, cost, and compliance:
Semi-Truck Insurance Cost in 2026Averages, cost drivers, and ways to lower your premium. Illinois Commercial Truck Insurance: 2026 GuideICC and FMCSA rules, limits, and IL cost ranges. What IL Truck Drivers Should Know About CargoCargo minimums by weight and freight type. Understanding Liability Coverage in TruckingHow primary liability fits a broader strategy. Best Trucking Insurance for Fleet OwnersWhat multi-truck operations should prioritize. Cheap Trucking Insurance in IllinoisWhat cheap really means, and where it costs you.
What our clients say
Why truckers choose Pro Insurance Group
We shop the right carriers
We identify the carriers most likely to compete for your specific risk profile, not just page-one price.
Filings handled
MCS-90, BMC-91X, and FMCSA-compliant plans delivered quickly so your authority stays active.
Fast COIs
Certificates and filings turned around quickly so loads and contracts never wait on paperwork.
Illinois trucking experts
We know the Chicago litigation and rate environment and design programs that hold up locally.
Commercial trucking insurance FAQ
What is commercial trucking insurance?
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.
Is trucking insurance required by law?
Yes. Federal rules set minimum liability for for-hire interstate carriers: $750,000 for general freight in trucks rated 10,001 pounds or more, and up to $5,000,000 for hazardous materials. Illinois requires liability insurance on commercial trucks as well. Large freight brokers such as C.H. Robinson and TQL require $1,000,000. You cannot get or keep operating authority without it.
How much does commercial trucking insurance cost?
Insureon reports a median of $816 per month, or $9,794 per year, for commercial auto insurance among the trucking businesses that apply through it. Progressive Commercial reports a national average of $734 to $926 per month for new policies in 2025. An owner-operator under their own authority pays more than a driver leased to a carrier, who usually needs only non-trucking liability and physical damage. Cargo type, radius, driver records, and where the truck is garaged drive the number.
What is bobtail or non-trucking liability insurance?
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.
What is trailer interchange insurance?
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.
How much cargo insurance do I need?
Federal rules require cargo insurance only of household goods carriers. For general freight the amount is set by your contracts. C.H. Robinson and TQL both publish a $100,000 cargo requirement for the carriers they use, and some loads need more. We match your cargo coverage to your contracts.
What are MCS-90 and BMC-91 filings?
They are how a motor carrier proves it carries the liability federal rules require. The MCS-90 is an endorsement on your liability policy. The BMC-91 or BMC-91X is the form your insurer files with the FMCSA, and your authority is not active without it. We arrange both as part of placing your policy.
Do owner-operators and leased drivers need different coverage?
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.
Get your trucks covered and your filings handled
One truck or a full fleet, a licensed advisor will compare top-rated carriers, file your FMCSA paperwork, and keep your freight moving. No pressure.
Get a Trucking Quote Call 833-776-4671NF
Reviewed by Neal Fusco, VP Commercial Lines
25+ years placing commercial trucking and transportation coverage across Illinois and 40+ states.
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