This guide explains what commercial truck insurance is, which coverages you need first, how much it can cost, and how Simplex Group gets you insured and on the road with the right limits and certificates of insurance (COIs).
What is commercial truck insurance?
Commercial truck insurance is a package of policies built for transportation risk—protecting your truck, your cargo, and your liability while meeting FMCSA and contract requirements. At minimum, interstate carriers must carry Primary Auto Liability to obtain authority; most shippers also require Motor Truck Cargo and General Liability. Simplex Group has helped carriers and drivers for 20+ years, bundling insurance with DOT compliance, permits, and filings so you can start hauling sooner.
The starter bundle for new companies (and why)
- Primary Auto Liability (required by FMCSA): Covers bodily injury and property damage you cause while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
- Motor Truck Cargo: Protects the load (limits vary by commodity—common starting point $100k+).
- Physical Damage (Comp/Collision): Repairs your tractor/trailer after covered losses (you choose deductibles).
- General Liability (GL): Premises and operations liability, often required by facilities.
- Trailer Interchange (if applicable): Covers non-owned trailers under interchange agreements.
- Workers’ Compensation/Occupational Accident: Required or strongly recommended depending on driver status.
Simplex Group advantage: We align insurance with your operating radius, commodities, and contracts, then sync your COIs with brokers and facilities so load tendering isn’t delayed.
How to get a quote for one truck (and scale later)
- Tell us your plan: lanes, radius, power unit(s), trailer type, commodities.
- Share driver/vehicle details: VINs, garaging, driving history, years of CDL.
- Pick limits that match contracts: e.g., $1M liability, $100k–$250k cargo, $1M GL.
- Choose deductibles: higher deductibles lower premium; balance cash flow vs. risk.
- Bind and generate COIs: we send certificates to your brokers/facilities—fast.
What factors affect commercial truck insurance rates?
- Experience & loss history (both company and drivers)
- Vehicle type & value (newer tractors cost more to insure)
- Radius of operation (longer, unfamiliar routes = higher exposure)
- Commodities (hazmat, autos, high-theft items raise risk)
- Safety & compliance profile (HOS, inspections, DQF, maintenance discipline)
Simplex ties your insurance with safety programs (HOS/ELD audits, DQF upkeep). A cleaner compliance profile can improve insurability and pricing over time.
Typical starting limits and costs (indicative)
- Auto Liability: $750k–$1M (many contracts require $1M)
- Cargo: $100k standard; higher for reefer/high-value goods
- GL: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
- Physical Damage: Actual cash value (ACV) of unit(s) with chosen deductible
Premiums vary by risk factors above. Simplex Group shops multiple carriers to match your profile and budget.
FAQs
How do I get commercial trucking insurance for a new company?Share driver, unit, operations, and commodity info. Simplex will quote, bind, and issue COIs while handling USDOT/MC filings and UCR.
What is a certificate of insurance (COI) for trucking?A proof document showing your limits, endorsements, and additional insureds—brokers/facilities often require it before loading. Simplex issues COIs quickly to keep freight moving.
Best commercial trucking insurance companies—how do I choose?Market strength matters, but fit matters more. Simplex shops reputable markets and pairs insurance with compliance support to reduce total risk.
