Quick answer
Trucking insurance starts with primary auto liability. For-hire carriers hauling general freight across state lines need at least $750,000 under federal rules, or $300,000 if every vehicle is under 10,001 pounds, and Florida sets its own minimums for heavier trucks. Most operations also carry physical damage on the truck and trailer, motor truck cargo, and general or non-trucking liability, plus workers' compensation for employees.
Coverage a trucking or hotshot operation usually needs
| Coverage | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Primary auto liability | Injuries and property damage you cause on the road, at the federal or Florida minimum or the higher limit your shippers and brokers require. |
| Physical damage | Collision and comprehensive on your truck and trailer, usually required if they're financed or leased. |
| Motor truck cargo | The freight you're hauling. Brokers and shippers often set a minimum cargo limit in their contracts, and some commodities are excluded or limited. |
| Non-trucking liability | For owner-operators leased to a motor carrier: liability when you're driving the truck for your own purposes, outside the carrier's dispatch. |
| General liability | Claims that don't involve driving, such as at a yard or a customer's dock. Many broker agreements ask for it. |
| Workers' compensation | Employees hurt loading, unloading or driving. Required once you reach Florida's employee threshold. |
Florida and federal rules that apply
- Federal minimum for for-hire carriers hauling non-hazardous property in interstate commerce in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more: $750,000 of public liability. Hazardous materials require $1 million or $5 million depending on the material (49 CFR 387.9).
- For-hire carriers whose fleet includes only vehicles under 10,001 pounds GVWR hauling non-hazardous property: $300,000 (49 CFR 387.303). A pickup pulling a gooseneck can cross 10,001 pounds combined, so we confirm which minimum applies from your truck and trailer ratings.
- Carriers with federal operating authority have their insurer file proof of coverage with FMCSA on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X (49 CFR 387.313).
- Florida minimums for commercial motor vehicles on its roads: $50,000 per occurrence from 26,000 to under 35,000 pounds, $100,000 from 35,000 to under 44,000 pounds, and $300,000 at 44,000 pounds or more; vehicles under the federal rules must carry the federal minimums (section 627.7415, Florida Statutes).
As of October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
What drives the price
- Radius and states you run, and whether you haul interstate
- What you haul (general freight, equipment, auto haul, hazardous materials)
- Driver experience, CDL history and motor vehicle records
- Years in business under your own authority
- Truck and trailer values, and the limits your brokers require
- Safety record and claims in the last three to five years
Have this ready before you ask for a quote
- USDOT and MC numbers, or that you're applying for authority
- Drivers: names, dates of birth and years of CDL experience (we'll get license numbers by phone)
- Trucks and trailers: year, make, model, VIN, GVWR and value
- Radius, states and the commodities you haul
- Broker or shipper insurance requirements
- Prior insurance and loss runs for the last three to five years
Don't have everything? Send what you have; an agent will ask for the rest. Coverage can't be bound or changed through this website, and each insurance company makes its own underwriting decision.