Business
Commercial Truck Insurance: What It Costs and What to Check
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
For-hire trucks over 10,000 pounds that haul general freight across state lines must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage. Hauling hazardous materials requires $1 million or $5 million, depending on the load.
That's just the legal floor. Most brokers and shippers ask for more, and you'll likely need cargo and physical damage coverage too.
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What affects your truck insurance price
Price range
Truck insurance prices vary a lot by truck, load, route, and driver, so we don't list one average.
Not a quote or an offer. Your price comes from the insurance company.
What moves the number
- What you haul. Hazardous and high-value loads cost more.
- Where you drive. Long-haul and busy routes cost more than local work.
- Your drivers. Their records and experience matter a lot.
- How long you've been in business. New trucking companies often pay more at first.
- Your safety scores. FMCSA tracks these, and insurers look at them.
- Your truck. Its value and age affect physical damage coverage.
Commercial truck insurance coverage
Primary liability. Required. Pays for damage and injuries you cause to others.
Cargo. Pays for the load you're hauling if it's damaged or stolen. Many brokers and shippers require it.
Physical damage. Pays to fix or replace your truck after a crash, theft, fire, or storm.
Non-trucking liability. For owner-operators leased to a carrier. It covers you when you're driving your truck for personal use, not under dispatch.
Bobtail coverage. Covers you when you're driving without a trailer. It's similar to non-trucking liability, but it may apply even while you're under dispatch, depending on the policy. Ask which you need.
Trailer interchange. Covers a trailer you don't own while it's in your care under a trailer-swap agreement.
Federal and broker requirements
FMCSA filing. If you're a for-hire interstate carrier, your insurer files proof of your liability coverage with the FMCSA, the federal agency that regulates trucking. You can't operate without it.
Broker and shipper contracts. The $750,000 federal minimum is just the floor. Many brokers and shippers ask for $1 million or more in liability, plus a set amount of cargo coverage. Check your contracts before you pick limits.
New authority. If you just got your operating authority, expect higher prices at first. Clean driving records and good safety scores help bring them down over time.
What to ask before you choose
- "Will you file my proof of insurance with FMCSA?"
- "How much cargo coverage do my brokers require?"
- "Does my cargo policy exclude any goods I haul?" Some exclude things like electronics or reefer breakdowns.
- "Do I need non-trucking liability or bobtail coverage?"
- "How do my safety scores affect my price?"
Keep reading
Smaller work vehicles? See commercial auto insurance. Need a truck? Compare equipment financing.
Specialty business coverage: Errors and omissions · Inland marine (tools and equipment) · Builder's risk · Surety bonds · Event insurance · Employment practices liability (EPLI) · Commercial umbrella · All business services
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