Insurance Built Around Trucking Operations
Trucking comes with its own regulatory and risk profile. Interstate and intrastate authority requires filings to prove financial responsibility, liability claims have trended toward high-severity verdicts, and cargo and reefer exposures create claims that need dedicated coverage. Leased owner-operators also have to split coverage the right way with their motor carrier to avoid gaps.
FMCSA & State Filings
Interstate and intrastate authority requires filings — MCS-90 for auto liability, and state forms (such as California Form E and Form H) — to prove financial responsibility.
Nuclear Verdicts
Trucking liability claims have trended toward high-severity verdicts, making adequate primary limits and umbrella coverage critical for motor carriers and owner-operators.
Cargo & Reefer Exposure
Cargo damage, theft and refrigeration breakdown of perishable freight create claims that need dedicated motor truck cargo and reefer breakdown coverage.
Independent Contractor Status
Leased owner-operators need the right split of coverage between the motor carrier’s policy and the operator’s non-trucking or bobtail policy to avoid gaps.
Capital & Co Insurance Services is a California insurance agency that works with commercial trucking operations. We help motor carriers and owner-operators review their operations, understand the coverage and filings their authority requires, and compare options from the carriers we work with for a program that fits how they actually run. If you perform multiple lines of business, see our broader contractor insurance page as well.
Who We Work With
We work with trucking operations that move freight in California and across state lines, including:
Motor carriers and trucking companies operating under their own authority
Owner-operators leased to a carrier or running under their own authority
Fleet operators with multiple power units and drivers
Hotshot and expedited freight haulers
Reefer operators hauling temperature-controlled and perishable freight
Flatbed, dry van, liquid bulk and hazmat haulers
Intermodal container drayage operators moving containers to and from the ports
Freight brokers who may need contingent cargo and auto liability coverage
The right mix of coverage depends on your authority, the number of units you run, your radius, the cargo you haul and your drivers’ records.
Coverages Trucking Operations Commonly Consider
Every operation is different, and coverage is always subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. These are the coverages trucking operators most often ask us about.
Primary Auto Liability
Primary auto liability covers your legal liability for bodily injury and property damage to others while operating on dispatch or for business use. For interstate and certain intrastate authority, this policy must include filings such as the MCS-90 endorsement.
Physical Damage (Collision & Comprehensive)
Physical damage covers your owned power units and trailers for loss from collision, upset, fire, theft and other covered causes. Coverage is typically written on a stated value or actual cash value basis.
Motor Truck Cargo
Motor truck cargo covers loss or damage to the freight you haul in transit, subject to policy terms, exclusions and limits. Some commodities and causes of loss may be excluded or sub-limited, so the policy should match the freight you carry.
General Liability
Trucking general liability covers your business operations outside of driving — such as premises, loading and unloading, and certain operations at terminals — distinct from auto liability that follows the truck.
Non-Trucking / Bobtail Liability
Non-trucking or bobtail liability covers an owner-operator for liability while using the truck for personal use when not under dispatch. Leased owner-operators typically carry bobtail to fill the gap when the motor carrier’s primary liability does not apply.
Trailer & Trailer Interchange
If you pull trailers you do not own under a trailer interchange agreement, trailer interchange coverage can protect your responsibility for damage to non-owned trailers in your possession.
Workers’ Compensation
California generally requires employers to carry workers’ compensation for their employees. Whether owner-operators are treated as employees or independent contractors affects obligations — confirm current rules with the CSLB, EDD or your attorney.
Umbrella / Excess Liability
Given the severity of trucking liability claims, many carriers and brokers require limits above the primary policy. Umbrella or excess liability can add limits over auto liability, general liability and employer’s liability.
Reefer Breakdown / Spoilage
Operators hauling temperature-controlled freight may need reefer breakdown coverage for spoilage caused by mechanical failure of the refrigeration unit, often written separately from motor truck cargo.
Common Risks for Trucking Operations
These general scenarios illustrate the kinds of situations trucking operators think about when setting up coverage. Whether any specific claim is covered depends on the facts and your actual policy language.
At-fault accident causing severe injury or death. A collision involving your power unit results in high-severity bodily injury or a fatality.
Cargo loss, damage or theft in transit. Freight is damaged, destroyed or stolen while in your care, custody or control.
Refrigeration breakdown spoiling perishable freight. A reefer unit fails and a temperature-sensitive load is lost.
Rollover or jackknife. The unit rolls or jackknives, damaging the tractor, trailer and cargo.
Unattended truck theft. A tractor, trailer or load is stolen while parked or during a layover.
Loading and unloading property damage. Cargo or a dock is damaged while freight is being loaded or unloaded.
Independent operator coverage gaps. A leased owner-operator has a claim that falls between the motor carrier’s policy and the operator’s bobtail.
FMCSA Filings and Compliance
Operating authority means proving financial responsibility to regulators and to the public. Depending on your authority, you may need:
MCS-90 endorsement on your auto liability policy for interstate motor carriers of property and certain hazmat
State filings such as California Form E (auto liability) and Form H (cargo) for intrastate authority
USDOT number and motor carrier authority (MC number) registered with the FMCSA
Proof of financial responsibility filed with the FMCSA before interstate operations begin
Cargo coverage minimums appropriate to the freight you haul, including household goods
We can help you place coverage that satisfies your authority requirements and request certificates for brokers, shippers and warehousers. Requirements change, so confirm current rules with the FMCSA and the California DMV for your operation. Send us your requirements through our contact page.
How Quoting Works
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Tell us about your operation. Share your authority, the number of power units and trailers, your radius, the cargo you haul, your drivers and their MVRs, and any current policies through our quote request form.
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Share your filings and contract requirements. If you have broker or shipper contracts with specific limits or filings, include them so we can factor them in.
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Review options. We compare available coverage options from the carriers we work with and walk you through limits, filings and differences between them.
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Bind and get your filings and certificates. Once you choose a program and the carrier approves it, we help you put coverage in place and file the documents your authority requires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about insurance for commercial trucking operations.
Capital & Co Insurance Services is an independent insurance agency, not an insurance company. CA License #6002332. Coverage descriptions are general information only and do not modify any policy. All coverage is subject to underwriting approval and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy issued. Not all coverages are available to all businesses.
