Key Takeaways
Commercial truck insurance is a set of auto insurance policies aimed at businesses, entrepreneurs, and anyone who uses or owns commercial hauling vehicles. Commercial trucks are most commonly used for special cargo, transporting merchandise and heavy goods, towing vehicles, agri-business, and more.
If you run a business that uses a fleet of commercial utility vehicles, you will need to have commercial truck insurance to protect yourself from untoward incidents.
As a truck owner or a business owner/entrepreneur operating commercial vehicles, you may own a fleet of commercial trucks - or ‘commercial utility vehicles' as they are also called. These commercial vehicles help you run your firm/business and achieve sufficient scale to turn a profit. You may also be a freight business owner who is hired by individual clients/companies to transport important cargo.
In both cases, the customer is trusting you with transporting their freight - which may be worth thousands - in a responsible manner! It's absolutely necessary to have insurance to help cover any losses or damages arising from an accident. These include losses due to:
There are different coverage options for rig/truck owners to choose from when comparing commercial truck insurance policies. The type of coverage needed may differ based on the type of business you work in like industrial goods, consumer goods, construction material, hazardous materials, agribusiness, or any other cargo.
Here are the major types of coverages offered under commercial truck insurance:
Commercial trucks can include the following:
Commercial trucks come in a wide variety of weight classes, sizes, utility levels, and categories. The rates for commercial trucks handling hazardous substances will also be higher than those handling non-hazardous ones.
The major factors affecting commercial truck insurance rates are the following:
USDOT Authority
If you own a fleet of commercial vehicles through your business, you will need to have a very good USDOT operating history. Any violations could lead to higher insurance rates overall. This is also why it is much cheaper to lease commercial trucking activities to a professional company instead of operating on your own.
Type of cargo
Commercial truck rates can vary depending on the type of cargo being carried. For example, trucks that transport heavy machinery or farm equipment can cause more damage and hence cost more to insure than trucks that transport freight like fresh produce.
Garbage trucks and vehicles dealing with hazardous substances can cause more damage in an accident than normal vehicles.
Type of vehicle
A heavy semi-truck will cost you more in insurance than a lighter pickup truck because of the possibility of more damage in an accident. Newer commercial trucks will also cost more to insure as their repairs can be expensive.
Contractual requirements
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) has set a minimum liability limit of $750,000 combined single limit (CSL) or $1,000,000 CSL for truckers who need a federal filing. There may also be contractual requirements that need additional coverage for your cargo or trailer interchange.
Location
Commercial truck insurance can vary widely depending on which state you live in. Currently, the highest truck insurance rates are in Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida.
Driving history
Just like a passenger vehicle, truck drivers with many violations on their record can be charged higher truck insurance rates. Some cargo can be very dangerous if not driven at proper speeds and in accordance with traffic rules - so make sure you drive properly and safely.
The average cost of commercial truck insurance in the US is roughly $9593 per year for truckers who don't need a USDOT filing. For commercial truckers who need a USDOT filing, the average cost can shoot up to $13,500 per year on average.
States with the highest rates include Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey, and New York. The cheapest rates trucking insurance rates can be found in Mississippi, Wyoming, and Iowa.
| State | With USDOT Filing | Without USDOT Filing |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $14,246 | $10,314 |
| Alaska | $9,356 | $6,945 |
| Arizona | $11,827 | $6,132 |
| Arkansas | $14,952 | $11,003 |
| California | $14,071 | $11,864 |
| Colorado | $12,140 | $7,324 |
| Connecticut | $17,034 | $16,976 |
| Delaware | $19,700 | $17,381 |
| Florida | $19,510 | $12,902 |
| Georgia | $20,671 | $15,230 |
| Idaho | $9,038 | $6,917 |
| Illinois | $13,811 | $7,734 |
| Indiana | $11,171 | $8,460 |
| Iowa | $8,896 | $5,645 |
| Kansas | $10,190 | $6,675 |
| Kentucky | $15,530 | $11,585 |
| Louisiana | $23,483 | $19,766 |
| Maine | $13,793 | $9,565 |
| Maryland | $16,086 | $11,142 |
| Massachusetts | $17,047 | $5,477 |
| Michigan | $13,823 | $8,940 |
| Minnesota | $12,850 | $9,699 |
| Mississippi | $4,694 | $3,582 |
| Missouri | $11,787 | $7,676 |
| Montana | $9,522 | $6,531 |
| Nebraska | $8,694 | $6,289 |
| Nevada | $16,942 | $10,711 |
| New Hampshire | $11,420 | $6,847 |
| New Jersey | $20,285 | $20,793 |
| New Mexico | $9,768 | $7,328 |
| New York | $16,979 | $17,615 |
| North Carolina | $10,660 | $7,480 |
| North Dakota | $9,236 | $6,486 |
| Ohio | $9,963 | $7,124 |
| Oklahoma | $13,413 | $9,406 |
| Oregon | $11,302 | $8,514 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,500 | $7,566 |
| Rhode Island | $17,250 | $14,076 |
| South Carolina | $13,406 | $9,420 |
| South Dakota | $9,043 | $6,719 |
| Tennessee | $13,803 | $9,622 |
| Texas | $14,527 | $10,563 |
| Utah | $11,140 | $9,151 |
| Vermont | $9,673 | $6,967 |
| Virginia | $13,149 | $9,987 |
| Washington | $12,736 | $8,514 |
| West Virginia | $14,668 | $11,717 |
| Wisconsin | $9,261 | $6,744 |
| Wyoming | $7,179 | $4,957 |
The minimum coverage required for a commercial truck is $100,000 - but this can vary depending on the type of truck and what it is used for. The weight of the commercial truck is also an important factor that decides the minimum insurance requirement.
For example, Hazmat trucks and those handling sewage or any other hazardous wastes will need a higher minimum coverage.
| Type of Commercial Truck | Minimum Insurance Requirement |
|---|---|
| Vehicles weighing less than 10,001 lbs transporting non-hazardous freight | $300,000 |
| Vehicles weighing more than 10,001 lbs transporting non-hazardous freight | $750,000 |
| For-hire and Private Carriers moving oil | $1,000,000 |
| For-hire and Private Carriers moving hazardous material | $5,000,0000 |
Break down insurance premiums into monthly payments
Since most yearly insurance premiums can amount to more than $5000, it can be daunting to pay it all in one go. The better way to pay for trucking insurance is to break it down into smaller, monthly payments that will be more affordable in the long term.
Pick and choose your coverage wisely
While you may feel that having comprehensive coverage is the best option there is, it could also put a lot of stress on your budget. You can always reduce the total insurance cost for your commercial truck by raising your deductible amount and excluding coverage you think isn't required.
Try and score discounts wherever possible
Some truck insurance providers will offer special discounts that you can use to further reduce the cost of commercial truck insurance. These include:
Shop around with multiple insurance providers
Don't go for the first insurance provider that offers you a decent rate for your commercial trucks. You need to find a provider that offers you the right mix of coverage and stays within your budget at the same time! For that, you need to first get multiple quotes from several vetted providers.
Running a business or operating a commercial fleet of trucks can be quite stressful! A lot hinges on the successful operation of your commercial fleet - and this includes having comprehensive commercial truck insurance.
Protect your fleet of trucks from unforeseen accidents, damages, and financial losses - find the best commercial truck insurance with Way.com! In just minutes, you can get free quotes from multiple insurance providers, compare their offers, and find competitively priced policies to ensure your commercial fleet is well protected!
The auto insurance rates published in this guide are based on the results of research completed by Way.com’s data team. Using a mix of public and internal data, we analyzed millions of rate averages across U.S. ZIP codes.
Quotes are typically based on a full coverage policy average unless otherwise noted within the content.
These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes will differ. Given this, it’s important to go through our insurance steps form to find how much you can save with way.com
Commercial truck insurance is a set of policies aimed exclusively at commercially owned and utilized vehicles like tractors, freight trucks, commercial lorries, pick-up trucks, and semi-trucks.
The lowest commercial truck insurance can be found in the states of Mississippi, Wyoming, and Iowa.
Depending on the type of truck, the kind of cargo it transports, and the weight of the vehicle, commercial truck insurance can range from $1500-$9000.
To get the lowest rates for commercial truck insurance, it's best to compare rates from multiple insurance providers and choose one that fits all your needs. With a network of more than 150+ providers, Way.com can help you narrow down your choices and find the best truck insurance for you.
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