Intermodal container truck at port terminal
    UIIA-Registered Agency

    Intermodal Insurance in Seattle

    UIIA-Compliant Coverage for Container & Chassis Carriers

    Most intermodal carriers we work with in Seattle need more than basic truck insurance. Your operation moves containers through Puget Sound terminals, rail ramps, and distribution centers across the Pacific Northwest, which introduces unique risks.

    Same-Day Quotes Same-Day COIs UIIA Support Nationwide

    Same-day UIIA filings.

    Some of the insurance markets we work with

    Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies
    National Indemnity Company
    GEICO
    Lloyd's of London
    Everspan Group
    Berkley Small Business Solutions
    Northland Insurance
    Canal Insurance
    Applied Underwriters
    Crum & Forster
    IAT Insurance Group
    Carolina Casualty

    Carrier availability varies by state, operation type, fleet size, and underwriting requirements.

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    UIIA-Registered Agency
    Same-Day COI Filings
    E&S Market Access
    IANA Filing Approved
    25+ Years Experience
    Required Before You Pull a Container

    UIIA Insurance Requirements

    Every carrier pulling ocean or rail containers must meet UIIA minimums. Most retail agents get these wrong — here's what you actually need.

    $1,000,000 CSL
    Auto Liability

    Must be Any Auto, Scheduled & Hired, or All Owned & Hired. FMCSA's $750K is NOT enough.

    $1M / $2M
    General Liability

    $1M per occurrence, $2M aggregate. Most EPs require additional-insured endorsement.

    $20K – $50K
    Trailer Interchange

    Covers non-owned chassis in your care. Must include comp, collision, fire & theft.

    $100,000+
    Motor Truck Cargo

    Most EPs require $100K minimum; some require up to $500K depending on freight.

    Also required: UIIE-1 endorsement on your auto policy and CA23-17 or TE23-17B on your cargo policy. Workers' comp required if your state mandates it or your equipment provider requires it. View official UIIA requirements

    Who Needs Intermodal Insurance?

    If you pull containers from ports or rail yards, you need UIIA-compliant coverage.

    Port drayage trucks at terminal

    Port Drayage Carriers

    • Move containers from ocean terminals
    • Pull UIIA-controlled chassis
    • Need UIIA cert filed with IANA
    • LA, Long Beach, Houston, Savannah, NJ
    Intermodal truck at rail yard

    Rail Ramp Drayage

    • Serve BNSF, UP, CSX, NS, CPKC ramps
    • Pull inland intermodal containers
    • Chicago, Dallas, Memphis, KC hubs
    • Must meet same UIIA minimums
    Owner operator intermodal truck

    Owner-Operators

    • Leased to drayage companies
    • Running under your own authority
    • Need your own UIIA-compliant policy
    • We write O/O intermodal coverage
    Puget Sound terminal & Seattle rail ramp coverage
    Tacoma, Everett, and Bellingham port connections
    Same-day UIIA Certificate of Insurance filings
    Pacific Northwest weather & terrain coverage

    Coverage Built for Seattle Carriers

    We write full-stack intermodal programs — not just a basic truck policy with a container checkbox.

    Auto Liability

    Protects your business if a truck causes bodily injury or property damage while hauling containers between Seattle terminals, rail yards, and regional customers.

    Physical Damage

    Covers collision and comprehensive losses to your tractors (and any trailers you own) in port, rail, and urban environments with heavy traffic and changing weather.

    Motor Truck Cargo

    Protects containerized freight while it's in your care on port, rail-connected, and regional delivery routes throughout Washington and neighboring states.

    Trailer Interchange Coverage

    Covers physical damage to non-owned trailers and containers you pull under written interchange or equipment agreements tied to Seattle terminals and rail ramps.

    Chassis Coverage

    Insures chassis you lease or borrow from port pools, rail providers, or equipment lessors while they're attached to your units and in your custody.

    General Liability

    Helps protect your business from certain third-party bodily injury or property damage claims that don't arise directly from operating the truck, including some yard and terminal-related incidents.

    Excess Liability / Umbrella

    Adds higher liability limits on top of your primary coverage to meet requirements from ports, railroads, large shippers, and 3PLs in the region.

    Non-Trucking (Bobtail) Liability

    Optional coverage for times when a tractor is operated off dispatch or without a trailer attached, outside of normal hauling.

    Same-Day UIIA Filings

    From Quote to Pulling Containers — Same Day

    01

    Get a Quote

    Tell us your operation — trucks, equipment providers, routes. We structure the right program.

    02

    Bind Coverage

    Review your policy. We confirm UIIA endorsements are correct.

    03

    We File Your UIIA COI

    Truxsurance files your Certificate of Insurance with IANA the same business day you bind.

    04

    Start Pulling Containers

    IANA verifies your filing. Your UIIA status activates. You're cleared to haul.

    Drayage driver at port terminal
    Container truck fleet at port

    Why Carriers Choose Truxsurance

    Most retail agents don't know the UIIA from the MCS-90. We do intermodal exclusively.

    • UIIA-registered agency — approved IANA filer
    • Same-day COI filings — start hauling today
    • E&S markets that understand container exposure
    • Coverage for all major U.S. ports & rail ramps
    • Multi-state program support where available
    • 25+ years transportation insurance experience

    Nearby Intermodal Markets

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Intermodal Resources

    Official UIIA Insurance Requirements

    Minimum coverage requirements from intermodal.org

    IANA Intermodal System Overview

    How the intermodal network works from IANA

    Truxsurance UIIA Insurance Guide

    Our complete UIIA coverage explainer

    Same-Day UIIA Filings

    How we file your COI with IANA the day you bind

    Product and local operating guide

    Building a complete Seattle, WA intermodal trucking insurance submission

    An intermodal submission must describe the complete container operation: marine terminals and rail ramps served, equipment providers, UIIA status, chassis arrangements, interchange agreements, cargo custody, garaging, operating radius, drivers, and the mix of local and regional work.

    Identify each equipment provider and terminal or rail facility used, along with container volume, empty repositioning, yard moves, warehouse transfers, bonded or refrigerated freight, and conventional truckload work. Underwriters need the real operating mix rather than a generic drayage label.

    For a Seattle, WA operation, the application should state where vehicles are actually garaged, every state or corridor served, maximum and typical radius, annual mileage, commodities, revenue, vehicle values, driver experience, prior coverage, and loss history. If the business is new, include relevant ownership, driving, safety, and industry experience instead of leaving the underwriter to infer it.

    Coverage structure

    The review commonly considers primary auto liability, cargo, physical damage, truckers general liability, trailer interchange or chassis physical damage, excess liability, and any provider-specific requirements. Limits and endorsements must be checked against current agreements.

    Deductibles, sublimits, scheduled equipment, covered causes of loss, exclusions, territory, and valuation provisions should be reviewed alongside the premium. A lower indication is not equivalent if it removes a required form or leaves a material exposure uninsured.

    Contracts, filings and certificates

    UIIA registration, equipment-provider addenda, IANA filing instructions, terminal credentials, and certificate-holder wording belong in the submission file. Platform or provider acceptance is separate from underwriting and is never guaranteed by a certificate alone.

    Provide the current written requirement rather than a summary from memory. Review named insured, certificate holder, additional-insured wording, waiver requests, primary and noncontributory language, notice provisions, filings, and effective dates before accepting work.

    Claims-ready operating controls

    A strong insurance file also explains how the business prevents and responds to loss. Document driver qualification, onboarding, vehicle inspections, preventive maintenance, cargo securement, dash cameras or telematics, accident reporting, post-loss testing, cargo documentation, and escalation responsibilities.

    Keep schedules and operations current after binding. Adding vehicles, drivers, commodities, territories, contracts, equipment providers, or a different type of hauling can require carrier approval or a policy change. Report changes before the new exposure begins whenever possible.

    Original Truxsurance editorial imagery

    How the operation connects from equipment to delivery

    These original images illustrate the operating details an application should describe. They are representative—not photographs of a specific insured, terminal, railroad, port, or facility in Seattle, WA.

    Intermodal container truck operating beside a rail ramp

    Rail-ramp and intermodal operations

    Rail facilities, equipment providers, container custody, chassis use and interchange requirements should be identified before quoting.

    Drayage team inspecting a container chassis and tires

    Chassis custody and inspection

    Interchange agreements, non-owned equipment values, inspection practices, maintenance and securement affect the coverage discussion.

    Trucks and workers handling freight at a distribution warehouse

    Warehouse and delivery exposure

    Cargo handling, loading, refrigeration, delivery radius, customer mix and overnight parking complete the end-to-end risk picture.

    Day-cab container truck entering a marine terminal gate

    Marine-terminal access

    Terminal access, credentials, gate activity, appointments, container volume and contract requirements belong in the operating profile.

    Quote comparison and renewal discipline

    Compare proposals on the same exposure basis and verify the named insured, vehicles, drivers, limits, deductibles, forms, endorsements, filings, payment terms, exclusions, and carrier conditions. Before renewal, reconcile schedules and operations, request loss runs early, document safety improvements, and address open claims or compliance issues.

    Truxsurance can help organize the insurance submission and review available market terms. Final eligibility, pricing, forms, coverage, filings, and timing remain subject to complete information, carrier underwriting, binding, and the issued policy.

    Intermodal port aerial view

    Get an Intermodal Quote for Seattle

    Same-day UIIA filings. E&S market access. Coverage that actually pays claims.

    Same-day indications available.

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