What does motor truck cargo insurance cover?

Motor truck cargo insurance covers physical loss or damage to freight you are legally liable for while it is in your care, custody, and control — including in transit, at terminals, and during loading and unloading. It does not cover damage to your own truck.

How much cargo coverage do I need?

Most freight brokers require a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence. Shippers hauling high-value commodities (electronics, pharmaceuticals) often require $250,000 or more. Your limit should match the value of the highest-value load you are likely to haul.

Does cargo insurance cover refrigerated breakdown?

Standard cargo policies exclude spoilage from mechanical breakdown of refrigeration equipment. A reefer breakdown endorsement adds this coverage — essential for produce and temperature-sensitive freight haulers.

Can I get cargo insurance with a prior cargo claim?

Yes. E&S markets underwrite prior cargo claims on a case-by-case basis. A single minor claim — especially one that was properly documented and disclosed — typically does not prevent placement. Multiple large claims are harder but not impossible.

What is an earned freight endorsement?

An earned freight endorsement protects the revenue you lose when a load is rejected or destroyed due to a covered cargo loss. Without it, you recover only the value of the freight — not your lost hauling income.

How fast can I get a cargo insurance certificate?

For most standard dry van, flatbed, and general freight carriers, Truxsurance issues cargo certificates same-day. New authorities in approved commodity classes can typically bind and receive certificates within hours of submitting an application.

Do I need cargo insurance if I already have primary liability?

Yes. Primary liability covers damage you cause to other people and property — it does not cover the freight you are hauling. Cargo insurance is a separate policy specifically protecting the goods in your truck.

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Cargo Coverage for Freight Carriers — Owner-Operators to Fleets

Motor truck cargo insurance protects the freight you haul against loss or damage in transit, at terminals, and during loading and unloading. Whether you haul dry van, flatbed, refrigerated, or specialized freight, Truxsurance places cargo coverage through A-rated carriers with limits matched to your commodity and shipper requirements.

Same-day certificates available.

Some of the insurance markets we work with

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

Same-Day

Certificates Issued

$25K–$1M+

Cargo Limits Available

All Classes

Dry Van · Flatbed · Reefer

A-Rated

Carrier Markets

What Is Motor Truck Cargo Insurance?

Motor truck cargo insurance (also called cargo liability insurance) is the coverage that protects the freight in your truck. Your primary liability policy covers damage you cause to other vehicles and property — it does not cover the goods you are hauling.

When a load is damaged, stolen, or lost while it is in your care, custody, and control, your cargo policy responds. This includes freight in transit, freight stored temporarily at a warehouse or terminal during the move, and cargo damaged during loading or unloading.

Most freight brokers require carriers to carry a minimum of $100,000 per occurrence before they will allow you on their load boards. Many shippers and high-value commodity contracts require $250,000 or more.

Who This Coverage Is For

Owner-operators and small fleets hauling dry van, flatbed, or refrigerated freight

Carriers with broker or shipper agreements requiring specified cargo limits

Amazon Relay, Convoy, and load-board carriers needing fast cargo certificates

Intermodal drayage carriers hauling loaded containers under UIIA agreements

Carriers hauling high-value commodities requiring limits above $100,000

New authorities that need cargo coverage to start accepting broker loads

Why Carriers Get Declined

Standard markets decline cargo applications fast. Here is what trips them:

Hauling high-theft commodities (electronics, pharmaceuticals, alcohol)
Cargo loss history — even minor claims trigger declinations from standard markets
High-value single-load exposure without temperature or security controls
New authority without verifiable commodity or lane history
Refrigerated freight without temperature-monitoring equipment

Most retail agents stop here. We do not.

How We Place Motor Truck Cargo Coverage

We do not just submit applications — we structure them for the way underwriters actually decide.

A-rated E&S and admitted markets experienced in specialty cargo classes — we know which markets write your commodity

Limits from $25,000 to $1,000,000+ matched to your specific broker and shipper requirements

Prior cargo claims reviewed case-by-case — a single documented claim is rarely a declination with our markets

Refrigerated breakdown coverage structured as an endorsement for reefer operators

Earned freight endorsements to protect revenue lost on spoiled or rejected loads

Fast certificates of insurance — typically same-day for active accounts and new authorities in approved classes

Refrigerated & Reefer Cargo Coverage

Standard cargo policies exclude spoilage caused by mechanical breakdown of your refrigeration unit. If you haul temperature-sensitive freight — produce, dairy, frozen food, pharmaceuticals — you need a reefer breakdown endorsement added to your cargo policy.

Truxsurance structures reefer cargo coverage with the breakdown endorsement included, temperature monitoring requirements clearly documented for the underwriter, and limits matched to the value of the perishable loads you haul.

Mechanical reefer breakdown spoilage covered
Temperature log requirements clearly disclosed
Produce, dairy, frozen food, pharma — all written
Limits matched to your highest single-load value

Real Placement Example

5-truck dry van fleet — Midwest lanes

Exposure

General freight, primarily retail and grocery
Average load value $45,000
One cargo claim in prior 3 years — damaged pallet

Result

$100,000 cargo limit per occurrence
Prior claim disclosed and underwritten — no surcharge
Certificate issued same-day for broker onboarding

Standard dry van freight places well even with minor cargo history when the claim is properly documented and disclosed upfront.

What Motor Truck Cargo Insurance Covers

Physical loss or damage to freight in your care, custody, and control

In-transit damage — collision, upset, fire, theft

Loading and unloading damage

Terminal and warehouse storage (while in transit)

Earned freight — revenue protection on spoiled or rejected loads

Refrigeration breakdown endorsement (optional — for reefer operators)

Debris removal and cleanup costs

Customs duty — liability on import cargo duty for damaged goods

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance Pricing

Real numbers — not guesses.

Single owner-operator (dry van, general freight)	$1,800 – $3,500/yr
3–5 truck fleet (general freight, $100K limit)	$4,500 – $9,000/yr
Refrigerated / reefer breakdown endorsement	Add $800 – $2,000/yr
High-value commodity ($250K+ limit)	Priced on submission
Prior cargo loss history	Priced on submission

What Drives Pricing

Commodity type — high-theft or high-value freight costs more
Cargo limit — $100K vs. $250K vs. $1M changes the premium significantly
Deductible selected — higher deductible lowers premium
Cargo claim history — prior losses affect E&S market pricing
Geographic lane — regional vs. cross-country affects exposure

Insurance specialist working with a carrier

Why Trucking Companies Choose Truxsurance for Cargo

Cargo specialists — we know which markets write your commodity class and at what limits

Prior cargo claims are not automatic declinations with our E&S markets

Limits and deductibles structured to match your specific broker requirements

Same-day certificates for broker onboarding and load acceptance

Frequently Asked Questions

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