Coverage for the freight that is often worth more than the truck.
Motor Truck Cargo protects the load you are hauling. Shippers require it, brokers demand proof of it, and one damaged high-value load can dwarf the value of the tractor carrying it.
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In short
Motor Truck Cargo insurance covers loss or damage to the freight you haul, from collision, fire, theft, and weather. Brokers commonly require proof of at least $100,000 in cargo coverage before tendering a load, and standard policies exclude high-risk commodities like alcohol, tobacco, and explosives.
Last updated by the Road Ready Insurance team
Motor Truck Cargo insurance at a glance
| What it covers | Loss of or damage to the freight in your care from covered perils such as collision, fire, theft, and weather. |
|---|---|
| Is it federally required? | Only household goods carriers must file cargo proof (Form BMC-34) with the FMCSA. Other carriers carry it because brokers and shippers require it. |
| Limit brokers commonly require | $100,000. Higher limits ($250,000, $500,000, and above) are available for higher-value freight. |
| Common exclusions | Alcohol, tobacco, coins, explosives, and radioactive material, unless specifically scheduled onto the policy. |
| Reefer loads | Spoilage from a refrigeration unit failure usually needs Reefer Breakdown coverage added. |
| One high-value load | A single-trip cargo increase raises your limit for that one haul. |
| What drives the premium | Varies with commodity, limit, deductible, theft exposure, radius, and loss history. |
What it covers
The protection this policy actually puts in place.
- Loss or damage to the freight you are legally hauling
- Fire, collision, theft, and covered perils affecting the load
- Damage from severe weather and accidents outside the driver's control
- The cargo limits shippers and brokers require to book your loads
Who needs it
Is this coverage for your operation?
Any authority hauling freight for hire. Most brokers and shippers require proof of cargo coverage, commonly $100,000, before they will tender a load. Because policies carry a value limit, you want enough coverage for the most valuable load you realistically haul before you take off. $100,000 is the standard baseline, but we can write higher limits, $250,000, $500,000, and above, whenever the freight you move calls for it.
Standard cargo policies exclude high-risk commodities such as alcohol, tobacco, coins, explosives, and radioactive material. Those exclusions are not the final word, though: if alcohol, tobacco, or another normally-excluded commodity is a regular part of what you haul, we can often schedule it onto your policy so it is actually covered. If you move reefer, high-value, or specialized freight, the commodity schedule matters as much as the limit.
Why Road Ready for motor truck cargo
The difference is how we place it.
Cargo claims get denied on the fine print, excluded commodities, refrigeration warranties, unattended-vehicle clauses. We read that fine print before you sign, so the coverage matches what you actually haul.
Need more coverage for one specific load? We can add a single-trip cargo increase, endorsing the extra limit onto your policy for that one haul. If your policy covers $100,000 and a load requires $150,000, we bind the additional $50,000 for that single trip and turn the quote around quickly, so you can secure the opportunity for your company without disturbing your annual policy.
We also turn certificates around fast. When a broker needs proof of cargo coverage to release a load, your agent issues the COI by the next business day rather than leaving you sitting.
Common questions
Straight answers on motor truck cargo.
Related coverage
Coverages that often ride alongside this one.
Ready to review your motor truck cargo?
Talk to an agent who specializes in trucking. We will review your operation and place coverage with no gaps and no padding.