ServicesHotshot Truck Insurance
Hotshot Truck Insurance in College Park
We insure hotshot rigs: the one-ton pickup, the gooseneck or bumper-pull trailer, and the loads in between. Before we suggest any policy, we look at your truck, your trailer, your lanes and your freight. Then we tell you plainly what you need and what you can skip.
What hotshot insurance covers and who needs it
Hotshot work sits in an odd spot. The truck looks like a pickup, but once it pulls a loaded trailer for hire, it is a commercial motor vehicle. A personal auto policy will not pay a claim on a paid load. You need commercial coverage written for the way hotshot freight actually moves.
If your truck and trailer together are rated over 10,001 pounds and you haul for hire, you need a DOT number. Run across state lines for hire and you also need MC authority, along with a liability filing with FMCSA. Most general freight hotshots must carry at least $750,000 in liability to keep that authority active, and many brokers ask for more.
We start by looking at what you run before we quote anything. That means the truck, the trailer, the commodities, the miles and your driving record. Plenty of hotshot policies go wrong because nobody asked what was going on the deck.
What a hotshot policy usually includes
- 01
Primary auto liability
This pays for injuries and damage you cause to others on the road. It is the coverage tied to your authority, and we handle the filings that go with it.
- 02
Physical damage on truck and trailer
Collision and comprehensive for your pickup, with the trailer listed separately at its own value. A $70,000 truck and a $15,000 gooseneck need to be scheduled correctly, or a claim gets messy.
- 03
Cargo coverage
Protects the freight you are hauling. We read the exclusions with you, because hotshot loads like vehicles, machinery and steel often carry limits or conditions that catch drivers off guard.
- 04
Non-trucking liability if you are leased on
If you run under another carrier's authority, their policy covers you on dispatch. Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail) Insurance covers you when you are off the clock.
- 05
Certificates of insurance
Brokers and shippers want a certificate of insurance before you load. We get them out with the right limits and the right names on them.
Questions about Hotshot Truck Insurance?
Call(404) 236-6408Signs your hotshot coverage needs a closer look
You are hauling on a personal policy
If the pickup is still on a personal auto policy and you are taking paid loads, a claim can be denied outright. Fix this before the next run.
Brokers turn you down
Load boards and brokers often want $100,000 in cargo coverage or a $1 million liability limit. If you are losing loads over a certificate, your limits are the problem.
Your trailer is not listed
Some policies cover the truck and leave the trailer off, or list it at a value from years ago. Check the declarations page.
Your freight changed
Started hauling cars, oilfield equipment or heavy machinery? Your cargo form may not cover it. Commodity changes are one of the most common gaps we find.
You run further than you used to
A policy written for short local runs around Atlanta may not fit regular trips out of state. Radius matters to the insurer, and so does accuracy.
How we work through it with you
- 1
We look first
On a phone or video call, or at our office, we go over your truck, trailer, drivers, lanes and freight. If you already have a policy, send it over and we read it line by line.
- 2
We tell you what we found
You hear plainly where you are covered, where you are thin and where you may be paying for something you do not use. No pitch attached.
- 3
We shop the market
We are licensed for property and casualty insurance and take your details to carriers that write hotshot business. Then we lay the options side by side so you can compare limits, deductibles and exclusions.
- 4
We handle the paperwork
Once you choose, we file what your authority needs and send certificates to your brokers. When something changes, like a new trailer or a new commodity, call us and we update it.
What drives your hotshot premium
There is no flat rate for hotshot coverage. Two drivers with the same truck can see very different premiums. Here is what moves the number, so nothing on the quote surprises you.
- Driving record and experience
- Your MVR and years of commercial driving weigh heavily. A clean record with some CDL time behind it opens up more carriers.
- Age of your authority
- Brand new MC authority costs more to insure than one with a couple of years of history. New authorities still get coverage, it just takes more shopping.
- What you haul
- General freight rates differently than vehicles, machinery or oilfield loads. Higher cargo limits also raise the price.
- Truck and trailer values
- Physical damage is priced on what your equipment is worth. Newer trucks and heavier trailers cost more to cover.
- Radius and garaging
- How far you run and where the truck is parked at night both factor in. Long interstate runs usually price higher than regional work.
Hotshot insurance questions we hear often
Do I need a CDL to run hotshot?
Not always. If your truck and trailer combined are rated under 26,001 pounds, you usually do not. Go over that and you need a CDL. Insurers also tend to give better options to drivers with some CDL experience.
Can I insure a new hotshot authority?
Yes. Fewer carriers write brand new authorities, and the premium is higher at the start. We have been doing this for 5 years and know which markets will look at a new hotshot operation. See our New Authority Truck Insurance page for more on that stage.
Does my cargo coverage cover cars on a car hauler trailer?
Only if the policy says so. Many cargo forms exclude or limit vehicles. We check the commodity list on your policy against what you actually haul before you sign anything.
Is my trailer covered if it gets damaged while unhooked?
It depends on how the trailer is listed. If it is scheduled with its own physical damage coverage, usually yes. If it was never added, no. We confirm this during the review.
How fast can you get me a certificate of insurance?
Once a policy is bound, we send certificates as broker requests come in. Getting the policy bound depends on the carrier and how complete your information is, so have your DOT number, VIN numbers and driver details handy when you call.
Talk through your hotshot rig with us
Tell us what you pull and what goes on the deck. We will look it over and give you a straight answer about what fits your operation.