ServicesMotor Truck Cargo Insurance
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance in College Park
Cargo coverage pays when the freight you are hauling gets damaged, stolen or lost. We start by looking at what you haul, how you haul it and what your current policy leaves out. Then we tell you plainly what we found and quote from there.
What cargo insurance actually covers
Your liability policy covers other people and their property. Your physical damage policy covers your truck. Neither one pays for the load. Motor truck cargo insurance covers the freight in your care, from the time you pick it up until it is signed for at delivery.
For most general freight, federal rules do not require it. Brokers and shippers do. Most won't tender a load until they have a certificate of insurance showing cargo coverage at the limit they ask for. So if you run under your own MC authority, you almost always need it.
The trouble is that two cargo policies with the same limit can pay very differently. One might exclude theft from an unattended truck. Another might not cover the commodity you haul most. That is why we read the policy before we recommend anything.
What we look at and set up
A read of your current policy
If you already carry cargo coverage, we go through it with you. We look at the limit, the deductible, the commodity list and the exclusions. You get a plain summary of what it would and would not pay.
Commodity review
We ask what you really haul, not just what you hauled last month. Electronics, alcohol, tobacco and other high-theft freight are often excluded or capped. If your loads fall in those groups, we look for a policy that names them.
Reefer breakdown coverage
If you pull a refrigerated trailer, spoilage from a unit failure is usually not covered unless the policy adds it. We check for that endorsement and explain what it requires, such as maintenance records.
Broker and shipper requirements
We read the limits and terms in your broker agreements and match the policy to them. That way the coverage on paper is the coverage they asked for.
Certificates of insurance
Once coverage is in place, we handle certificates for the brokers and shippers you work with, listing them the way their paperwork requires.
Signs your cargo coverage needs a look
- A broker turned down your certificate
- Your limit was too low, or a required term was missing. It usually means the policy was bought without reading the broker's requirements.
- You changed what you haul
- Moving from dry freight to produce, or from building materials to packaged goods, can put you outside your commodity list. The policy does not adjust on its own.
- You don't know your exclusions
- If you can't say whether theft from a parked truck is covered, you should find out before a claim. Many carriers learn it after.
- A claim was denied or short-paid
- Denials often trace back to an unattended vehicle clause, a reefer exclusion or a commodity that wasn't listed. We can read the policy with you and explain what happened in plain terms.
- You just got your authority
- New carriers often buy the cheapest cargo policy to get moving. It is worth a second look before the bigger loads start coming.
How it works when you call
- 1
Tell us about your operation
We talk by phone, by video or at our office. We ask what you haul, your lanes, how many trucks and trailers you run, and whether you pull reefer. Have your DOT number and MC authority handy.
- 2
We review what you have
Send us your current policy and your broker agreements. We go through them line by line and note the gaps, the overlaps and anything that does not match your loads.
- 3
You get plain findings
We tell you what we found before we talk price. Sometimes your current policy is fine and only needs one change. If so, we say that.
- 4
We quote and compare
If new coverage makes sense, we shop it and walk you through the options side by side, including what each one excludes.
- 5
Coverage and certificates
Once you pick a policy, we bind it and send out certificates of insurance to the brokers and shippers you name.
What moves your cargo premium
There is no single price for cargo coverage. The premium comes from what you haul, how much of it, and how risky the carrier thinks it is. We explain each piece on your quote so you can see where the money goes.
- Commodity
- High-theft and easily damaged freight costs more to cover. General dry freight usually costs less than electronics or temperature-sensitive loads.
- Limit and deductible
- A higher limit raises the premium. A higher deductible can lower it, but only if you can cover that amount out of pocket after a loss.
- Reefer and other endorsements
- Adding reefer breakdown, debris removal or earned freight coverage changes the price. We only suggest the ones your loads call for.
- Loss history and experience
- Past cargo claims and how long you have run under your authority both weigh on the rate. Newer carriers usually pay more at first.
Cargo insurance questions we hear
- Is cargo insurance required by law?
- For most general freight carriers, no federal filing is required for cargo coverage. In practice, brokers and shippers require it before they give you loads. We can check what your specific contracts ask for.
- What cargo limit should I carry?
- Start with the most valuable load you haul and the limit your brokers require, then take the higher of the two. If some loads run well above your usual freight, we can talk about options for those. We will look at your actual loads before giving you a number.
- Does cargo insurance cover theft?
- Usually, but read the conditions. Many policies limit or exclude theft from an unattended truck, or require the trailer to be locked and the truck parked in certain places. We point those clauses out before you buy.
- Who are you, and can you sell this coverage?
- We are licensed for property and casualty insurance, and we have been in business for 5 years. We work with motor carriers in College Park, East Point, Hapeville and the rest of the south metro area.
- Can I add cargo to my existing truck policy?
- Often, yes. Cargo can be written with your liability and physical damage or on its own. We look at your current setup and tell you which way leaves fewer gaps. Our commercial trucking insurance page covers how the pieces fit together.
Find out what your cargo policy really says
Have your current policy and a broker agreement close by. We will read them with you and give you straight findings before any quote.