What insurance does a trucking fleet of 5 to 50 trucks need?
The same core policies as one truck: primary auto liability, motor truck cargo and physical damage. What changes is the review. Underwriters look closely at your loss runs, your drivers and your FMCSA safety data. Some contracts ask for limits above your primary policy, which is what excess or umbrella coverage adds. Complete driver files help.
What coverage does a fleet of 5 to 50 trucks carry?
| Coverage | What it covers | Who asks for it |
|---|---|---|
| Primary auto liability | Injury and damage your trucks cause to others | Federal law for for-hire interstate carriers, filed with FMCSA |
| Motor truck cargo | The freight you haul | Brokers and shippers, by contract (federal filing only for household goods) |
| Physical damage | Your own tractors and trailers | Lenders and lessors, and you |
| General liability | Claims off the road, at a dock, yard or customer site | Shippers and facilities, by contract |
| Excess or umbrella | Limits above your primary policies | Larger contracts |
The federal floor for liability
| Your trucks and freight | Federal minimum |
|---|---|
| Every vehicle in the fleet under 10,001 lbs GVWR, general freight | $300,000 |
| Any vehicle 10,001 lbs GVWR or more, general freight | $750,000 |
| 10,001 lbs or more, oil and most hazardous materials | $1,000,000 |
| Bulk hazmat, certain explosives, poison gas, highway route controlled radioactive loads | $5,000,000 |
Source: 49 CFR 387.303(b). These are federal floors for for-hire interstate carriers. Brokers and shippers often ask for more by contract, so check each carrier packet.
What do underwriters look at for a fleet?
With one truck, the driver is the story. With 20, the story is how you run the company. Expect questions on:
- Loss runs from your current and past insurers.
- Drivers: a list with each CDL, date of birth, years of experience and driving record.
- Your FMCSA safety data: inspections, violations and crashes.
- Units: year, make, VIN and value of each truck and trailer, and where they park overnight.
- Operations: what you haul, your radius and your main lanes.
- How you manage safety: hiring standards, driver training, maintenance records, and any cameras or telematics.
How does FMCSA measure your safety record?
FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses roadside inspections and crash reports from the last two years, plus investigation data. It updates once a month and sorts the data into seven categories, called BASICs:
- Unsafe Driving
- Crash Indicator
- Hours-of-Service Compliance
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Controlled Substances and Alcohol
- Hazardous Materials Compliance
- Driver Fitness
SMS groups you with carriers that have a similar number of safety events and gives you a percentile in each BASIC. The Crash Indicator and Hazardous Materials BASICs are not public; you see them when you log in to your own safety profile. A violation on an inspection report counts even if no ticket was written. If one is wrong, ask for a review through DataQs.
What has to be in every driver qualification file?
Federal rules list what each driver's file must hold (49 CFR 391.51). The Driver Fitness BASIC looks at these records.
- The driver's employment application.
- A driving record from every state that licensed the driver in the past 3 years, requested within 30 days of hire (49 CFR 391.23).
- The road test certificate, or a license or certificate you accepted in its place.
- A driving record pulled at least once every 12 months, and a note of who reviewed it and when (49 CFR 391.25).
- The medical examiner's certificate, or for CDL drivers the state driving record that shows medical status.
- Any medical variance or Skill Performance Evaluation certificate.
Two more checks sit outside the file. Before a new driver's first safety-sensitive shift, run a full query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, then query every driver at least once a year. Keep a record of each query for 3 years (49 CFR 382.701). You also have to look into each new driver's safety history with DOT-regulated employers from the past 3 years (49 CFR 391.23).
Keep each file as long as the driver works for you and three years after.
Excess or umbrella: what is the difference?
Both add limits above your primary auto liability. Excess usually follows the terms of the policy under it. An umbrella can sit over more than one policy, such as auto liability and general liability, and may cover some claims those policies do not. Wording differs by insurer, so read the forms side by side before you choose.
How can a growing fleet get ready?
- Ask each current and past insurer for your loss runs.
- Log in to your FMCSA safety profile, read every BASIC, and challenge errors through DataQs.
- Check every driver file against the list above, and fix the gaps.
- Keep one list of every truck and trailer with VIN, value and lienholder.
- Write down how you hire, train and maintain, in a page or two.
- Read the insurance section of each broker and shipper contract, so you know the limits they ask for.
New to running under your own authority? Start with how to get insurance on file for a new MC authority.
Common questions
Does FMCSA require cargo insurance for a fleet?
Not for general freight. Only household goods carriers must file cargo coverage. Many brokers and shippers still ask for it by contract.
How far back does FMCSA's safety system look?
The Safety Measurement System uses roadside inspection and crash data from the last two years, plus data from investigations. FMCSA updates it once a month.
How long do we keep a driver qualification file?
For as long as the driver works for you, and three years after. Annual driving records, review notes and medical certificates may be removed three years after their date.
What if a violation on our record is wrong?
You can ask for a review through FMCSA's DataQs system. Violations on a roadside inspection report count in SMS even when no ticket was written.
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This page is general information, not legal advice or an offer of insurance. Rules change; check the sources below for current requirements.