Trucking liability insurance, shopped across 20+ carriers
Trucking primary auto liability pays for bodily injury and property damage a commercial motor vehicle operator causes to third parties while operating under dispatch or in for-hire or private carriage.
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- Licensed in 5 states
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Affordable trucking liability insurance in NV, AZ, UT, TX & OH
Every for-hire and private motor carrier operating a CMV in commerce. Interstate for-hire carriers meet FMCSA minimums and file MCS-90 + BMC-91 with FMCSA; intrastate-only carriers in NV, TX, OH, UT, and AZ meet and file with their state authority.
As a local broker with access to 20+ carriers, Liberty Choice does the shopping for you and brings back a competitive rate you qualify for — across all five states we’re licensed in.
At a glance
Trucking liability insurance at a glance
- FMCSA minimum liability for general freight is $750,000 combined single limit. Interstate for-hire carriers hauling general commodities must maintain at least $750,000 CSL; carriers hauling hazardous materials face minimums of $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 CSL depending on the commodity.
- An MCS-90 endorsement is required for every interstate for-hire carrier. The MCS-90 endorsement, attached to the primary trucking liability policy, certifies compliance with FMCSA financial responsibility requirements and guarantees minimum payment to injured third parties even if the policy would otherwise exclude the claim.
- Intrastate-only carriers in Nevada meet state PUC/DOT requirements instead. Nevada carriers operating only within state lines file with the Nevada Transportation Authority (NTA) rather than FMCSA; minimum liability requirements are set by NTA and vary by operation type.
- Trucking liability premiums are heavily driven by driver records and equipment age. Driver MVRs (motor vehicle records), CSA safety scores, and the age and condition of power units are among the most significant underwriting factors for trucking liability rates.
Source: FMCSA financial responsibility regulations (49 CFR Part 387) — $750,000 CSL minimum for general freight; $1M–$5M for hazardous materials. Owner-operator annual premiums range $9,000–$20,000+ depending on authority type (ATRI 2025 Operational Costs of Trucking report; atob.com, 2024). progressivecommercial.com/business-resources/fmcsa-insurance-requirements/.
Coverage explained
What trucking liability insurance covers
The details
The parts of a trucking liability policy
| Coverage | What it covers | Typically |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Auto Liability | Pays bodily injury and property damage to third parties caused by a covered truck operating under dispatch on a public road. | Required |
| FMCSA Financial Responsibility Filing | The BMC-91 or MCS-90 endorsement filed with federal regulators to prove the carrier meets minimum liability requirements for operating authority. | Required |
| General Liability | Pays for non-driving liability exposures such as bodily injury during loading and unloading or damage at a shipper's dock. | Recommended |
| Trailer Interchange Liability | Pays liability for damage caused by a non-owned trailer pulled under a written interchange agreement. | Optional |
| Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail) | Pays liability for accidents occurring while the truck is driven off-dispatch or bobtailing between loads, a gap not covered by the motor carrier's policy. | Recommended |
| Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist | Pays the carrier's losses when the at-fault driver in an accident carries no coverage or limits too low to cover the claim. | Varies by state |
| Workers Compensation | Pays medical and indemnity benefits for employee drivers injured while operating the vehicle. | Required |
Requirements vary by state — your Liberty Choice agent confirms exactly what NV, AZ, UT, TX or OH requires.
How does trucking liability insurance work?
Primary trucking liability is the federally mandated coverage that pays bodily injury and property damage claims made against a carrier when one of its trucks causes an accident. If a loaded semi rear-ends a passenger vehicle on the interstate, this policy pays the injured parties' medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs up to the policy limit. The FMCSA requires interstate motor carriers to carry proof of this coverage in the form of a BMC-91 or MCS-90 endorsement filed with the agency before operating authority is granted. (confirm) The federal minimum limit for general freight carriers and the applicable intrastate minimums for NV, AZ, UT, TX, and OH should be confirmed with current FMCSA and state PUC schedules before quoting.
Beyond the basics
Optional & additional coverage
Ask your agent about these add-ons for extra peace of mind:
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Ways to save on trucking liability insurance
- Maintain strong CSA scores and a clean DOT safety record. Carriers with excellent FMCSA CSA scores and no recent DOT violations access preferred trucking programs with substantially lower premiums than operators with safety deficiencies.
- Implement formal driver qualification and MVR review programs. Annual MVR reviews, minimum driver age requirements, and documented driver qualification files reduce underwriting risk and can earn discounts of 5–15%.
- Use electronic logging devices (ELDs) and GPS fleet management. Carriers with ELD compliance and documented fleet-management technology demonstrate lower accident risk to underwriters, which can improve program placement and premiums.
- Bundle trucking liability with physical damage and cargo. Many trucking program markets offer package pricing when trucking liability, physical damage, and cargo coverage are written together, reducing the combined premium versus buying separately.
- Raise the deductible on physical damage. While the liability portion has fixed filing requirements, raising the physical-damage deductible reduces that portion of the premium, lowering the overall package cost.
- Pay the annual premium in full. Most carriers offer a 3–8% discount for upfront annual payment versus installments — meaningful given the higher absolute premium for trucking.
Source: FMCSA CSA program documentation (ai.fmcsa.dot.gov); ATRI 2025 Operational Costs of Trucking Report — driver qualification programs and ELD compliance are documented underwriting factors; MVR review discounts of 5–15% reported by trucking program carriers.
Questions
Trucking liability insurance FAQ
What is the MCS-90 endorsement and why does it matter?
BMC-91 vs BMC-91X?
Do private carriers hauling only their own goods need the same minimums?
How much does trucking liability insurance cost?
What is the difference between BMC-91 and BMC-91X filings?
Do private carriers hauling only their own goods need the same FMCSA minimums?
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