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Dry Van & General Freight Insurance

Dry-van and general-freight carriers may haul a changing mix of commodities for brokers and shippers across local, regional, or long-haul routes. The insurance review should identify excluded or higher-value commodities, equipment, drivers, authority, radius, contracts, safety performance, and cargo controls.

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Operations this guide may include

  • General freight in dry vans
  • Owner-operator and small-fleet motor carriers
  • Brokered, contracted, dedicated, and spot-market loads
  • Local, regional, and long-haul interstate operations

Questions that shape the conversation

Insurance markets evaluate the complete operation. These are examples of details that can materially affect the available path.

  1. Which commodities are regularly, occasionally, or never hauled?
  2. What are the maximum load value, radius, mileage, states, and overnight patterns?
  3. How many drivers, tractors, and trailers are active, leased, or added during the year?
  4. How are dispatch, hours of service, maintenance, cargo security, and driver performance monitored?

Coverage topics to discuss

Primary auto liability

Liability considerations for motor carriers operating scheduled tractors and commercial vehicles.

Motor truck cargo

Potential protection for covered freight, subject to commodities, limits, contracts, and exclusions.

Physical damage

Collision and other covered damage considerations for tractors and trailers.

Trailer interchange and general liability

Separate discussions involving non-owned trailers and operations beyond direct vehicle use.

Information worth preparing

  • Tractor and trailer schedules with VINs, values, ownership, and leases
  • Driver roster, experience, motor vehicle records, and safety information
  • Commodity, radius, mileage, state, customer, and revenue breakdown
  • Authority, filings, contracts, cargo limits, current insurance, and loss runs

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Hotshot Trucking Insurance

Insurance considerations for hotshot carriers using pickups, flatbeds, goosenecks, and expedited-hauling equipment.

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Refrigerated Trucking Insurance

Insurance planning for refrigerated carriers, reefer fleets, temperature-controlled freight, and cold-chain transportation.

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This guide provides general educational information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Coverage availability, eligibility, limits, exclusions, and pricing vary by applicant, insurer, policy, and state.