Insurance
Motor truck cargo insurance for truckers: what it covers and who requires it
Updated
Motor truck cargo insurance covers the freight you haul if it's lost or damaged in your care. For general freight, the minimum comes from brokers, since FMCSA sets none. Of the 22 brokers that publish a cargo minimum on their own pages, 21 ask for $100,000 or more.
At a glance
- Federal cargo minimum, general freight
- None
- Household goods cargo
- $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence
- Brokers asking $100,000 or more
- 21 of the 22 that publish a cargo minimum on their own pages
- Higher asks
- $250,000 at Bison, CEVA 250 and Averitt drayage
- Broker terms checked
- October 2026
Check what a load needs before you book it. Pick the broker or program and your truck to see the cargo limit and terms it publishes. What does this load need?
Who requires cargo coverage
The one federal cargo rule covers household goods movers: $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence, filed on a BMC-34. FMCSA's filing chart has no cargo minimum for general freight.
Brokers set their own floor. Of the 22 brokers that publish a cargo minimum on their own pages, 21 ask for $100,000 or more. The table lists the one that states less and the brokers and programs that word it differently or ask for more, as of October 2026:
| Broker or program | Cargo on its own page |
|---|---|
| Trinity Logistics | $50,000 |
| DSV | $100,000, listed as preferred |
| J.B. Hunt | Varies by load. Specialized or high-value loads may need more |
| Super Dispatch | No minimum to get verified. Instant booking needs a cargo limit that meets the load |
| CEVA Logistics | $100,000 on open registration. $250,000 for its invitation-only program |
| Averitt | $100,000. $250,000 for drayage |
| Bison Transport | $250,000 |
| Bridgeway | $100,000 per shipment. $500,000 for wind turbines and parts |
What brokers check beyond the $100,000
The dollar figure gets you through setup. The policy terms decide what that $100,000 covers, and several brokers write those terms into their carrier agreements.
Spot, BNSF Logistics, Flock Freight, Uber's power only program, Werner and Bridgeway ask for all-risk or broad form cargo coverage.
Exclusions brokers bar
These brokers bar exclusions that would leave their freight uncovered:
- Spot: unattended or unattached vehicles, mechanical refrigeration, spoilage and electric equipment.
- Uber Freight: refrigeration breakdown or lack of fuel. Its power only terms also bar unattended or unattached trailers, theft and the commodity hauled.
- Bridgeway: unattended or unattached vehicles, wet or water damage, rust, corrosion, theft, abandonment, heating or cooling breakdown or malfunction, the commodity hauled and per-pound limits.
- Werner: employee theft or dishonesty.
- Logistics Plus: theft, crime and mysterious disappearance.
- England Logistics asks for $100,000 with no cargo exclusion.
Deductible caps
Deductibles have limits too:
- Cornerstone caps the cargo deductible at $5,000.
- Spot and Logistics Plus cap it at $10,000.
- Bridgeway's terms leave the deductible with you.
How the limit is counted
The same $100,000 can be counted per shipment, per occurrence, per trailer or per load.
| Counted | Brokers |
|---|---|
| Per shipment | BNSF Logistics, Logistics Plus and Bridgeway |
| Per occurrence | ATS Logistics, Arrive, Flock Freight and Circle |
| Per trailer | Werner |
| Per truckload | MegaCorp |
Ask your agent for the exclusion list and the deductible in writing before you bind. Check them against the brokers you plan to run with.
High-value freight
The $100,000 floor is a minimum, and some brokers ask for more on high-value loads:
- J.B. Hunt: specialized or high-value loads may need more cargo coverage.
- BNSF Logistics: a full cargo policy, or your insurer's confirmation of no commodity or cause-of-loss limits, on high-value or high-risk freight.
- MegaCorp: extra or all-risk coverage per load, by written request and approval before dispatch.
Before you book a high-value load, check the load's cargo value against your limit.
How brokers verify it
Brokers check cargo on your certificate of insurance (COI) or with your agent, since general freight cargo has no FMCSA filing.
- Loadsmart asks for the COI before the first shipment.
- TQL verifies insurance directly with your agent.
A plain $100,000 cargo certificate doesn't show reefer breakdown terms, so reefer haulers need those listed too. The reefer breakdown page covers those terms.
Pricing cargo
Get cargo priced as its own line on every quote, at the same limit and deductible, so you can see what it adds. The quote comparison guide has a sheet for that, and the cost page shows what owners report paying in total.
Match your cargo terms to the load. "What does this load need?" shows the cargo limit, exclusions and extras a broker or program publishes. What does this load need?
Frequently asked questions
Does FMCSA require cargo insurance?
FMCSA sets no cargo minimum for general freight. The one federal cargo rule covers household goods movers: $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence, filed on a BMC-34.
How much cargo insurance do brokers require?
Of the 22 brokers that publish a cargo minimum on their own pages, 21 ask for $100,000 or more. Bison Transport, CEVA's invitation-only program and Averitt drayage ask for $250,000.
Which cargo exclusions do brokers reject?
Several brokers bar exclusions in their carrier terms, including unattended or unattached vehicles, refrigeration breakdown, theft and the commodity hauled. Ask your agent for the exclusion list in writing before you bind.
Does a cargo certificate show reefer breakdown coverage?
A plain $100,000 certificate doesn't, so reefer haulers need the breakdown terms written on it too.