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Coverage 04 of 12

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Brokers will not release a load without it. Carry the right limit and the right endorsements.

Motor truck cargo insurance pays for freight that is damaged, lost or stolen while in your care, custody and control. Nearly every broker and shipper requires a $100,000 limit on your certificate before dispatch, and many commodities need more.

The policy form matters more than the price. Reefer breakdown, unattended vehicle theft, target commodities like electronics and copper, and loading and unloading are where cheap cargo policies fall apart. We read the exclusions so you do not find them at claim time.

Who needs it

  • Any carrier hauling for brokers or shippers
  • Reefer operations (add reefer breakdown)
  • High-value or target commodity haulers

What it covers

Inside the policy

Damage in transit

Collision, overturn, fire, and weather damage to the load.

Theft

Including unattended vehicle theft when the endorsement is included.

Reefer breakdown (optional)

Spoilage from mechanical failure of the refrigeration unit.

Debris removal and pollutant cleanup

The cost of clearing a spilled load from the roadway.

FAQ

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance: common questions

What does a cargo policy usually exclude?

Common exclusions are unattended vehicles, certain target commodities (electronics, tobacco, alcohol, copper), live animals, and loads outside your filed commodity list. We match the form to what you actually haul.

Do I need cargo if I only haul my own goods?

If you never haul for hire you may not need motor truck cargo, but you may need inland marine or stock coverage. Ask us; it is a short conversation.

Does cargo cover the trailer?

No. The trailer is physical damage; cargo is only the freight inside it.

Related coverage

Usually written alongside

Quote motor truck cargo insurance with the rest of your policy.

Send us the basics. A licensed agent shops the carriers that want your class and calls you with actual numbers, ready to bind. Most quotes come back within 24 hours; many are completed and back in your hands within one to two hours on the same business day.

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