What is transportation insurance?
Transportation insurance is specialized commercial coverage for businesses that move people or goods. A customized policy can help protect your operation against liability claims, cargo and property damage or loss, breakdowns, and other hazards.
As the country's #1 commercial auto insurer,* Progressive Commercial has flexible transportation insurance coverages that can be tailored to your business to keep your operation running smoothly.
Do I need transportation coverage for my trucking company?
If you haul people, merchandise, or other types of cargo for work, you'll probably need transportation insurance protection. Businesses that can benefit from this specialized coverage include:
- Moving companies
- Shipping firms
- Delivery and courier services
- For-hire truckers
- Livery services
- Intermodal operations
What types of transport business insurance do you need?
There's a reason transportation insurance doesn't come packaged in one blanket policy. Your insurance needs will be unique, whether your business transports precious cargo by truck or customer vehicles with a car hauler.
Start a quote or talk to an expert to find the right insurance for your transportation business.
Key commercial auto coverages for transportation professionals
Commercial auto insurance helps transportation companies protect their vehicles, drivers, and other people on the road. Common auto coverages in the transportation business include:
- Vehicle liability: Helps cover third-party bodily injury, property damage, and legal expenses if an accident happens while driving for work. It's required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for certain types of trucks and cargo. Learn more about FMCSA requirements.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: This coverage protects you, your passengers, and your vehicle for injuries and property damage if another driver with little or no insurance hits you. Minimum coverage amounts are usually set by the state.
- Comprehensive: Protects your vehicle from non-collision incidents such as theft or vandalism. Your lender might require this coverage if you finance your vehicles.
- Collision: Pays for repairs if your truck hits another vehicle or object. This is an optional coverage that Progressive Commercial combines with comprehensive insurance.
Motor carriers that rely on trucks might have additional truck insurance needs. The following are additional truck insurance coverages that can benefit transportation companies.
Motor truck cargo
This coverage is ideal for companies that haul freight for others. Cargo insurance for transportation businesses covers the costs of replacing lost, damaged, or stolen cargo, and protects you against claims from the owner of the goods.
Trailer interchange
A trailer interchange agreement is a formal contract where a trailer is transferred from one trucker to another to complete a transaction. If a trailer you don't own is damaged while in your possession, this coverage protects you from liability.
Rental reimbursement with downtime
Imagine one of your commercial trucks gets in an accident and is sidelined in the repair shop. Transportation business downtime coverage can get you back in the driver's seat by covering the cost of a rental vehicle in the interim. You can also receive compensation for lost income during downtime if you can't find a suitable replacement.
Heavy truck roadside assistance
If your business requires you and your employees to be on the road often, a breakdown can bring your business to a stop. Emergency roadside assistance for transportation companies pays for services like jump-starts, towing, winching, and flat tire repairs to get you back in business.
Motor truck general liability
Customers often require for-hire trucks to carry motor truck general liability coverage. This insurance protects independent truckers from third-party injury and accident claims that occur at loading docks and other sites where commercial auto coverage wouldn't apply. You can add it to your commercial truck policy.
Fleet insurance
Fleet insurance covers multiple vehicles on a single policy. It's ideal for businesses that depend on a fleet to get the job done, such as delivery companies. If your transportation business has 10 trucks or more and is insured with Progressive Commercial, you'll need a fleet trucking insurance policy.
Protect your business wherever work takes you
Transportation businesses often need a mix of commercial auto and business insurance to stay protected. These coverages may be written on separate policies that work together to support your operations, on and off the road.
Luckily, Progressive Commercial can help you get both types of insurance. Explore your coverage options and start a quote online. You can also call our specialists if you'd prefer to talk it through.
Business insurance coverages for transportation companies
Transportation insurance can also protect companies from other unique risks. To prepare for unexpected challenges, transportation companies should consider these business insurance coverages.
General liability
General liability insurance covers injuries or property damage that happen at your business or because of your work, but it doesn't apply to accidents involving vehicles. For example, general liability could help if a customer slips and falls while at your office for a contract signing.
Workers' comp
If you have employees, whether they drive vehicles or work in the office, you might be required to carry workers' comp insurance. This coverage pays for medical and rehabilitation expenses and lost income if someone gets sick or injured on the job.
Inland marine insurance
Inland marine coverage, also called tools and equipment insurance, covers movable business property in case of theft or damage. Movable property could be materials or inventory that are stored off-site. It could also include equipment that's kept in commercial trucks, like pallet jacks. This coverage can be added to your general liability or business owners policy (BOP).
Cyber insurance
Most transportation companies rely on technology to manage complex logistics and customer information. Transportation-related cyber insurance protects you from liability claims that might arise if your data gets compromised by cyber attacks and data breaches. It can also pay for your recovery costs, repairs, and downtime.
Why choose Progressive Commercial for transportation insurance
You deserve coverage that works as hard as you do. That's why companies across the country trust us to protect what's important to them. We're America's #1 commercial auto insurer,* covering more than 2 million commercial vehicles. We also offer business insurance to safeguard your customers, employees, and operations.
Our experienced team will help you find the transportation insurance coverages that are right for you. Get a quote today and discover why so many choose us to keep their business moving forward.
