Operating a large truck comes with higher risks than driving a private vehicle. The reason for the difference can be attributed to the vehicle’s weight. Since larger trucks carry greater risk, they also require higher liability insurance coverages.
Requirements for commercial truck insurance vary by state. There are federal requirements for those who travel across state lines as well. Today’s guide focuses specifically on commercial insurance for those truckers in Bakersfield, California.
- 5 best commercial truck insurance companies in Bakersfield, California
- What kind of commercial truck insurance is required in Bakersfield, California?
- Other insurance coverages that truckers in Bakersfield, California might need
- Average cost of commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California
- Factors affecting commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California
5 best commercial truck insurance companies in Bakersfield, California
Now that we’ve looked at the factors affecting truck insurance premiums in Bakersfield, California, let’s look at the top five insurance companies for commercial insurance in that city.
- Progressive: Best Overall
- Simply Business: Best for comparing several quotes
- CoverWallet: Best independent agency to provide multiple quotes
- Saber: Best for policies that change with the trucking climate
- Bakersfield Trucking Insurance: Best local trucking agency
Progressive: Best Overall
Progressive is number one when it comes to commercial trucking insurance. They have experience insuring more than a million commercial vehicles nationwide. The company covers customers in all 50 states.
Progressive offers 24/7 online or telephone policy services that allow you to change your policy, request proof of insurance, or even pay your premiums. You will have access to professional commercial claims adjusters if you should ever need to file a claim. Progressive also offers discounts to help you get some of the best rates available.
Progressive offers the most comprehensive trucking insurance program, it covers all types of trucks, and provides all coverages any trucking companies, large or small, or truck drivers would need.
Progressive is the only company that offers commercial truck insurance quotes online. It takes less us 10 minutes to get a commercial truck insurance quote on Progressive website.
Simply Business: Best for comparing several quotes to find cheap coverage
Simply Business is a brokerage firm. You give them your information once, and they find quotes for you. Simply Business works with several carriers, especially those providing low-cost coverage.
You can request a quote online, but the next step is done via email or telephone. An agent will either call or email you with your quote information, and then you work with them for the next steps if you choose one of the companies they recommend.
Simply Business is a subsidiary of Travelers, another big company in the commercial truck insurance industry. However, they operate independently from the parent company. When you request a quote on Simply Business, they might get several quotes, which may or may not include Travelers’ quotes. Even when a Travelers’ quote is included, you can always choose the cheapest one for your trucking business.
CoverWallet: Best independent agency to provide multiple quotes
CoverWallet is a digital brokerage firm that can help you find appropriate insurance for all your trucking needs. The digital nature of their business means you can do it all from the comfort of your home or office. When you request a quote from CoverWallet, you get quotes from multiple companies at one time.
You will request a quote from CoverWallet by answering some simple questions regarding your trucking business. Once you’ve responded to the questions, you will receive quotes from multiple companies regarding the coverage they can offer you. Then, you can choose to purchase coverage through CoverWallet, and the process of buying insurance coverage will be painless.
Since trucking business is quite complicated, it is unlikely that you will get several quotes online on CoverWallet. However, an agent will provide you with several quotes for you to compare and select the best one for your business. Unlike Simply Business, CoverWallet is a completely independent agency. They work with several leading insurance companies, so you will be able to get several quotes to compare.
Saber: Best for policies that change with the trucking climate
Saber is local to Bakersfield. The company recognizes that semi-trucks come with added risk based on their sheer size. They also recognize a newer threat to the trucking industry—theft.
Saber tailors their truck policies to meet the needs of those requiring both collision insurance and protection against theft. Either occurrence could have a detrimental effect on your business as a whole. It’s Saber’s policy to try to resolve incidents quickly.
Bakersfield Trucking Insurance: Best local trucking insurance agency
If you need commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California, why not look at the local company that specializes in commercial insurance? Bakersfield Trucking Insurance is an agency that does nothing but commercial auto insurance. They have multiple years of experience dealing with commercial truck and trailer insurance.
Whether you’re a long-haul trucker or home every night, the team at Bakersfield Trucking Insurance can help you choose the right coverage for your trucking business. The company insures a variety of kinds of trucks, and they specialize in insurance for owner-operators, private carriers, and motor carriers.
What kind of commercial truck insurance is required in Bakersfield, California?
Like other places in the US, there are specific requirements for commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California. Specifically, liability requirements are mandated in the area. What determines the minimums for liability insurance? The kind of freight and its destination determine the minimums that apply to the truck.
Within the state lines of California, a commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight greater than 10,000 is required to have a California intrastate ID number as well as minimum liability insurance based on freight. Let’s look at those minimum liability requirements.
- Oil transport: $1,000,000
- Hazmat: $5,000,000
- General freight: $750,000
- Household goods: $300,000
- Cargo insurance: $20,000 per vehicle AND $20,000 per catastrophe
In addition to these minimums, commercial truckers who travel outside California are required to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) minimum requirements. If they don’t comply with both state and FMCSA requirements, they can be denied their MC number (indicating they have authority to operate). FMCSA requirements are also based upon the kind of freight being transported.
- Non-hazardous freight (vehicles under 10,000 lbs): $300,000
- Freight in vehicles over 10,000 lbs: $750,000-$5,000,000
- Cargo insurance for household goods: $5,000 per vehicle
- Cargo insurance for household goods per occurrence: $10,000
Be aware that the limits mentioned here are the minimums required in Bakersfield, California, and the minimum federal limits. These limits may not be adequate coverage in the case of an accident. It’s wise to shop for more comprehensive coverages to help you prevent the loss of your livelihood should there be an accident.
Other insurance coverages that truckers in Bakersfield, California might need
All truckers in Bakersfield must have primary liability coverage, which we detailed above. In addition to primary liability insurance, truckers can choose to have one or many of the following coverages. Each of these coverages protects truckers from a certain type of risks.
Trucking physical damage insurance
This covers repairs or replacement of your trailer and truck when you’re involved in an accident. It also covers damage to your trailer and truck that results from natural disasters, like floods and earthquakes or theft. Lear more at the best trucking physical damage insurance companies.
Cargo coverage
This coverage pays if anything happens to the logs you haul while transporting them. It is usually required by the shippers or brokers. It is required more and more often nowadays. The price of cargo coverage in log truck insurance depends on the value of the logs. The more valuable the logs are, the more expensive the cargo insurance premiums are. Learn more at the best motor truck cargo insurance companies.
Uninsured motorist coverage
This coverage ensures that damages and injuries will be covered if you’re in an accident with an uninsured motorist or are involved in a hit and run. Given that almost 18% vehicles on the US streets are by drivers without insurance or underinsurance, it is critical for log truck companies to have this coverage. Actually, this coverage is required in most states.
Non-trucking liability insurance
When truckers drive their trucks outside of the dispatch schedule or for personal purposes, trucking primary liability doesn’t cover them. They will need non-trucking liability coverage to protect them if you get involved in an accident. Learn more at the best non-trucking liability insurance companies.
This coverage is similar to bobtail insurance. However, there are subtle differences. Bobtail insurance only covers you when you drive a truck without a trailer attached to it. Learn more at the best bobtail insurance companies.
Occupational accident coverage for truckers
Occupational accident coverage pays for medical expenses and lost wages if you get injured or become ill while driving a log truck. This is similar to workers comp insurance for truckers, but it is a lighter version. The coverage is not as comprehensive as workers comp insurance for truckers, thus it is usually just half of the price of workers comp insurance. Learn more at the best occupational accident insurance companies for truckers.
Workers comp insurance for truckers
If you run a log trucking company and hire drivers as full-time employees. You are required by law in all 50 states, except Texas to provide workers comp insurance for your drivers. However, if you hire your drivers as independent contractors, you are not required to provide workers comp insurance to them. You should at least provide occupational accident insurance to protect them. At the end of the day, trucking is a high-risk job.
If you are an owner operator who drive a log truck, you can choose to buy for yourselves workers comp insurance for occupational accident coverage.
Learn more at the best workers comp insurance for truckers.
Average cost of commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California
The average commercial truck insurance cost in Bakersfield, California, is $14,189. The average range of premiums is between $12,094 and $16,563. We found these estimates on the Commercial Truck Insurance HQ website, a trucking insurance agency. and they are based on one truck business that needs liability, cargo, and physical damage insurance.
| Trucking insurance coverages | Average costs |
| Trucking primary liability coverage | $10,250 a year |
| Trucking physical damage coverage | $2,650 a year |
| Cargo insurance | $1,289 a year |
These costs are based on several factors, including the cargo you routinely transport. In the next section, we’ll look at those factors more in-depth.
These are just the averages. Your quote will be different. Be sure to shop around with a few companies or work with a broker or agency to get several quotes to compare and select the cheapest one for you.
Factors affecting commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, California
Regardless of where you live, there are various factors that affect the cost of your commercial truck insurance premiums. Bakersfield, California, is no exception to that. Knowing that each insurance company bases rates on these factors will help you discern which company is best for your commercial truck insurance.
State regulations
This is the number one factor affecting the price of your insurance. You must meet state minimums. Coverage beyond the minimums, while beneficial, will also require additional charges.
Age and experience
Every driver in your company can affect your policy premiums with age and experience. Younger drivers and drivers that are past their prime are seen as a higher risk no matter how safely they drive, and therefore, your premiums could be higher. More experienced drivers know how to handle a wider variety of situations which can lower premiums.
Driving history
Clean driving records look better to insurance companies. More accidents and citations lead to higher premiums.
Previous insurance coverage history
Insurance companies want to know whether you pay your premiums and whether any other company has canceled a policy that you held. If previous insurance companies canceled your policies, or if you have a history of skipping payments, you can expect a higher premium if you find a company willing to work with you.
Years in business
Brand new companies pose a greater risk for insurance providers than a well-established company. That translates to higher premiums for less established companies.
Driving locations
If you routinely travel a route with bad road conditions, extreme weather conditions, crowded streets, or other hazardous occurrences, your insurance company will pass the risk on to you in the form of higher premiums.
Employment history of drivers
If a driver has been in the trucking industry for a while and is familiar with different equipment and routes, insurance companies consider that a plus. The experience could lead to lower premiums.
Cargo
If you consistently transport expensive or hazardous cargo, your premiums will be higher because of associated risk.
Safety
Trucks with safety features and companies with clear safety protocols and driver training programs often get lowered premiums.
Truck weight and age
Larger trucks or heavier trucks are more difficult to handle in traffic or position for loading or unloading. The truck’s weight can cause higher premiums because the lack of maneuverability creates an inherent risk for accidents.
Older trucks may get lower premiums because they are considered less costly to fix if they have issues.
How to get cheap commercial truck insurance in Bakersfield, CA?
There are no such things as cheap when it comes to truck insurance. However, the following are a few ideas to help you get the best deal on truck insurance:
Compare several quotes
It is best to contact as many companies as possible or work with a broker like Simply Business or commercialinsurance.net because their rates vary significantly. Make contact with at least three to ensure that you are not overpaying. However, some companies offer less protection at lesser prices to attract customers.
Make use of any available discounts.
There are a variety of commercial truck insurance discounts available in many companies. So, make sure to find out which ones apply to you to get the best deal.
These can range from having a commercial driver’s license to discounts for being a long-standing business to discounts for bundling all of your business’s services.
Pay your entire annual premium in advance
This one is a little more difficult. Paying your entire premium at once is an excellent way to get cheaper comprehensive truck insurance. When compared to paying month to month, this payment plan can save you up to 10% in the long run.
Get the correct coverage.
Some coverages are required to insure a large rig, and others are simply nice. By picking the essentials, you will save yourself some cost. You might need to work with professional agents to create a policy that addresses your specific risks.
Increase your deductibles or decrease your coverage limits
You can always raise your deductibles or decrease your coverage limits if you’re desperate for a low-cost trucking insurance policy. This can be risky because you will be responsible for paying more in the event of an accident for what amounts to small monthly savings. And your coverage limits have to meet the requirements of the state or the federal if you drive cross the state borders.
Final thoughts
Commercial trucking insurance is required for truckers in Bakersfield, California, who want to continue in the trucking business. State and federal regulations dictate the amount of coverage you must have. It’s wise to choose a company that will help you select the appropriate coverages for the way your business works.
