6 Best Commercial Truck Insurance in Kansas for 2023

Thang Truong
Thang Truong
Updated on:

Trucks are the working vehicles of the automobile industry, meant to move stuff around. Despite their importance to our economy, even the safest ones pose a substantial danger to the corporations that operate them. Every year, many of them are involved in many crashes, increasing the likelihood of claims that can cost money.

This is where trucking insurance comes in. Whether you’re moving a few supplies around in Kansas or exporting goods across the nation, truck insurance will protect you. Read on to find out some of the best insurance companies for your trucks in Kansas. 

6 best commercial truck insurance companies in Kansas

Progressive: Best Overall and the only carrier offering truck insurance quotes online

Progressive is one of the best trucking insurance companies in the US. Their trucking insurance is the best on the list regarding coverage options and discounts. Whether you’re an owner-operator with authority, or under a lease, or you run a fleet of trucks, Progressive can provide you with coverage tailored to your needs. 

Apart from that, Progressive provides many discounts for commercial driver’s license holders, customers who have been doing business for more than three years, and customers who bundle commercial truck insurance with other coverages.

Progressive is the only carrier offering truck insurance quotes online. It takes less than 10 minutes to get a quote on their website. Even if you are not sure you will buy your truck insurance policy from Progressive, you should definitely get a quote from them to have an idea of the ballpark of your truck insurance cost.

Simply Business: Best for comparing quotes

Simply Business is an insurance broker specializing in small businesses. Trucking is one of their main focused industries. Simply Business represents several leading trucking insurance companies. They uses the latest technology like artificial intelligence to help truck drivers and trucking companies find coverages and policies suitable for them from all carriers that they work with. They might also be able to help you find discounts if necessary. 

The biggest advantage of working with Simply Business is that you can compare several quotes in one place without having to go to different carriers’ websites trying to get different quotes. Once you provide your information, Simply Business will pull quotes from the companies that they work with and present them to you so that you can choose the best and the cheapest one for you.

OOIDA: Best for its members

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has coverage options for owner operators or small trucking company.

Whether you’re an owner-operator or under a lease, OOIDA offers a comprehensive selection of solutions. All underwriting is done in-house, allowing for a quick turnaround time and rates. Because it focuses only on commercial truck insurance, OOIDA offers some of the most comprehensive and highly specialized coverage options available. If you are a member of OOIDA, you should definitely get a quote.

OOIDA has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Sentry: Best for small trucking businesses

While several insurance companies provide the complete insurance plans that fleet owners want, small businesses still have a restricted number of options. In general, insurers favor long-standing trucking businesses with a large fleet of vehicles. Insuring several units helps insurance companies reduce their losses from road accident claims, allowing them to make a more profitable profit.

Sentry truck insurance is an excellent choice if you want economic coverage for just one or two units. Sentry provides small-scale truckers with little or no experience with truck insurance products that are entirely customizable. The majority of their clientele are small, one-truck businesses. 

The Hartford: Best for truck fleets

The Hartford is one of the most reputable names in the insurance industry. They have insured more than 1 million small businesses in the past 200 years. They are known to be one of the most ethical companies in the world. If you get a policy from the Hartford, you know you are working with a company that will back you during hard time.

When it comes to trucking insurance, the Hartford has developed it trucking coverage to be fully customizable to trucking businesses of all sizes. Even though they are working with tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of owner operators with one or two trucks, they actually prefer insuring fleets of trucks, small or large. Their trucking coverage is fully customizable for the size and the nature of your business.

If you are running a truck fleet, you should definitely consider giving them a try.

Commercialinsurance.net: Best for high-risk drivers and trucking companies

High-risk trucking companies may have a hard time finding insurance. Most insurers prefer limiting their risks, so they avoid companies with high-risk profiles. Others that offer policies to high-risk truckers usually do that at exorbitant prices. 

That’s where commercialinsurance.net comes in. They are a national broker, specializing in working with small and new trucking businesses, who tend to be in the high risk segment. Their agents are extremely knowledgeable and experienced in helping truck drivers and trucking businesses find the right coverage at the most affordable prices. If you have difficulties in finding trucking insurance, you should definitely consider working with them.

Learn more at the best commercial truck insurance companies for high risk drivers

What is commercial truck insurance and what does it cover?

Commercial truck insurance is like auto insurance. They have sets of policies tailored to protect trucks and trucking companies from a range of incidents that may cause damages and claims. 

The policies usually cover different coverage options, including:

Primary liability 

This coverage protects you against damages or injuries caused by your trucks to a third party. This is an essential policy, and state and federal authorities require it.

Physical damage  

Trucking physical damage coverage pays for repairs or replacements due to collision, fire, theft, hail, windstorm, earthquake, flood, mischief, or vandalism. It can include collision and comprehensive coverage. Learn more at the best trucking physical damage insurance companies

Cargo insurance 

Truck cargo insurance covers the carrier in case of damage or loss of cargo. The insurance has a maximum load per car. Learn more at the best truck cargo insurance companies

General liability

This coverage protects against injuries or property damage caused by your goods or services or a breach of contract. Learn more at the best trucking general liability insurance companies

Bobtail/Non-trucking insurance 

It offers limited liability insurance for owner-operators permanently leased to an ICC-regulated carrier. It protects the owner-operator from liabilities while not dispatching or hauling a loaded trailer. These two coverages are similar but not exactly the same and people are often confused with them. Learn more how they are different and which one you actually need.

Learn more at bobtail insurance cost and the best bobtail insurance companies and the best non-trucking liability insurance companies.

How much does commercial truck insurance cost in Kansas?

The average cost of commercial truck insurance in Kansas is $10,230. In most cases, truck drivers in Kansas pay premiums of between $8,150 and $15,760.

These costs are estimates based on one-truck operators who require primary liability, cargo, and physical damage insurance. In reality, your truck insurance cost might differ from what we have here. The reason is that commercial truck insurance costs depend on a range of factors that we discuss below.

How much is the average commercial truck insurance cost per month in Kansas?

The average cost of commercial truck insurance in Kansas is $853 per month. This includes primary liability, physical damage, and truck cargo coverage for one semi truck, the three most important coverages of a truck insurance policy. Below is the cost breakdown for each coverage:

Commercial truck insurance coveragesAverage cost in Kansas
Primary liability coverage$505 per month
Physical damage coverage $213 per month
Truck cargo coverage $135 per month

These are just the averages. Your quotes and rates will be different. Be sure to shop around with a few companies or work with a top truck insurance broker like Simply Business or Commercialinsurance.net or Smart Financial to get and compare several quotes in one place to choose the cheapest one. You can also get an online quote to start the process. Progressive is the only carrier offering truck insurance quotes online. It should take you 10 minutes or less to get a quote on Progressive website.

What factors can affect the cost of commercial truck insurance in Kansas?

As we already said, the cost of commercial truck insurance In Kansas depends on several factors. These factors are called rating factors. A rating factor is a client trait used to calculate commercial truck insurance rates. 

The less risky your rating criteria are, the cheaper your commercial auto insurance will be. Some trucking insurance rating characteristics, such as driving history or vehicle type, significantly influence premiums. 

Years of driving

The more you drive, the less likely you will make errors that result in fines and claims. For an insurer, this suggests you’re a safer customer. Drivers with more experience often pay less for insurance than rookie drivers. A driving experience of at least two years counts as a good driving experience in most cases. 

Claims history

Your insurer will also like to see your insurance history and the claims you had in the past. Unless you are a novice driver, insurers see gaps in coverage as a sign of increased risk. Not carrying insurance could mean many things. For instance, insurance gaps could mean you did not have a driver’s license in that period. Therefore, truckers with bad insurance history might pay more for their policies.  

At the same time, an extensive claim history is a red signal for insurance companies. Any insurance claim you make — or are sued for — is part of your claims history. If your insurer spots several claims on your record, you should anticipate a costly premium. 

Coverage required 

Your coverage refers to the protection that your trucking insurance policy offers you. The more coverage you have, the higher your rates. The cost gap between the lowest and highest levels of vehicle insurance might be over $1,000 yearly. The explanation is simple: if you have more coverage, your insurer is required to pay more for your protection.

Vehicle type

If a truck is more expensive to replace, the insurance provider will charge you extra each month (via collision and comprehensive coverage). Therefore, you might pay more if your trucks are new. Also, large trucks tend to cost more because they are more expensive and challenging to drive.  

Business location in Kansas 

Your insurer will ask for your zip code to find your location in Kansas. Trucking insurance is governed by Kansas state laws. Kansas is a no-fault state; as a result, all drivers must have unlimited PIP coverage. The expenses of PIP and “unlimited” coverage are passed on to insurers, making it more expensive than in most other states. 

Trucking insurance is charged by ZIP code to account for external rating criteria. In Kansas, flood-prone, wildfire-prone, or other risky ZIP codes have higher rates. Rural residents in Kansas often pay less for vehicle insurance than their metropolitan counterparts since insurance prices rise with the number of drivers.  

Credit score

Credit is a major – but often overlooked factor in trucking insurance. Drivers with bad credit submit more claims than those with good credit. Their claims are often more costly than those of drivers with high credit. The yearly premium gap between drivers with the best and worse credit is nearly $1,500. 

Age

Also, age matters, particularly for young drivers. Insurance rates for young drivers are almost $5,000 more costly than 50-year-olds. Teenagers are seen as high-risk, high-cost consumers by insurers. Teen drivers are more careless and have more accidents than any other age group.

How do I find cheap commercial truck insurance coverage in Kansas?

Insurance premiums are based on numerous criteria, including the kind and cost of your truck, the commodities you move, the distance you travel, and your driving record. Tweaking these variables a little bit might help you save a few dollars on your trucking insurance as follows:

Compare as many quotes as you can 

So many variables determine your trucking Insurance rates. Different insurance companies assess risks differently. It is important to compare many quotes before deciding which one to choose. To make things easier, you can work with a top truck insurance broker like Simply Business or Commercialinsurance.net to get and compare several quotes to find the cheapest one offering coverage suited to your company’s requirements.

Keep a clean driving record

Insurers trust drivers with a clean record. Whether you have a single truck or an extensive fleet, having a clean driving record may qualify you for a Trucking Insurance discount.

Pay your premiums at once

Trucking insurance is costly, and so many owner-operators choose monthly payments. However, paying your Trucking Insurance premium in full might help you save some money. In some companies, you might get discounts up to 25% of the total amount.

Increase your deductible

A greater deductible may save you money on insurance premiums, but it may cost you more in the case of an accident. However, you will save money on your insurance if you are willing to accept this obligation.

Ask for discounts 

Auto insurance discounts vary by area and insurer, and many are based on personal rating variables. Here are some typical deals you may get from your insurer:

  • Anti-theft device deals
  • Bundling discount
  • E-Pay rebate
  • Good-driver bonus
  • Low-mileage bonus
  • Loyalty bonus
  • Military benefits 
  • Multi-truck discount

What are the requirements of commercial truck insurance in Kansas?

Kansas state law requires local truckers and new businesses to have a certain level of liability insurance to operate legally. The amount of coverage you need by law depends on the freight you haul and the location from where you move it. If you never leave the state and your truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 GVW, you must get an intrastate-only USDOT number and maintain the following minimum level of insurance:

  • Liability insurance of $5,000,000 is required for vehicles that carry hazardous materials
  • Insurance for $300,000 in Liability for trucks that carry household goods
  • Insurance for $750,000 in Liability for general freight
  • Insurance for $1,000,000 in Liability for oil transport
  • $3,000/vehicle Cargo Insurance for all carriers

If you move your trucks outside of Kansas state, your basic requirements will differ slightly. You must fulfill all of the standards listed above and federal limits issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) truck insurance requirements required by the federal government. Federal liability limitations are typically $750,000 or $1,000,000 in value.

Filing requirements for truck insurance in Kansas

Kansas states and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) require you to fill out certain forms. These documents may be prepared by your agent or insurance provider on your behalf. These documents inform the government that you have met all of your truck insurance needs. They must be completed and submitted before you may be granted authorization. The following are some examples of forms you have to complete:

  • BMC-94 
  • MCS-90
  • Form E 
  • Form H 
  • ICC
  • SR22

What types of trucks are covered by commercial truck insurance in Kansas? 

You can insure almost any commercial truck in Kansas. However, some insurers avoid particular trucks as they feel they may be too risky. Therefore, you should speak with your insurer before paying for a policy. 

Here are the most commonly insured trucks in Kansas: 

Thang Truong

Thang Truong covers small business insurance and small business success at BravoPolicy. He is a licensed P&C insurance agent. Previously, he held product leadership positions at realtor.com, Capital One, NerdWallet, and Mulberry Technology. He holds a MBA degree from UC Berkeley - Haas School of Business.

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