If you drive a commercial truck, you need specialized insurance. Your personal automobile policy will not cover you in the event of an accident in your commercial vehicle. Multiple companies offer commercial truck insurance, but not all of them cover all 50 states with their policies. One company that does is Progressive.
Number One in Commercial Truck Coverage
Progressive provides flexible coverage packages and payment options for their commercial policies. That flexibility has gained them the reputation of being the number one company for commercial truck insurance.
Progressive offers coverage in all states for all types of trucks. They specialize in insuring owner-operators, motor carriers, and private carriers. They provide standard coverages as well as truck-specific coverages.
Learn more at the best commercial truck insurance companies and the top 10 commercial auto insurance companies in the US.
The Coverages
Progressive offers a variety of coverages for trucks. Their standard ranges surpass those of some other insurance companies. We’ll cover some of them here.
Standard Coverage
There are basic coverages that all insurance companies offer. Progressive is no exception. Their basic coverages cover injuries or damage to other people or someone else’s property if you are deemed at fault for an accident. Those coverages include:
- Liability
- Bodily Injury
- Property Damage
- Uninsured Motorist
Driver Protection
Driver protections can help you pay for your medical expenses if you or someone in your vehicle is hurt while you are in a commercial vehicle. These include:
- Medical Payments
- Personal Injury Protection
- Pet Injury Coverage
Vehicle Protection
Vehicle protection protects against damage to your vehicle that is caused by an accident or other things that damage the vehicle. Those include:
- Physical Damage
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Individual Named Insured Endorsement
- Fire and Theft with CAC
Specifically for Trucks
Trucks need some of the same coverages as other commercial vehicles. Some are specific to trucks. Those include:
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance
This coverage is on the freight a for-hire trucker hauls. It covers the liability for lost or damaged cargo for a variety of reasons. If you accidentally dump a load, removal costs are covered. They also cover additional loss to damaged cargo. Learn more at the best motor truck cargo insurance companies.
Motor Truck General Liability
Several risk managers, have started requiring Motor Truck General Liability insurance for for-hire truckers. It pays for property damage or injuries you cause due to business-related activities but not directly related to operating the truck. Learn more at the best trucking general liability insurance companies.
Non-Trucking Liability
Under permanent lease to a motor carrier that provides primary liability coverage? Then, non-trucking liability coverage while using the truck for a purpose not related to business. If you use the truck on your days off, then the NTL insurance is for you. It modifies the liability portion of your insurance policy. Learn more at the best non-trucking liability insurance companies.
Rental Reimbursement with Downtime
Loss of use of your truck even for a day causes lost income. That’s why rental reimbursement with downtime is essential.
Trailer Interchange Coverage
Basically, physical damage insurance for non-owned trailers. You’re covered if the trailer is damaged by collision, theft, vandalism, or fire. Protection for if a trailer is damaged being pulled after an interchange agreement. Learn more about trailer interchange coverage – everything you need to know
Free Insurance Filings
Progressive offers to file state and federal insurance for free. They usually issue the filings within 48 hours.
Praises for Progressive
The Insurance Information Institute says the largest commercial auto insurer in the US is Progressive. They offer coverage to multiple types of commercial vehicles, including tow trucks, box trucks, tractor-trailers, cement trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, garbage trucks, and even ice cream trucks.
Investopedia gives Progressive its ranking as best commercial truck insurance. They gave them the ranking because of the range of coverages they offer. Progressive provides online quotes as well as flexible payment options and coverages.
Progressive is praised for giving specialized claims service for heavy trucks. They have also been praised for providing expert support for their customers who have commercial truck policies.
Progressive provides a variety of discounts. The discounts are for CDL certified drivers, electronic logging devices, signing up for autopay, business experience, paying in full, or bundling coverage with other insurance coverage.
They offer online quotes, but an agent is needed to help you purchase coverage. Agents are available 24/7, and you can file a claim over the phone at any time.
Progressive has been in business since 1937. Progressive has received a Superior (A+) financial strength rating from AM Best. Data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners indicates that Progressive did receive an above-average number of complaints from customers in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Pros
- Available in all 50 states
- Top commercial vehicle insurer in the US
- Offers state and federal insurance filings for free
- Offers a variety of discounts
- Covers a range of truck types
Cons
- Larger than average number of customer complaints between 2018 and 2020
- Have to work with an agent
- Limit the allowable fleet size
- Travel radius may apply
Required Insurance Coverage
The FMCSA requires minimum coverage limits be met for interstate truckers. They require personal liability insurance for all truckers. You are required to have limits of $750,000. Most shipping companies require coverage limits of $1,000,000 unless you transport hazardous materials, and then the limits are $5,000,000.
Beyond personal liability, it’s recommended that truckers invest in additional coverages like bodily injury and property damage. Progressive provides many of the additional services that are recommended as standard coverages.
Final Thoughts
Progressive is number one in commercial truck insurance. They offer standard coverages that aren’t available with most insurance companies. Progressive offers discounts for a variety of situations.
Progressive is available in all 50 states. However, there may be limits to the services available in each state. You can get a quote online, but you have to deal with an agent when you decide to make a purchase.
Progressive offers to file state and federal claims for free. They cover a variety of truck types. They sometimes limit the number of trucks you can have in your fleet. A travel radius may apply to your coverage.
On the negative side of the spectrum, Progressive has received many customer complaints in 2018, 2019, and 2020. However, they are still considered number one in the country for commercial insurance.
