Does your Minnesota-based business depend on trucks? If they’re involved in an accident, stolen, vandalized, or damaged by weather events, it could be costly — not just to get the truck repaired or replaced, but also because of the impact on operating your business.
That’s why it’s critical to get commercial truck insurance to protect your livelihood.
Many insurance companies offer trucking insurance in Minnesota. It can be challenging to find the right one to get coverage from. This article will explain what it takes to find the ideal insurer to cover your trucks and trucking business.
- 7 top commercial truck insurance companies in Minnesota
- Commercial truck insurance: Who needs it in Minnesota?
- Commercial truck insurance requirements in Minnesota
- Minnesota commercial truck insurance costs
- How to reduce commercial truck insurance costs in Minnesota?
7 top commercial truck insurance companies in Minnesota
Businesses in Minnesota that depend on trucks for their operations have countless choices of commercial truck insurance providers. We’ve checked them out to come up with the top 7 insurers in the state for different reasons along with the pros and cons of each.
- Progressive: Best vehicle insurance company in Minnesota
- Simply Business: Best for accessing several quotes in minutes
- The Hartford: Best for insurance from a highly reputable company
- Sentry: Tops for buying insurance and getting advice from an agent
- biBERK: Best for saving money on truck coverage
- THREE: Best for complete business coverage
- Tivly: Best for working with knowledgeable agents
Progressive: Best vehicle insurance company in Minnesota
Pros:
- Largest commercial vehicle insurance company in the United States.
- Extensive commercial truck insurance knowledge and experience.
- Relatively easy to get a quote online or to connect with an experienced agent.
Cons
- Not all truckers or businesses will qualify for the discounts progressive is known for.
- Progressive doesn’t offer coverage for larger trucking companies.
- If you need other types of business insurance, you can purchase it from Progressive, but the policies are underwritten by other insurers.
Simply Business: Best for accessing several quotes in minutes
Pros
- Input your information once and get several quotes from different insurers in less than ten minutes.
- Get support finding all the discounts and opportunities to save you money of your commercial truck insurance.
- Flexibility: Pay your premiums annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or once a month.
Cons
- Your insurance isn’t underwritten by Simply Business.
- You get services and file claims through your insurer, not Simply Business.
- You can’t get quotes from providers not a part of the Simply Business network.
The Hartford: Best for insurance from a highly reputable company
Pros
- The Hartford has been in business for more than 200 years.
- Extensive knowledge of trucking and other types of business insurance.
- The Hartford has been named a top ethical company for 13 years in a row.
Cons
- Limited digital capabilities.
- Coverage and service are top-notch, but you pay for it.
- Back-end technology and record-keeping systems can be a bit old school.
Sentry: Tops for buying insurance and getting advice from an agent
Pros:
- Agents can help with unique commercial truck insurance needs.
- Highly personalized service.
- Great claims-making and resolution experiences.
Cons:
- Limited digital capabilities.
- Sentry-affiliated agents aren’t available in all areas.
- Not as many discounts as some other insurers.
biBERK: Best for saving money on truck coverage
Pros
- Low-cost insurer backed by the financially solid Berkshire Hathaway.
- Possible to save up to 20 percent on coverage due to the proprietary underwriting process.
- Good online insurance buying experience.
Cons
- Best for basic insurance needs.
- Difficult to customize coverage online.
- May not be able to get coverage for non-standard trucks.
THREE: Best for complete trucking business coverage
Pros
- Several business insurance coverages, including commercial trucks, are included in a single policy.
- Licensed agents are available to answer your questions and help you understand your coverage.
- Easy to purchase all your business coverage at once.
Cons
- Unable to purchase standalone commercial truck insurance.
- Limited online capabilities.
- Challenging to customize coverage.
Tivly: Best for working with knowledgeable agents
Pros
- An expansive network of agents can help you out.
- Easy quote process.
- Good for high-risk truckers.
Cons
- No tools for managing your coverage online.
- No mobile app.
- Can cost more to get coverage from an agent.
Commercial truck insurance: Who needs it in Minnesota?
Everyone who drives a truck in the state for commercial purposes must get commercial truck insurance coverage. Your personal auto insurance policy will not cover you if you have an accident or another incident occurs when driving your truck for work reasons. You cannot drive a truck in Minnesota — or cross state lines — if you don’t secure mandated insurance coverage.
Commercial truck insurance is required throughout Minnesota:
| Minneapolis | St. Paul | Rochester |
| Edina | Duluth | St. Michael |
Minnesota commercial truck insurance requirements
In Minnesota, all vehicles, including commercial trucks, must carry at least 25/50/10 in insurance coverage. This translates to $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $10,000 in property damage.
Commercial trucks hauling specialized cargo require additional insurance in Delaware:
| Cargo | Minimum liability coverage requirements in Delaware |
| Household goods | $300,000 |
| General freight | $750,000 |
| Oil | $1,000,000 |
| Hazmat | $5,000,000 |
If you drive your truck across Minnesota state lines for business reasons, you must secure the trucker insurance required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Current FMCSA insurance mandates are based on the cargo you haul and the weight of your truck:
- $300,000 for non-hazardous freight in vehicles under 10,001 pounds
- $750,000 for non-hazardous freight in vehicles over 10,001 pounds
- $1,000,000 for oil carried by for-hire and private carriers
- $5,000,000 for other hazardous materials
Learn more at commercial truck insurance minimum requirements in different states
Minnesota commercial truck insurance costs
The average cost of commercial truck insurance in the state of Delaware is $10,464 per year ($872 per month). In most cases, truck drivers in Delaware pay between $7,820 and $12,986 for the coverage.
The costs are based on a 41-year-old trucker driving a 16-foot box truck with a good driving record. The policy includes trucking primary liability, non-trucking liability, trucking physical damage (bobtail), and cargo truck insurance coverage. Here is the average cost breakdown by coverage type:
These are just averages. Your costs could be higher or lower.
Commercial truck insurance rates can vary dramatically. Shop around or work with a broker to get several quotes. Compare them to get the best and the cheapest coverage for your trucking business.
Learn more at the average cost of commercial truck insurance per month
Factors impacting Minnesota commercial truck insurance costs
Insurers consider different factors and weigh them differently based on the thymes of truckers and businesses they prefer to insure. Some insurance companies prefer to insure safe drivers in less risky industries at a lower cost. Others provide coverage to riskier drivers and businesses but charge them more. Here are some of the things that go into calculating trucker insurance prices.
- Garaging location. Certain places, like Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Duluth have higher crime rates than more rural parts of Minnesota. If you park or store your truck in one of them, you’ll pay higher insurance premiums.
- Where you drive. If you stick to driving in Minnesota, you’ll pay less for coverage than if you travel across state lines to Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, or beyond.
- The distance you drive. Typically, if you drive more than 50 miles per trip, you’ll pay more for commercial truck coverage.
- Tears of driving experience. People with a long driving history and clean driving record (no accidents or citations) will pay less for coverage than new drivers who’ve been involved in accidents and gotten tickets.
- Years of trucking experience. Driving trucks is different than driving cars, SUVs, and vans. More years of safe truck driving experience with no accidents or other issues will reduce your premium costs.
- Claims history. If you’ve made claims on your truck insurance, especially in the last three years, you’ll pay more for coverage.
- Truck age. Newer trucks cost more. It makes them more expensive to repair or replace if they are involved in an accident or other covered incident. That makes them more costly to insure.
- Vehicle weight: Heavier trucks cost more to cover than lighter ones. They typically cause more damage when they’re involved in an accident.
- Type of cargo transported. Federal regulations define how much you pay for coverage if you cross state lines. Even if you don’t, some types of cargo cost more to insure when you transport them on Minnesota roads.
What does commercial truck insurance cover?
Commercial truck insurance protects truckers and trucking businesses from the risks that come with driving trucks for commercial purposes. Here are some of the most common types of trucking insurance:
- Trucking physical damage insurance covers your truck if it is damaged in an accident.
- Trucking general liability insurance covers other people’s bodily injuries and property damage that happens while conducting business but not resulting from an accident.
- Motor truck cargo insurance pays for harm to the cargo you transport. Losses can result from accidents, theft, fire, water damage, refrigeration issues, or equipment failure.
- Non-trucking liability insurance covers you when you drive your truck for non-commercial reasons.
- Bobtail insurance protects you when you drive your vehicle without a trailer attached to it.
- Workers compensation insurance provides benefits to truck drivers if they are injured or get sick while they are at work. This can include paying for medical care, disability, lost wages, and job retraining.
How to reduce the commercial truck insurance cost in Minnesota?
Commercial truck insurance in Minnesota can be costly. However, it’s possible to keep your costs in check. Here are three ways:
- Take advantage of discounts. Some insurers will provide you a significant discount if you let them electronically monitor your driving. Many insurers reduce premiums if you have multiple business policies with them. Of course, having a safe driving record could also cut dollars off your premiums. Implementing safety programs could also save you money. Always ask about discounts.
- Perform preventive maintenance. Consistently maintaining your vehicles will help ensure they’re always in sound driving condition. Always do a pre-trip vehicle inspection. Look out for mechanical and system issues that could cause accidents.
- Shop around. Different companies calculate premium costs in different ways and weigh a range of factors based on their desire to cover certain types of trucks and truckers. One insurer may place more of an emphasis on vehicle type and age, while another may weigh the location of your business more heavily.
