- Do you haul things like food, clothes, or heavy equipment in Wyoming, throughout your region of the U.S., or cross country? Or run a dump truck, tow truck, or cement mixer.
- Maybe you’re a new trucker or an experienced trucking driver
- Perhaps you lease your truck or own a large fleet of them.
No matter your situation, if you depend on a truck or many of them to conduct business, you’ll likely need commercial truck insurance if your operation is based in Wyoming.
Finding the right commercial truck coverage in Wyoming can be challenging. This article will reveal the top 4 commercial truck insurance companies in the state and explain the pros and cons of each.
- The 4 best commercial truck insurance companies in Wyoming
- What is commercial truck insurance?
- Who needs commercial truck insurance in Wyoming?
- How are commercial truck insurance premiums calculated in Wyoming?
- Can I save money by not getting commercial truck insurance?
- How much does commercial truck insurance cost in Wyoming?
- How to get cheap commercial truck insurance in Wyoming
The 4 best commercial truck insurance companies in Wyoming
Businesses in Wyoming that depend on trucks for their livelihood have many choices of commercial truck insurance providers. We’ve done the hard work for you to come up with the four top insurers that offer coverage in the state and the pros and cons of each.
- Progressive: Best Overall and with several discounts
- biBERK: Best for affordable trucking coverage
- Simply Business: Best for comparing several trucking insurance quotes
- THREE: Best comprehensive trucking insurance coverage for small trucking businesses
Progressive: Best Overall and with several discounts
Pros
- Easy to get a quote online, PLUS you can always work with an experienced licensed agent.
- People trust Progressive, which helped make it the largest commercial vehicle insurance company in the U.S.
- Decades of experience in commercial truck coverage.
Cons
- You may need to complete the online insurance buying process with a phone call to a Progressive rep.
- Progressive doesn’t cover large truck fleets.
- If you need additional business coverage, you can purchase it through Progressive, but other insurers will back it.
biBERK: Best for affordable trucking coverage
Pros
- Low-cost insurer backed by financially solid Berkshire Hathaway.
- Possible to save up to 20 percent on coverage.
- 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.
Simply Business: Best for comparing several trucking insurance quotes
Pros:
- Agents can help with unique commercial truck insurance needs.
- Highly personalized service.
- Great claims-making and resolution experiences.
Cons:
- Limited online capabilities.
- Sentry-affiliated agents aren’t available in all areas.
- Not as many discounts as many other insurers.
THREE: Best comprehensive trucking insurance coverage for small trucking businesses
THREE is a subsidiary of the Berkshire Hathaway, the parent of Geico, a household name for car insurance. THREE was founded with a belief that small business insurance should be simple and straightforward. Every small business insurance policy shouldn’t be more than 3 pages.
Pros
- Comprehensive coverage for trucking businesses
- Reasonable rates
- Completely digital experience: fast and simple
Cons
- May not be suitable if your trucking business is too unique
- Trucking coverage may not be easily customized online
What is commercial truck insurance?
It’s insurance purchased by trucking businesses, people who primarily use trucks for work, or companies that depend on trucks for their operations.
By contrast, commercial auto insurance covers all kinds of vehicles that are used for conducting business, which could include certain types of trucks. Commercial truck insurance is different because it exclusively covers larger trucks used for construction, contracting, or hauling things.
A company owner usually purchases commercial trucking insurance, but it covers the driver, passengers, other individuals, and property harmed in an accident.
Who needs commercial truck insurance in Wyoming?
Anyone who drives a truck for work reasons — any form of work from towing cars to hauling gasoline — needs commercial truck insurance.
Your personal auto insurance will not cover you if you have an accident or another incident occurs while driving your truck for business reasons.
In other words, you can’t drive a truck in Wyoming if you don’t have state- or federally-mandated levels of insurance coverage.
Commercial truck insurance is required throughout all of Wyoming:
- Cheyenne
- Laramie
- Sheridan
- Rock Springs
- Jackson.
How are commercial truck insurance premiums calculated in Wyoming?
How much you pay for commercial truck protection in Wyoming is based on many factors, including:
- How far you drive. Typically, if you go more than 50 or 100 miles per trip or cross state lines, you’ll pay more for your commercial truck insurance.
- Claims history. If you have previous commercial vehicle insurance claims, whether for accidents, theft, or other incidents, you’ll pay higher premiums, even if what happened isn’t your fault. That’s because insurers view you as a higher risk than someone who has never made a claim.
- Truck model and age. Newer trucks are worth more, so they cost more to insure. Some of that could be mitigated because they have better safety and security equipment.
- Inflation. Inflation is making everything more expensive these days, including insurance.
- Truck weight and type: Heavier trucks cost more to insure than light ones because they typically cause more harm if they’re involved in an accident. Some trucks, like flatbeds, are ungainly and more prone to flipping over and premiums for them are higher.
- Cargo type. Federal regulations define how much coverage you need if you cross state lines, which impacts prices. Even if you don’t drive out of state, some types of cargo cost more to insure when you transport them in Wyoming.
- Location. Specific locations in Wyoming have higher crime rates than others. If you store your truck in any of them, you’ll pay more for protection.
- Driving patterns. Operating a truck in populated or rural parts of Wyoming will impact your insurance premiums.
- Driving experience. People with a more extended driving history and solid driving records will pay less for coverage than novice drivers who’ve had accidents and been involved in other incidents.
- Years of trucking experience. Driving a truck is different than driving an auto or SUV. Years of trucking experience will impact your premium costs.
Of course, the type of truck you operate will have a significant impact on your price of insurance:
- Cement mixer
- Tow truck – Learn more at the best tow truck insurance companies and tow truck insurance cost
- Box truck – Learn more at the best box truck insurance companies and box truck insurance cost
- Dump truck – Learn more at the best dump truck insurance companies and dump truck insurance cost
- Tractor-trailer
- Semi – Learn more at the best semi truck insurance companies and the best semi truck insurance cost
Can I save money by not getting commercial truck insurance?
The answer is NO. That’s because Wyoming has minimum insurance requirements, and you must meet them. The federal government has even more stringent mandates if you drive across state lines. You can’t operate your vehicle legally if you don’t have mandated levels of coverage. You could put the future of your business at risk if you don’t have the insurance you need.
How much does commercial truck insurance cost in Wyoming?
The average cost of commercial truck insurance in Wyoming is $642 per month, or $7,704 per year. That is for a comprehensive coverage policy, including trucking primary liability, bobtail coverage, truck cargo, and physical damage coverage. And the policy is for a 38-year-old trucker with a 16-foot box truck.
Below are the average costs for different trucking coverages in Wyoming:
Trucking coverages | Average costs in Wyoming |
Trucking primary liability coverage | $325 per month |
Bobtail insurance | $36 per month |
Physical damage coverage | $186 per month |
Truck cargo insurance | $95 per month |
These are just the averages. Your rates can be lower or higher. Be sure to shop around with a few companies such as Progressive, biBERK, and THREE or work with broker like Simply Business to get and compare several quotes to find the cheapest one for your trucking business.
How to get cheap commercial truck insurance in Wyoming
It’s possible to save money on your coverage. Here are some simple ways:
Maintain your vehicles
Have a regular maintenance program for your trucks to ensure they’re in sound driving condition. Always do a pre-trip vehicle inspection so that you don’t experience mechanical difficulties which could result in costly accidents.
Ask about discounts
Some companies will give you a discount if you allow them to monitor your driving habits electronically. Many insurers reduce premiums if you have more of your business coverage with them or if you have a safe driving record. Always ask about discounts. Even if you are not eligible for a discount now, you may be in the future and can take steps now to earn them.
Select lower deductibles
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for losses before your insurance coverage kicks in. By agreeing to a higher deductible, you can lower your premium costs by a lot. The one thing you must be aware of before choosing a higher deductible is that you always have to have enough in savings to cover the deductible if you or someone who works for you is involved in an accident or your truck is stolen or vandalized. If not, you could end up with a truck out of commission until you can come up with the cash.
Shop around for coverage
Insurers calculate premiums using their own factors. They weigh factors based on their desire to cover certain types of trucks and truckers. One insurer may emphasize where you park your car, while another may weigh the age of your vehicle more heavily.
Keep shopping around.
Don’t assume your current insurer will always be the best one for you. Review your options before renewing your coverage. You may find another company willing to give you a better deal.
It’s a good idea to get several commercial truck insurance quotes and compare them to get the coverage you need at the best possible price.