Truckers and trucking business owners are often so focused on driving and hauling related dangers and risks, they forget about those not related to operating a truck. This could include things like a vendor or customer accidentally getting injured in your lot or in your truck or you causing damages to the merchandise that you transport for your customers.
Trucking general liability insurance is a casualty policy specifically designed to meet the needs of the trucking business for owner operators and motor carriers. It covers liability risks related to business activities not associated with operating trucks.
In this article, we’ll reveal the 5 best companies offering general liability insurance for truckers (although no insurer offers it as a stand alone coverage) and explain everything you need to know to get the right coverage for your operation.
- Top 5 trucking general liability insurance companies
- Trucking general liability insurance: The basics
- Who needs general liability coverage for truckers?
- What does trucking general liability insurance cover?
- What other coverages do trucking businesses typically buy?
- Does my commercial vehicle insurance cover injuries and property damage?
- Are truckers required to carry general liability insurance?
- Why trucking businesses should get general liability insurance
- How much does trucking general liability insurance cost?
- How to find cheap trucking general liability insurance
Top 5 trucking general liability insurance companies
- Simply Business: Best for trucking business owners that want to compare quotes quickly
- biBerk: Best for low-cost general liability coverage
- Progressive: Best for discounted trucking general liability insurance
- THREE: Best one stop shop for all your trucker insurance needs
- Commercialinsurance.net: Best for knowledgeable and experienced agents
Simply Business: Best for trucking business owners that want to compare quotes quickly
Simply Business is a cutting-edge insurance provider. The firm has developed its own state-of-the-art platform, based on its own algorithms, to ensure it is able to connect small businesses with all the business insurance they need, including general liability coverage, at the most reasonable price. The platform makes it quick and easy to get quotes from several providers at once, making it possible to compare quotes from highly reputable insurers all on a single screen.
The firm’s experts have used their extensive experience to make sure you only have to input the information needed to generate quick and accurate quotes. The entire process should take less than ten minutes.
Once you get your quote, Simply Business makes it easy to purchase a general liability policy or complete truckers business insurance package online or through an agent. When you get your general liability policy through CoverWallet, it’s simple to manage your coverage online, including downloading a certificate of insurance, filing a claim, renewing your insurance, and more.
Be aware: Simply Business will require you to purchase commercial vehicle insurance with your general liability policy.
biBerk: Best for low-cost trucking general liability coverage
biBerk is a low-cost business insurance provider. Despite saving money on your general liability insurance, you can rest assured knowing you’re still getting quality protection for your business. biBERK is able to lower insurance costs by almost 20 percent because it insures small businesses directly, without the added costs of having to work through a middleman or insurance broker.
You can feel confident knowing biBerk is a part of Berkshire Hathaway, a company headed by well-known investor Warren Buffett. It’s a firm that has millions of satisfied customers that’s been insuring people and businesses for more than 75 years.
Be aware: biBerk only offers coverage for a very limited number of trucking business types and trundles the coverage.
Progressive: Best for discounted trucking general liability insurance
Progressive may seem like a less-than-serious company because of its ongoing series of commercials featuring Flo. You might feel concerned about entrusting your trucking operation to the insurer.
The truth: It’s a reputable company that’s been in business since 1937. Progressive is known for its flexibility, great rates, and highly responsive service.
Progressive is famous for its discounts, which could help you save on your truckers general liability and other business insurance. You can earn discounts for things like:
- Purchasing multiple coverages
- Implementing safe work site practices
- Paying annually rather than in smaller increments
- Agreeing to autopay.
It’s easy to get a general liability quote online from Progressive. It should take you less than five minutes, although for this coverage for certain trucking firms, it will likely send you to another insurer.
THREE: A one stop shop for all your trucker insurance needs
If you’re a busy trucking business owner who doesn’t have much time to shop for general liability and other insurance, THREE could be the ideal solution for you.
THREE is also a part of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. It offers a single policy that covers most of the risks faced by trucking businesses. The firm prides itself on the fact that it has a simple three page policy with no fine print or surprises.
The single policy covers:
- Liability: General liability, errors and omissions, and employment practices
- Cyber: Cyber liability, data compromise, and incident response
- Property and business interruption: Fire, theft, flood and water damage, wind and hail and earthquake
- Business auto: Collision, comprehensive, auto liability, and hired and non-owned
- Workers compensation.
If simplicity and comprehensive coverage are important to you, THREE could be a good provider for your trucking business insurance.
Commercialinsurance.net: Best for knowledgeable and experienced agents
If you are new to buying trucking insurance in general or trucking general liability insurance, you may want to work with a knowledgeable and experienced agent who can help you navigate the complicated nuances of trucking industry. Commercialinsurance.net is a good place to start with. They partner with an intensive network of agents specializing in the trucking industry. As a result, they are very knowledgeable and have a lot of experience working with a wide variety of trucking businesses. However unique your trucking business is, you can count on commercialinsurance.net connecting you with an agent who has been working with trucking businesses similar to yours so that you can get expert advice on getting the best trucking coverages at the most affordable prices.
Commercialinsurance.net is licensed to do business in all 50 states and partners with hundreds of experienced agents who represent 50+ trucking insurance companies.
Trucking general liability insurance: The basics
For-hire truckers and all motor carriers that have physical business locations should consider purchasing general liability insurance. Most clients will also require your business to have it before they allow you or anyone working for you on their property. It pays for injuries or property damage you or someone who works for you cause as a result of business activities not directly related to operating, loading, or unloading your truck.
Typically, general liability insurance can help cover claims related to:
- Third party property damage caused by you or an employee while conducting business
- Medical costs if your customer or client gets hurt when visiting your business
- Reputational harm resulting from malicious slander, libel, violating a person’s privacy, and more
- Advertising issues, such as copyright infringement and mistakes on your website.
Who needs general liability coverage for truckers?
Any commercial trucker who is a trucker for hire and has a physical business address should get this coverage. It is highly unlikely that you can purchase this as stand alone coverage, but you’ll likely find it bundled with other insurance you may need.
What does trucking general liability insurance cover?
It covers work-related, non-employee injuries and property damage that happen on your premises and as part of your operations, which includes your shop, yard, and entire operation, as well as when you and your employees are away from your premises and are doing work related tasks.
>>MORE: The Best Commercial Truck Insurance Companies
What does general liability insurance not cover?
General liability insurance provides very specific types of coverage. It doesn’t cover all aspects of your trucking business or the risks it could face. For instance, it does not cover incidents that happen while driving or loading and unloading freight. Those would be covered by your commercial vehicle policy.
Here are some additional examples of things that are definitely not covered:
- Worker injuries: Your general liability insurance covers injuries to clients, customers, and passers-by that happen on your business property. However, it doesn’t cover employees injured while on the job. You’ll need workers’ compensation insurance for that. Learn more at the best workers comp insurance companies and the cheapest workers comp insurance companies.
- And here is the best workers comp insurance for truckers.
- Vehicle damage: If any business-owned truck, van, or other vehicle is damaged in an accident while being used for work related purposes, your general liability policy wouldn’t cover it. Your commercial auto insurance provides that protection. Learn more at the best commercial auto insurance companies and how to find commercial auto insurance.
- Crime or theft: If an employee commits a crime against your business or steals from it, general liability will not make your business whole. You will have to purchase employee dishonesty insurance.
- Data theft or loss: If your business data is lost, compromised, or stolen, your business general liability coverage won’t pay for related costs. Cyber security insurance covers those losses. Learn more at the best cyber insurance companies and the best data breach insurance companies.
- Business property damage: General liability covers third party property damage, but it doesn’t cover damage to your business property, including buildings or equipment. You’ll need commercial property coverage for this. Learn more at the best commercial property insurance companies.
What other coverages do trucking businesses typically buy?
There are additional types of insurance many truckers purchase. These include:
- Errors and omissions: This covers businesses for mistakes, errors, forgetting to convey information, misrepresentations, and more. Learn more about E&O insurance and the best E&O insurance companies.
- Umbrella liability: This provides additional coverage over your policy’s limits. This is protection truckers who face costly risks should consider. Learn more at the best commercial umbrella insurance companies.
- Employee dishonesty: Workers are often tempted to steal money and other things from the workplace. This coverage will help you recover losses from employee theft.
These additional coverages can seem complex and confusing and in some cases they are. An insurance agent experienced in working with trucking businesses — or a rep from your insurance company — will be able to help you out with them.
Does my commercial vehicle insurance cover injuries and property damage?
Your commercial truck insurance only covers bodily injuries and property damage that happens when a truck is in operation or is being loaded and unloaded. It does not cover injuries that happen on your business property. Having both types of insurance will make it less likely that you’ll have potentially costly coverage gaps. This is a common issue with general liability insurance for truckers, which is why insurers don’t sell it as a stand alone policy.
Interesting fact: If a driver uses a skid loader to unload or load a truck, damages related to it would be covered through commercial vehicle insurance. Once he switches to a dolly or other more manual type of loading equipment, damages would be covered by general liability insurance.
Are truckers required to carry general liability insurance?
Unlike workers’ compensation insurance, general liability coverage isn’t required by states or other government entities. However, truckers are generally required by clients to have this coverage. Landlords typically make businesses get it before they agree to rent property to them.
In any case, it’s a good idea for trucking companies to have it. If someone (not an employee) is injured or property is damaged while conducting business, general liability insurance would pay medical, property repair or replacement, legal and settlement costs. If the business owner didn’t have coverage, he or she would have to pay for the damages out of pocket.
Why trucking businesses should get general liability insurance
The federal and state governments don’t require truckers to carry general liability insurance, although, as we’ve already covered, most clients and landlords will make you get it. However, it’s a good idea for small businesses to have it and it’s likely truckers will get it bundled with other coverages to prevent insurance gaps.
Think about the following scenarios:
- A representative for the company that supplies you with replacement truck parts trips and falls in your shop and breaks a leg. He sues you for medical costs and lost wages because he can’t work while recovering.
- Some kids get into your lot and start climbing on a stack of truck tires. One of them falls off and is badly injured, requiring surgery. Her parents sue for damages.
- A parts supplier visits your lot. He is looking under the hood of a truck when the hood latch fails and the it slams him in the head. He is taken by ambulance to the hospital where he’s checked for injuries.
In all these cases, if the trucking business has general liability insurance, it would help cover the medical, legal, and settlement costs associated with all these incidents.
That’s why general liability is one of the most popular business coverages for trucking businesses, after workers’ comp and commercial vehicle insurance. It’s why it’s bundled into so many coverages.
How much does trucking general liability insurance cost?
The average cost of trucking general liability insurance is $125 a month.
The price of general liability coverage can vary more than almost any other type of business insurance. It’s dependent on many factors, including type of trucking business, size of the operation, condition of business property and the specific risks faced by the business. The cost of this coverage can range from several hundred to many thousands of dollars a year. A small trucking business will spend less on coverage than one with many employees and multiple locations. In many cases, you may not be able to see the actual cost of this coverage because it will be packaged together with other ones.
The best way to ensure you’re paying a fair price for your general liability and other all truckers business insurance is to get quotes from multiple providers. That way, you can compare coverages and costs to find the best combination for you. Working with a broker like Simply Business, commercialinsurance.net, CoverWallet, or Smart Financial is a good way to get and compare several quotes quickly.
How to find cheap trucking general liability insurance
Here are some tips to help you find the coverage you need at a fair price:
- Shop around for the best value. Get quotes from a few companies and compare prices and coverages.
- Don’t stop shopping around. Make sure you get new quotes before you renew your policy.
- Take advantage of discounts. If they’re not offered to you when getting a quote, ask about them, whether you’re buying online or through an agent.
Taking these steps will help ensure you’re not paying too much for your general liability coverage.
