Trucking Insurance Coverages Every Independent Contractor Needs to Know (Before It’s Too Late)

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Introduction:

If you’re an independent contractor in trucking, there are two things you don’t want to learn the hard way:

Freight doesn’t pay if your rig’s sidelined

Insurance won’t cover what you “thought” it would

In this post, we break down the coverages that matter most — and cut through the industry lingo and fine print like a hot knife through DOT red tape. Let’s go!

Primary Liability – It’s the Law, But It’s Not Enough

What it is: Covers bodily injury or property damage to others if you’re at fault in an accident. Required by FMCSA to operate legally.
Why it matters: Without it, you’re shut down. Period. Most shippers and brokers require at least $1 million in liability coverage.

Here’s the catch:
This only protects other people. If you jackknife your rig into a ditch and total your own truck, primary liability doesn’t help you one bit.

Physical Damage – Protect Yo’ Rig!

What it is: Covers repairs or replacement of your truck if it’s damaged in an accident, vandalized, or stolen.
Why it matters: Your truck is your business. If it’s totaled, you’re out of work and still owe on the loan.

Pro tip: If you're leasing or financing your truck, physical damage coverage is probably required. But even if it's not, driving without it is playing Russian roulette with your financial future.

Bobtail/Non-Trucking Liability – That Gray Area You Forgot About

What it is: Covers you when you're driving your truck without a trailer or off-duty — like running to the store or deadheading home.
Why it matters: Most think they’re covered 24/7, but regular liability usually only applies when under dispatch. This fills in that off-duty gap.

Real talk: If you go grab tacos in your bobtail and get into a wreck, you better hope you’ve got this. Otherwise, your insurance could say “not our problem.”

Cargo Insurance – What You're Hauling Is Your Reputation

What it is: Covers the freight you’re hauling in case it’s lost, stolen, or damaged.
Why it matters: Shippers don’t play. One claim on their freight can get you blacklisted faster than a rookie can say “E-Log error.”

Standard coverage: Most brokers/shippers want $100,000 minimum.
But: If you’re hauling high-value or sensitive freight (electronics, pharmaceuticals), you might need more or special clauses.

Occupational Accident vs. Workers' Comp – Pick One (But Pick Something)

Occupational Accident: Tailored for owner-operators. Covers medical expenses, disability, and death benefits after a work-related injury.
Workers’ Comp: Broader but more expensive. Sometimes required depending on your state or lease agreement.

Which to choose?
If you’re leased onto a company, they might offer OccAcc. If you’re running under your own authority and have a driver or two — don’t skip this. Lawsuits from injured co-drivers are no joke.

General Liability – For the "Oops, That Wasn’t Even My Truck" Moments

What it is: Covers you for damages that happen off the road — like backing into a dock and destroying a loading bay, or a customer slipping and falling around your truck.

Why it matters: If you think this never happens, you haven’t spent enough time at shipper yards on rainy days.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – What If the Other Guy Ain’t Got Coverage?

What it is: Protects you if the other driver is at fault but doesn’t have enough insurance.
Why it matters: You’re sharing the road with people who treat “minimum coverage” like a badge of honor. Don’t assume everyone’s protected like you are.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Be a Coverage Casualty

Listen, independent contractors in trucking have freedom — but that freedom comes with the responsibility to protect your business.

Here’s your checklist:

✅ Primary Liability

✅ Physical Damage

✅ Cargo Insurance

✅ Bobtail/Non-Trucking Liability

✅ Occupational Accident or Workers' Comp

✅ General Liability

✅ Uninsured Motorist

If even one of those is missing, you’re driving with a hole in your financial armor.

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