Insurance
Trucking insurance for a brand-new authority — without overpaying.
New authorities get hit with the worst rates in the entire commercial insurance market. The difference between a good agent and a bad one for a first-year carrier is regularly $5,000+ a year on the exact same coverage. I'll put you in front of an agent who actually writes new authorities and isn't going to disappear after binding the policy.
What coverage you'll be quoting
- Primary liability — $750K federal minimum, $1M to satisfy most brokers and shippers.
- Cargo — usually $100K for dry van / reefer, higher for high-value freight.
- Physical damage — required if the truck or trailer is financed. Deductible choice matters here.
- Trailer interchange — needed if you'll pull broker or shipper trailers.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail) — covers the truck when it's not under dispatch.
Common questions
Why is insurance so expensive for a new authority?
Carriers under 12 months get rated as the highest risk class — even with 20 years of driving experience. Most agents only have 2–3 carriers that even quote new authorities, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive quote is often $4,000–$8,000 a year for the same coverage.
What coverage do I actually need to operate?
Federal minimum is $750,000 primary liability for general freight, $1M for most brokers. You'll also need cargo (usually $100K), and if the truck isn't paid off, physical damage. Trailer interchange comes up if you're pulling someone else's trailer.
Can I lower my premium right now?
A few real levers: higher deductibles on physical damage, telematics/dashcam discounts, paid-in-full discount, and being honest about radius and commodities. Quoting with the wrong commodity to get a lower rate is fraud and gets the policy voided when you have a claim.
When does insurance get cheaper?
Most carriers see a real drop at the 12-month renewal if they have a clean loss run. The drop at year 3 is bigger. The single best thing you can do for year-2 pricing is run clean in year 1.