12 Costly Mistakes Truckers Make When Choosing Insurance — And How to Avoid Them

The 12 Most Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

1. Shopping only by price, not by coverage

   The problem: Rock‑bottom premiums often hide exclusions, high deductibles, or missing endorsements.

   Fix it: Compare apples to apples—limits, deductibles, exclusions, endorsements—then compare price.

2. Confusing Non‑Trucking Liability (NTL) with Bobtail

   The problem: NTL applies when you’re not under dispatch; Bobtail can apply when running without a trailer—even on business errands.

   Fix it: Match the policy to your lease and dispatch realities. Many leased O/Os need NTL; some operations also need Bobtail.

3. Underinsuring (or overinsuring) your rig

   The problem: Stating too low a value leads to short claims; too high, you overpay premium with no extra payout.

   Fix it: Set Physical Damage on realistic ACV using current comps; update values at renewal.

4. Ignoring shipper/contract requirements

   The problem: You lose loads because your COI doesn’t meet terms (limits, waivers, AI, reefer breakdown).

   Fix it: Collect insurance requirements upfront and make sure your policy supports AI and Waiver of Subrogation.

5. Buying Cargo coverage without reading exclusions

   The problem: Theft, unattended vehicle, temperature change, or high‑value commodities may be excluded or sub‑limited.

   Fix it: Review the exclusions list. Add endorsements for theft, reefer breakdown/temperature change, and commodity sub‑limits that match your freight.

6. Skipping Truckers General Liability

   The problem: Auto Liability doesn’t cover premises risks (e.g., a customer slip‑and‑fall during loading).

   Fix it: Add Truckers GL alongside Auto Liability; many shippers/warehouses require it.

7. Forgetting Trailer Interchange or Non‑Owned Trailer coverage

   The problem: Pulling someone else’s trailer without coverage can leave you paying for damage.

   Fix it: If you sign interchange agreements, add Trailer Interchange. Otherwise consider Non‑Owned Trailer PD.

8. Not aligning filings and authority

   The problem: Missing BMC‑91X/MCS‑90 timing or thinking MCS‑90 adds coverage (it doesn’t).

   Fix it: Confirm required filings and time your effective date with authority activation.

9. Misstating radius, garaging, or commodity

   The problem: “Stretching” to cut premiums risks non‑renewal or messy claims.

   Fix it: Be accurate about operating radius, garaging ZIP, equipment, and commodities. Tell your agent when lanes change.

10. Overlooking downtime, towing, and rental reimbursement

    The problem: A covered crash still takes you off the road—unpaid.

    Fix it: Consider Towing/Labor, Downtime, or Rental Reimbursement where available.

11. Skipping Reefer Breakdown for temp‑controlled ops

    The problem: Cargo spoiled from mechanical failure or temperature deviation—excluded by default.

    Fix it: Add Reefer Breakdown/Temperature Change and track maintenance records.

12. Treating insurance as “set it and forget it”

    The problem: Your operation changes—drivers, trailers, lanes—but the policy doesn’t.

    Fix it: Do a quarterly coverage check‑in (or after any change) and update schedules/endorsements.