Box Truck Insurance — local delivery and brokered freight

Frequently Asked Questions

• What insurance does a box-truck business need?
  The answer depends on whether the business hauls its own property, moves goods for others, makes final-mile deliveries, or takes brokered freight. Commercial auto liability is different from truck physical damage or motor truck cargo; any required federal filing, state coverage, workers' compensation, or contract endorsement needs a separate review.
• Do I need a USDOT or MC number for my box truck?
  The actual trip, property, jurisdiction, vehicle and for-hire versus private role control this question. Interstate for-hire carriage of regulated goods generally requires motor-carrier authority, with exceptions; an under-10,001-pound truck does not automatically exempt a for-hire carrier from all authority rules. Check FMCSA and applicable state requirements before dispatch.
• Is cargo insurance legally required for box-truck operations?
  FMCSA does not list a cargo-insurance filing for ordinary interstate for-hire property-carrier authority, but household-goods operations differ. A broker, shipper or customer may still require cargo protection in a signed agreement, and the motor carrier has real freight exposure. Check the commodity, per-load value and policy exclusions.
• Does Florida's 627.7415 set the limit for every box truck?
  No. That Florida statute addresses qualifying commercial/qualified motor vehicles at specified gross vehicle weights starting at 26,000 pounds and separately points federally regulated vehicles to applicable 49 CFR Part 387 minimums. Other vehicle, federal, state and contract requirements may apply. A licensed agent should check your particular truck and operation.