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Trucking · Hot Shot
Hot Shot Trucking Insurance — expedited small-load freight
Hot shot insurance covers one-ton dually pickups, gooseneck and bumper-pull trailers, and Class 3–5 medium-duty trucks running expedited or hot loads. We place primary liability with the FMCSA-required $750K minimum, motor truck cargo, and trailer interchange — plus MCS-90 and Form E filings.
At a Glance
- Vehicle class
- Class 3 – 5
- Liability typical
- $750K – $1M
- Cargo typical
- $25K – $100K
- Filings
- MCS-90 / Form E
Quick answer
Ellie Insurance Group is an independent business insurance agency (founded 2014, headquartered in Tampa, Florida) that shops 100+ carrier markets to place hot shot trucking insurance — commercial auto liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo, and FMCSA filings (MCS-90, BMC-91X, BOC-3) — for motor carriers and owner-operators. As an independent broker we compare real quotes side by side across competing trucking markets instead of locking you into one carrier. Start an Instant Quote and a licensed agent shops your account for you.
Coverage
What this trucking program covers
- Primary liability
$750K FMCSA minimum; $1M industry standard.
- Physical damage
Collision + comprehensive on truck and trailer.
- Motor truck cargo
Typically $25K–$100K depending on commodity.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail)
Off-dispatch and personal-use liability.
- Trailer interchange
Liability for non-owned trailers under interchange agreement.
- MCS-90 / Form E
Federal filings for interstate authority.
Federal authority and the right insurance filings sit underneath all of this. If you run interstate, see how FMCSA filings and financial-responsibility rules (MCS-90, BMC-91/91X, BOC-3, and UCR) tie into the coverage above.
Common gaps
What it typically won't cover
- Personal-use accidents (without NTL)
- Cargo theft past sub-limit
- Mobile equipment loads without inland marine
- Hazmat without specific endorsement
- Hot-shot brokered loads outside disclosed commodities
How claims actually happen
Real-world losses this program responds to
Underwriting is about exposure. These are representative scenarios for this class — how a loss unfolds and which coverage answers.
Gooseneck disconnect on the interstate
A hitch failure drops a gooseneck trailer at highway speed, damaging the load and a trailing vehicle. Auto liability covers the third party; physical damage and cargo handle the trailer and freight, subject to maintenance conditions.
Oilfield equipment damaged in transit
A high-value pump on an expedited oilfield run is dropped during a rushed offload. Motor truck cargo pays up to the scheduled limit — provided the commodity was disclosed, since brokered loads outside declared commodities can be excluded.
New-authority lapse
A first-year carrier misses an insurance filing and FMCSA deactivates the authority mid-load. There's no coverage gap if filings are monitored — which is exactly why filing management matters for hot-shot operators.
Pricing
What drives this premium
Truck and trailer class
One-ton dually + gooseneck rates lower than Class 5 + 40' deck.
Operating radius
Regional cheapest; long-haul expedited highest.
Commodities
Oilfield, machinery, and high-value freight load premium.
Driver MVRs
CDL is often required; MVRs with violations push to E&S.
Years in business
New authority pays 30–60% more in year one.
Authority status
Active interstate authority required for MCS-90.
Want a realistic budget before you quote? See typical Florida truck insurance cost ranges by vehicle for primary liability, cargo, and full-program estimates across every equipment type.
Filings & compliance
Authority and insurance filings come first
Hot-shot carriers running interstate need active operating authority backed by an MCS-90 endorsement and BMC-91/91X filing, plus BOC-3 process agents and UCR. New ventures lapse most often here — we file and monitor so your authority stays active.
Read the FMCSA filings guideQuote checklist
What we'll need to quote
Quote checklist
What we'll need to quote
- MC/DOT numbers and authority status
- Truck + trailer schedule with VINs
- CDL status and driver MVRs
- Commodities and typical lanes
- Average load value
- Five-year loss runs
- Current declarations pages
Related programs
Other trucking programs we write
Run a mixed fleet or a different unit? We place every major motor-carrier class across 100+ markets.
Semi-Truck
OTR and regional Class 8 tractor-trailer programs.
Learn more
Box Truck
Straight trucks for local delivery, moving, and last-mile freight.
Learn more
Dump Truck
Aggregate, debris, and construction hauling with on-site exposure.
Learn more
Flatbed
Open-deck freight with load-securement and tarping exposure.
Learn more
Cargo Van
Sprinter and cargo-van couriers, expediters, and last-mile carriers.
Learn more
See the full lineup on the trucking insurance hub.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- A CDL is required when the combined GVWR (truck + trailer) exceeds 26,001 lbs. Most hot shot setups (one-ton dually + gooseneck) exceed that threshold.
- $750,000 per occurrence for general freight on interstate hot shot operations. Hazmat carriers require $1M–$5M.
- Yes — several E&S markets specialize in new authority hot shot. Expect higher rates for the first 12 months while you build a loss history.
- Generally no — MCS-90 is for interstate operations. Florida-only carriers follow § 627.7415 minimums.
Keep reading
Explore related coverage
Trucking Hub
All programs and core lines for motor carriers.
FMCSA Filings
MCS-90, BMC-91/91X, BOC-3, UCR, and authority explained.
Cost by Vehicle
Florida truck insurance price ranges by vehicle and operation.
Motor Truck Cargo
Cargo coverage by commodity.
Non-Trucking Liability
Bobtail / off-dispatch liability.
Commercial Auto
Auto liability fundamentals.
Workers' Compensation
WC for company drivers.
Sources
Authoritative references
- FMCSA — Insurance / Financial Responsibility Requirements
- III — Business Vehicle Insurance (Insuring Your Business)
- IRMI — Insurance Glossary
Coverage descriptions and regulatory figures on this page are general summaries reviewed against the references above and are not a statement of coverage, legal advice, or a guarantee of eligibility or price. Last reviewed . Requirements and policy terms change — always confirm current rules with the relevant agency and verify coverage against the actual policy and a licensed agent.
Carrier access
Access to 100+ A-rated commercial markets
As an independent agency we shop 100+ admitted and surplus-lines carrier markets — so the carrier competes for your business, not the other way around.
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Next step
Ready to shop commercial coverage?
Talk to a commercial agent or run an instant quote online — same-day binding on most commercial submissions during business hours.