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Trucking · Semi-Truck
Semi-Truck Insurance — OTR and regional tractor-trailer programs
Semi-truck insurance covers Class 8 tractors and trailers running interstate or intrastate freight. We place primary liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo, NTL, and trailer interchange — and we handle MCS-90 and Form E filings so your authority stays in good standing.
At a Glance
- Liability typical
- $1M CSL
- Cargo typical
- $100K – $250K
- Physical damage
- ACV or stated value
- Filings
- MCS-90 / Form E / BOC-3
Quick answer
Ellie Insurance Group is an independent business insurance agency (founded 2014, headquartered in Tampa, Florida) that shops 100+ carrier markets to place semi-truck 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 for general freight; $1M industry standard.
- Physical damage
Collision + comprehensive on tractor and trailer.
- Motor truck cargo
By commodity, with refrigeration breakdown when applicable.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail)
Covers liability when the truck is off-dispatch or empty between contracts.
- Trailer interchange
Liability for non-owned trailers under written interchange agreement.
- MCS-90 / Form E
Federally-required filings for interstate operating 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
- Owner-operator personal-use accidents (without NTL)
- Cargo theft past sub-limit
- Unattended-vehicle theft (without endorsement)
- Reefer breakdown (without breakdown endorsement)
- Hazardous materials beyond declared commodity
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.
Rear-end collision, loaded
A tractor-trailer running I-75 fails to stop in slowing traffic and rear-ends a passenger vehicle. Primary auto liability responds to bodily injury and property damage; the MCS-90 backstops payment if a coverage dispute arises on an interstate load.
Jackknife and cargo loss
Wet pavement and a panic stop jackknife the rig, damaging the trailer and spilling freight. Physical damage covers the tractor and trailer; motor truck cargo pays for the lost commodity up to the scheduled limit.
Off-dispatch parking-lot accident
An owner-operator drives the bobtail tractor to dinner and hits a parked car. The primary policy may deny because the unit was off-dispatch; non-trucking liability is what responds here.
Pricing
What drives this premium
Radius & routes
Long-haul loaded (500+ miles) rates higher than regional or local.
Driver MVRs
DUIs and serious violations in the last 3 years move you to E&S markets.
Equipment value
Newer Peterbilts, Kenworths, and Volvos rate cheaper for physical damage than older units.
Commodities
Refrigerated and high-theft commodities (electronics, alcohol) load cargo premium.
Loss history
Three years of clean loss runs unlock preferred markets.
Years in business
New ventures pay 30–60% more for the first 12 months.
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
Class 8 interstate carriers must keep an MCS-90 endorsement and BMC-91/91X public-liability filing on file for FMCSA financial responsibility, plus BOC-3 process agents and current UCR. We file these and monitor them so a lapse never deactivates your authority.
Read the FMCSA filings guideQuote checklist
What we'll need to quote
Quote checklist
What we'll need to quote
- MC and DOT numbers, plus authority status
- Driver list (DL, DOB, hire date) and MVRs
- Power unit + trailer schedule with VINs
- Commodities, lanes, and annual mileage per unit
- 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.
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
Hot Shot
Expedited loads on 1-ton duals and gooseneck trailers.
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
- No — most cargo policies exclude refrigeration breakdown unless specifically endorsed. Ask for the breakdown endorsement if you haul perishables.
- Trailer interchange covers liability for non-owned trailers under a written interchange agreement. Without one, your auto liability may exclude damage to trailers you pull.
- Scheduled lists specific commodities and rates them individually; blanket sets one rate for everything you haul. Brokers often require scheduled limits for high-value loads.
- Generally no — MCS-90 is a federal endorsement tied to FMCSA financial responsibility rules for interstate carriers. Florida-only carriers follow § 627.7415 minimums.
- $750,000 per occurrence for interstate carriers of general freight. Hazmat carriers require $1M–$5M depending on commodity.
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.