Protect the Freight Behind Every Delivery
Motor truck cargo insurance solutions for trucking companies, motor carriers, owner operators, fleets, delivery businesses, logistics companies, and transportation operations responsible for customer goods.
What is motor truck cargo insurance?
Motor truck cargo insurance is designed to help protect a carrier’s financial responsibility for customer property being transported under the carrier’s care, custody, or control.
Coverage can vary according to the commodity, cargo value, equipment, route, storage practices, contractual responsibility, cause of loss, security requirements, deductible, and policy wording.
What cargo insurance may help cover
Actual protection depends on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, deductibles, commodity schedule, security requirements, and facts of the loss.
Collision or Overturn
May respond to eligible cargo damage resulting from a covered collision, overturn, or other insured transportation event.
- Covered vehicle collision
- Trailer overturn
- Eligible cargo damage expenses
Theft or Hijacking
May cover eligible theft-related cargo losses when applicable security, storage, reporting, and policy requirements are satisfied.
- Covered cargo theft
- Hijacking-related loss
- Security conditions may apply
Fire and Certain Perils
May respond to eligible cargo damage caused by covered fire or other listed causes of loss, subject to the policy terms.
- Covered fire damage
- Specified transportation perils
- Policy-specific conditions
Loading and Unloading
Certain policies may provide protection during covered loading or unloading operations, subject to policy definitions and exclusions.
- Specified handling activities
- Transfer-related cargo damage
- Coverage territory limitations
Debris Removal and Cleanup
Some cargo forms may include limited eligible expenses for debris removal, cleanup, disposal, or recovery following a covered loss.
- Eligible debris removal
- Limited cleanup expenses
- Policy sublimits may apply
Freight Contract Requirements
Cargo limits and certificate wording may be requested by shippers, brokers, customers, contractors, and logistics partners.
- Requested cargo limits
- Certificate requirements
- Contract-specific documentation
Coverage depends on the commodities you transport
Every commodity is not treated the same. Some goods may require special underwriting, higher limits, refrigeration controls, security procedures, endorsements, or separate approval.
General Merchandise
Packaged consumer products, retail goods, and general freight.
Refrigerated Goods
Perishable food, temperature-sensitive freight, and refrigerated cargo.
Electronics
Computers, devices, components, appliances, and higher-value technology.
Automobiles
Passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and auto-hauling operations.
Machinery
Industrial equipment, construction machinery, and specialized components.
Building Materials
Lumber, steel, fixtures, supplies, and construction-related cargo.
Furniture
Household goods, office furniture, fixtures, and moving operations.
Specialty Freight
High-value, fragile, oversized, unusual, or contract-specific commodities.
Cargo coverage has limits and conditions
A cargo policy does not automatically cover every commodity, cause of loss, location, storage arrangement, delay, temperature event, or value. The complete policy and endorsements should be reviewed carefully.
Discuss Your Cargo ProfileWhat can influence cargo insurance cost?
Cargo insurance pricing is determined through underwriting and can vary according to the goods transported, required limits, routes, equipment, security controls, claims experience, and overall business profile.
Cargo type and value
Commodity sensitivity, theft exposure, fragility, perishability, and maximum value per load.
Routes and territory
Operating radius, states traveled, delivery locations, overnight stops, and route patterns.
Equipment and controls
Trailer type, refrigeration, cargo securement, tracking, locks, alarms, and storage practices.
Claims history
Prior theft, damage, shortage, temperature, loading, and transportation-related cargo losses.
Strong cargo controls can help reduce losses
A practical cargo-security program can help protect customer goods, improve documentation, support claims handling, and strengthen the risk profile of the transportation business.
Explore Trucking Safety TipsHow to request motor truck cargo insurance
Complete information about your freight and transportation practices helps support a more accurate review of available cargo insurance options.
Describe the business
Provide company details, authority, operating history, vehicle count, and transportation services.
List all commodities
Identify the goods hauled, maximum value per load, average value, and frequency.
Explain routes and controls
Share operating territory, trailer types, parking, tracking, storage, and security practices.
Review policy options
Compare available limits, deductibles, endorsements, restrictions, conditions, and pricing.
Motor truck cargo insurance FAQs
Common questions from motor carriers, owner operators, trucking companies, fleets, delivery businesses, and logistics operations.
Motor truck cargo insurance may cover eligible loss or damage to customer goods while the cargo is in the insured carrier’s care, custody, or control, subject to policy terms, exclusions, deductibles, security requirements, listed commodities, and coverage limits.
Cargo insurance is generally separate from commercial auto liability. Each coverage has different purposes, limits, deductibles, exclusions, conditions, and claim requirements.
The appropriate limit can depend on maximum cargo value per load, customer contracts, broker requirements, commodity type, trailer capacity, frequency of shipments, and the financial exposure of the carrier.
Refrigerated or temperature-sensitive freight may require specific approval, refrigeration breakdown coverage, maintenance records, temperature monitoring, and compliance with policy conditions.
Commonly requested information includes business details, authority, commodities, maximum cargo value, routes, vehicle and trailer types, security controls, storage practices, prior coverage, and cargo loss history.
No. A quote request, application, website submission, email, phone discussion, or certificate request does not bind insurance coverage. Coverage must be confirmed in writing by an authorized representative.
Protect the cargo your customers trust you to deliver
Tell NORTH STAR COMMERCIAL INSURANCE LLC about your commodities, maximum cargo value, routes, vehicles, trailers, security controls, contracts, current policy, and prior cargo losses.