Trucking Insurance, Explained

Straight answers about pricing, coverage, and compliance. Written for truckers, not insurance people.

Freight Factoring: How It Works, What It Costs, and When to Stop

Factoring gives you cash today instead of waiting 30-60 days. But 3% per load = 36% APR. How it works (5-step flow), real annual costs ($3K-$17.5K), recourse vs non-recourse, 9 hidden fees, 7 questions before signing, 4 alternatives, when to graduate, and the APR reality check.

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Workers' Compensation for Trucking: Who Needs It and What It Costs

Workers' comp explained for trucking companies: state requirements, owner-operator exemptions, the 1099 misclassification trap ($75K-$360K+ exposure), premium calculation formula, real cost examples ($3.3K-$56K/yr), 7 ways to lower your premium, consequences of skipping, occupational accident alternative, and ghost policies.

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General Liability Insurance for Truckers: What It Covers (That Auto Liability Doesn't)

General liability covers the things auto liability doesn't: slip-and-falls at your yard, damage during loading, advertising claims. Auto vs GL distinction, 3 coverage categories with real examples, 6 exclusions, the loading/unloading gray area, who needs it, costs ($400-$15K/yr), how GL fits with other policies, and claim process.

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Bobtail vs Non-Trucking Liability: What's the Difference?

These two coverages are confused more than any other in trucking insurance. 5 real-world scenarios showing when each applies (and when neither does), the coverage gap that bankrupts people, which one you need based on your situation, 6 common mistakes, and 8 questions to ask your agent.

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Physical Damage Insurance: Protecting Your Biggest Asset

Everything about trucking physical damage insurance: comprehensive vs collision, ACV vs stated vs agreed value (with examples), deductible comparison ($1K/$2.5K/$5K), costs by truck value ($1,200-$8,000/yr), gap coverage explained with real numbers, exclusions, and 5-step claim process.

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Trucking Insurance Renewal: How to Prepare and Save

Your renewal is your one shot at leverage each year. 90-day timeline, what drives your rate (claims, CSA, authority age), rate expectations by situation, 6 red flags, 7 savings strategies (5-30% each), when to switch agents, and a 14-step checklist.

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ELD & Hours of Service: What Every Trucker Needs to Know

Complete guide to HOS rules and ELD requirements: 4 core rules (11-hour driving, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, 60/70-hour limit), sleeper berth splits, ELD requirements and costs, violation penalties and CSA impact, short-haul exemptions, 8 common mistakes, and 6 compliance best practices.

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Owner-Operator vs Company Driver: The Real Numbers (2026)

Honest comparison of owner-operator vs company driver income, costs, lifestyle, and risk. Three income scenarios, startup costs ($15K-$50K), insurance comparison ($0 vs $12K-$25K/yr), the lease-on middle path, 7 decision questions, common mistakes, and the ideal 5-year timeline.

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DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing: What Every Trucker Must Know

Complete guide to FMCSA drug and alcohol testing requirements: 6 test types (pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, follow-up), the 5-panel drug test, alcohol thresholds, Clearinghouse registration, consortium requirements, consequences of a positive test, and what counts as a refusal.

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CSA Scores Explained in Plain English

Your CSA scores affect your insurance rates, broker access, and FMCSA attention. Here's what the 7 BASICs are, how scores are calculated (severity points, time weighting, percentile ranking), intervention thresholds, and 6 ways to improve your scores.

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Cargo Insurance: What's Actually Covered and How Claims Work

Everything truckers need to know about cargo insurance: broad form vs named perils, 8 common exclusions, coverage amounts by operation type, how claims work (Carmack Amendment), deductibles, costs ($400-$2,500/yr), and 8 ways to protect yourself.

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Hotshot Trucking: The Complete Guide for 2026

Everything you need to know about hotshot trucking: equipment, CDL requirements, startup costs ($37K-$114K), insurance ($6K-$15K/yr), finding loads, realistic income ($40K-$80K), 7 common mistakes, and how to get started.

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How to Read Your Trucking Insurance Policy

Your policy is 40+ pages. Here's what actually matters: the declarations page, coverage limits, exclusions, endorsements, deductibles, and 12 questions to ask your agent.

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What to Do After a Trucking Accident: Step-by-Step Guide

The step-by-step guide you hope you never need. First 60 minutes, documentation checklist, what NOT to say, how to file a claim, FMCSA reporting, and protecting your business.

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What Does It Actually Cost to Run a Trucking Company?

Complete breakdown of every operating cost for owner-operators and small fleets. Fuel, insurance, maintenance, permits, hidden costs, and three real-world scenarios showing what you actually take home.

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FMCSA Insurance Requirements Explained in Plain English

Every federal trucking insurance requirement explained like a human. MCS-90, BMC-91, BMC-84, liability minimums, BOC-3, filing timelines, and what happens when coverage lapses.

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Best Trucking Insurance Companies for New Authorities (2026)

An honest comparison of Progressive, BHHC, National Indemnity, and Canal. Who writes new authorities, what to expect from each, and how to choose the right carrier.

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10 Mistakes That Kill New Trucking Businesses in Year One

The real reasons new trucking companies fail. Undercapitalization, wrong insurance, ignoring compliance, chasing cheap rates — and what the survivors do differently.

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Why Is My Trucking Insurance Quote So High?

Every factor that drives your rate — authority age, driving record, cargo type, truck value — and what you can actually do about each one.

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Why Every Agency Quotes You the Same Price

The uncomfortable truth about trucking insurance pricing for new authorities. Real cost data, real explanations, no fluff.

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