Trucking and Hauling Insurance in Tennessee

Common risks for trucking and hauling businesses

• Truck accidents on busy highways
• Cargo damage or theft
• Breakdowns
• Driver injuries
• Missed filings

Coverages trucking and hauling businesses often consider

• Commercial auto Trucks typically need commercial auto with physical damage and liability. Some carriers need federal filings.
• Motor truck cargo Covers the freight or goods you haul if they’re damaged or stolen in transit.
• General liability Helps if your business is blamed for injuring someone or damaging their property, and usually pays for a legal defense.
• Workers’ compensation Pays medical bills and lost wages if an employee is hurt on the job, and includes employer’s liability.
• Commercial umbrella Adds higher liability limits above your general liability, auto, and employer’s liability.

Not every business needs every coverage. The right mix depends on your work, your contracts, and your budget. All coverage is subject to underwriting and the terms of the policy.

What a claim could look like

For example, imagine your box truck rear-ends a car on I-40 near Lebanon. The other driver claims injuries. A claim like that would often go to commercial auto, depending on the facts and policy terms.

This is a hypothetical example for education only. Whether any claim is covered depends on the facts and your policy terms.

Tennessee rules to know

Commercial plates. In Tennessee, a vehicle with a commercial license plate must be covered under a commercial auto policy, according to the Tennessee Department of Revenue.

Federal trucking filings. For-hire carriers hauling non-hazardous property across state lines must keep at least $750,000 in liability coverage on file for vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, or $300,000 for lighter vehicles, according to the FMCSA. Intrastate rules can differ.

Workers’ comp. Most Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers’ compensation once they have five or more employees, full- or part-time, per the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Even below that number, many owners choose to carry it.

We can review your requirements and help you shop workers’ compensation and the other coverages above with carriers that write trucking and hauling businesses, subject to underwriting.

Certificates of insurance

Shippers and brokers commonly require certificates showing auto liability and cargo limits.

A certificate of insurance shows your coverage on the day it’s issued. If a contract asks for additional insured status or a waiver of subrogation, the policy usually needs an endorsement, not just a line on the certificate. Our certificate of insurance checklist walks through what to check.

What affects the cost

• The type of work you do and how it’s classified
• Annual revenue and payroll
• Number of employees and any subcontractors
• Where you work and the value of your equipment or property
• The limits and deductibles you choose
• Your claims history and years in business

We can’t promise a price ahead of time, but we can compare options and explain the trade-offs in plain English.

How Eric can help trucking and hauling businesses

Middle Tennessee sits where I-24, I-40, and I-65 meet, so local and regional haulers from La Vergne to Lebanon log a lot of miles. As an independent agent affiliated with Hutsenpiller Insurance, Eric can review what you have, read your contract requirements with you, and help you shop options with more than one carrier. See how an independent agent works for you.

Related guides

• Transportation and Hauling Business Insurance in Tennessee
• All business types we can help
• Business insurance in Middle Tennessee
• General liability insurance
• Commercial auto insurance
• Certificates and additional insureds explained
• USDOT numbers and truck insurance requirements
• What drives commercial auto costs
• Small business insurance checklist (PDF)
• Certificate of insurance checklist (PDF)