Truck Insurance Providers

When you apply for your USDOT and MC numbers, FMCSA requires proof of financial responsibility before your authority becomes active. What you actually carry—and what you pay—depends on the insurer and your operational history.

This section profiles the truck insurance providers currently available to small carriers. Each profile is independent and factual; the choice of provider is yours.

What federal law requires

For for-hire carriers transporting non-hazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 lbs GVWR or more, the federal minimum public liability limit is $750,000, set under 49 CFR Part 387. Hazardous materials carry substantially higher minimums depending on the commodity.

That figure dates from the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and has never been adjusted for inflation. It is best treated as a legal floor rather than a realistic measure of adequate protection.

BMC-91 and MCS-90 are distinct

These two are frequently confused, and the distinction matters because satisfying one does not satisfy the other:

• BMC-91, or BMC-91X, is a filing. The insurer submits it to FMCSA to certify coverage, and it is what activates operating authority. A BMC-91 applies where one insurer covers the full required limit; a BMC-91X where the limit is divided among several.
• MCS-90 is an endorsement attached to the policy. It is not filed with FMCSA. The insurer issues it and the carrier retains it. It guarantees payment to the public for bodily injury or property damage the carrier is legally liable for, including circumstances a standard policy might otherwise exclude.

Two consequences follow. An MCS-90 endorsement provides no assistance if the BMC filing has not posted correctly in FMCSA’s system, so confirm it appears before assuming authority is active. Second, the MCS-90 protects the public rather than the carrier: where an insurer pays under it for something the policy would not otherwise cover, it may generally seek reimbursement from the carrier.

Federal minimums against market requirements

Meeting the federal minimum and securing freight are separate problems. Many brokers and shippers will not tender loads to a carrier filing only $750,000, and $1,000,000 in liability is the common commercial expectation. Cargo coverage is generally a contractual requirement imposed by brokers and shippers rather than a federal one for general freight, though the practical effect is identical.

Budget against the requirements of intended freight partners rather than against the regulation alone.

Before binding a policy

Confirm the insurer will make the BMC filing, and establish the timescale, as authority depends on it. Obtain the MCS-90 endorsement in writing. Establish how mid-term cancellation is handled: an insurer cancelling a filing notifies FMCSA, and authority may be revoked on that basis. Ask specifically about exclusions, since radius limits, commodity restrictions, and driver-experience conditions are where new carriers most often discover they are uncovered. Confirm whether quoted premiums assume a clean motor vehicle record for every driver.

Market fact: New-operator pricing

A critical reality for any new carrier: you will pay 40–100% more for insurance as a new operator (under 2 years of operating history) compared to an established carrier, regardless of which provider you choose. This is a market fact driven by underwriting risk, not by differences between companies. Some insurers explicitly won’t write policies for operators with very little operating history—this is stated in each provider’s profile below where known.

Progressive Commercial

Progressive Commercial serves commercial trucking operations. As a major national provider, Progressive offers coverage types including liability, cargo, and physical damage. Progressive requires a quote-specific review of your operation—coverage amounts and premium depend on your fleet size, commodity type, and claims history.

To get a quote, contact Progressive Commercial directly with details about your trucks, drivers, and intended freight type. The company can file the MCS-90 proof-of-insurance form with FMCSA once a policy is issued.

Note on this profile: Fuller details on coverage options and stated underwriting policies are pending deeper individual research.

Simplex

Simplex is a commercial truck insurance provider. Available research on Simplex is name-level only at this time; a fuller profile including specific coverage types, pricing structure, and underwriting policies is pending further research before publication.

CoverWallet

CoverWallet is a commercial insurance platform. Available research on CoverWallet is name-level only at this time; a fuller profile including specific coverage types, pricing structure, and underwriting policies is pending further research before publication.

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Next step: Read Trucking Insurance: Federal Minimums vs. Market Reality to understand what coverage amounts federal law requires vs. what brokers and shippers actually demand. Then gather quotes from providers and confirm coverage requirements with your intended freight brokers before signing.

Also relevant: USDOT and MC numbers — filing your insurance proof with FMCSA.