Cargo Insurance Coverage
Commercial vehicle cargo insurance (sometimes called Freight, Transport or Shipping Insurance) protects you against the loss of freight.
Truck cargo insurance covers the freight (or commodity) you’re hauling as a for-hire trucker. It protects you against liability for cargo that is lost or damaged due to fire, collision, theft, reefer breakdown, something hitting your load, etc. A motor carrier is liable if the cargo they are handling is damaged, lost, or destroyed. Cargo Coverage, sometimes referred to as truck cargo coverage or inland marine coverage, provides you financial protection to cover the cost of the cargo, cleanup, pollution removal, and more. Many clients require for-hire truckers to carry Cargo Coverage to insure their loads while you’re transporting for them.
Our policies are some of the best in the industry, and they’re backed by our fast and efficient claim service. If you were to have a claim, our unique claims-handling process helps us to minimize your loss because we make recovery and salvage of your cargo our priority.
WE ALSO OFFER THESE OPTIONAL ADDITIONS:
Hired Auto Cargo Coverage
Hired Auto Cargo Coverage extends your protection to cargo loads where you must hire a tractor to deliver your loads (that are under a bill of lading). This is for when:
- You borrow or rent an additional truck,
- You ask another truck driver who has limited (or no) freight insurance to haul a portion of your cargo, or
- You work with another motor carrier to trip lease and haul freight under your authority.
Infidelity & Dishonesty Coverage
An Infidelity & Dishonesty Coverage endorsement adds freight insurance to cover losses due to the dishonesty of an employee or an owner-operator driver while the cargo is on or in a truck or trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a good business practice for truckers to have cargo insurance. A trucker’s customer or a shipper may require the trucker to have cargo insurance to protect them from damage to their (the customer’s) cargo during transport. Remember, the trucker is responsible for the cargo while it is under their care, custody, and control.
Although standard cargo insurance provides protection for many types of cargo, there can be conditions and limitations from policy to policy. It's important to review your cargo policy with your Joe Morten & Son agent for details on specific exclusions and limitations.
In the event of cargo damage or loss, consider the following:
- Ensure safety: Ensure the safety of everyone involved, and if needed, call emergency services.
- Notify police in the event of a cargo theft or other crime.
- When possible, take reasonable steps to protect the cargo from further damage. Not all cargo loss or damage necessarily results in a rejected shipment, and a cargo claim may sometimes be avoided or greatly reduced.
- Gather relevant information: Bills of lading, shipping receipts, rate confirmations, photos, inspection reports, temperature records, etc.
- Avoid admitting fault: Cargo loss and damage often requires investigation and may be the result of others’ acts or omissions, an inherent vice, an act of God, etc.
- Report the incident: Notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
Most cargo insurance policies restrict the policy owner from transferring coverage to others.