Truckers General Liability Insurance (Cost, Limits & Coverage)
Your commercial auto policy covers the truck when it is rolling. General liability covers the rest of your business, the claims that happen when you are off the truck: a slip-and-fall at your terminal, damage you cause inside a customer’s dock while loading, or a delivery that goes wrong at the door. For most truckers it is required by a broker or shipper before they will work with you.
We are a family-owned agency that lives in trucking, so we write truckers general liability the way it should be rated, on the right class code, not a generic business policy. Here is what it covers, the limits your operation needs, and what it costs.
|
The short answer Truckers general liability insurance (class code 99793) covers claims that happen off the truck, like a slip-and-fall at your terminal or damage while loading at a dock. Because a trucker’s off-truck exposure is limited, it is one of the cheapest coverages you carry, usually $40 to $100 a month ($500 to $1,200 a year). Household goods movers run about $2,000 to $3,500 a year, and final mile or last mile operations with setup or installation work run $3,500 to $4,000 a year. |
What truckers general liability covers
General liability protects your business against third-party claims that are not tied to operating the truck itself. For a trucking operation, that usually means:
- Bodily injury to others. Someone is hurt at your terminal, at a dock, or during a delivery, away from the truck.
- Property damage you cause. You damage a customer’s building, equipment, or premises while loading, unloading, or delivering.
- Completed operations. A claim that comes from a job after you have finished it, common for final mile setup and installation work.
- Personal and advertising injury. Claims like slander, libel, or advertising disputes.
- Legal defense. Attorney fees and settlement costs on a covered claim.
Truckers GL vs. auto liability and non-trucking liability
These three get mixed up constantly. The simple split:
- Auto liability covers damage you cause with the truck while operating it, the coverage our trucking liability insurance page explains in depth.
- General liability covers off-the-truck business claims, like injuries and property damage at a dock or terminal.
- Non-trucking liability covers the truck during personal, off-dispatch use. See our non-trucking liability page.
How much does truckers general liability cost?
For most truckers, general liability is cheap because the off-truck exposure is small. It gets more expensive as your operation takes on work beyond hauling:
| Operation | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Truckers GL (class code 99793) | $40 to $100/mo ($500 to $1,200/yr) |
| Household goods movers | $165 to $290/mo ($2,000 to $3,500/yr) |
| Final mile / last mile (setup, install, water hookup) | $290 to $335/mo ($3,500 to $4,000/yr) |
The more you do beyond driving, the more it costs. A final mile operation that hooks up a washer or refrigerator carries more exposure than one delivering furniture or household goods, and that extra exposure shows up in the price. Get an exact rate for your operation.
How truckers general liability is priced
A few things about GL pricing surprise truckers:
- It runs on a class code. Straight trucking uses class code 99793, which carries limited exposure and a low rate. Add setup, installation, or rigging work and you pick up extra class codes that raise the cost.
- It is rated on payroll, revenue, employee count, and unit count. Which basis applies depends on the market, and your premium can change as those numbers change.
- It is auditable. Unlike commercial auto, a GL policy is audited at the end of the term. If your payroll or revenue grew, the premium can adjust, so quote it on accurate numbers.
General liability limits for truckers
The limit you carry depends on your operation and what your contracts require:
| Operation | Common GL limits |
|---|---|
| Tow truck operators | $300,000/$600,000 or $500,000/$1,000,000 |
| Over-the-road, final mile, household movers | $1,000,000/$2,000,000 |
Over-the-road carriers, final mile operations, and household goods movers usually carry a $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limit, which is also what most brokers and shippers require. Tow operators often run a lower limit unless a contract calls for more.
Who needs truckers general liability
- Over-the-road carriers whose brokers or shippers require it
- Final mile and last mile delivery operations, especially with setup or installation
- Household goods movers and furniture delivery
- Tow truck operators with contract or municipal requirements
- Any trucker with a terminal, warehouse, or dock exposure
Frequently asked questions
Why do truckers need general liability insurance?
Because your auto liability only covers the truck in operation. General liability covers the off-truck claims, like injuries and property damage at a dock, terminal, or delivery site, and brokers, shippers, and contracts routinely require it before they will work with you.
What does general liability cover for truckers?
Third-party bodily injury and property damage off the truck, completed operations, personal and advertising injury, and legal defense. For truckers that usually means slip-and-falls, damage at a customer’s dock, and claims from final mile setup or installation work.
What’s the difference between general liability and non-trucking liability?
General liability covers off-the-truck business claims, like an injury at your terminal. Non-trucking liability covers the truck itself when you drive it for personal use, off-dispatch. They are different coverages that solve different problems, and many truckers carry both.
How much is truckers general liability insurance?
Standard truckers general liability usually runs $40 to $100 a month ($500 to $1,200 a year) because the off-truck exposure is limited. Household goods movers run about $2,000 to $3,500 a year, and final mile or last mile operations that add setup, installation, or water hookup work run $3,500 to $4,000 a year.
Is general liability the same as commercial auto?
No. Commercial auto covers the truck in operation and is not auditable. General liability covers off-truck business claims, runs on a class code, and is auditable, meaning the premium can adjust at the end of the term based on your payroll or revenue.
Why choose Trucking Insurance Services
A generalist will write you a generic business GL policy. We rate truckers general liability on the right class code, set the limit your contracts actually require, and build in the extra exposure when you run final mile, installation, or moving work, so you are not under-covered or overpaying. It is one piece of a full commercial truck insurance program when you need the rest. We aren’t in the insurance industry, we’re in trucking.
Get your free quote → or call 855-281-2924 for a same-day rate on truckers general liability.
Figures are estimates based on the policies we place and current market rates, for general guidance only. General liability is an auditable policy, so your final premium depends on your class codes, payroll or units, revenue, and limits. Get a quote for an exact number.