Intermodal Trucking Insurance (UIIA Coverage & Cost)
If you pull containers out of ports and railyards, a standard truck policy will not get you through the gate. Intermodal carriers need UIIA-compliant coverage with the right endorsements before an equipment provider will hand over a chassis. We set that up every day, and we register your insurance in the UIIA system for you.
We are a family-owned agency that has spent decades in trucking, not in a call center. Below is what intermodal truck insurance covers, the UIIA limits you have to carry, and what it costs, so you can get quoted and on the road.
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The short answer Intermodal trucking insurance covers carriers hauling containers between ports, railyards, and shippers. To haul under the UIIA, you need $1,000,000 auto liability with the UIIE-1 endorsement, general liability, motor truck cargo, and trailer interchange on the chassis. For a single truck it typically runs $835 to $2,000 a month ($10,000 to $24,000 a year). |
What intermodal truck insurance covers
Most intermodal carriers own their tractor and lease the chassis, which is why the coverage stack looks different from standard trucking. A UIIA-ready policy includes:
- Auto liability with the UIIE-1 endorsement. Pays for injury and property damage you cause, with the Truckers Uniform Intermodal Interchange Endorsement the UIIA requires on your liability policy.
- Trailer interchange. Covers the leased chassis and container in your possession against cracks, dents, and breaks during transport. The coverage intermodal lives on.
- Motor truck cargo. Covers the freight inside the container. See our motor truck cargo insurance page.
- General liability. Covers business exposures off the truck, which equipment providers require. See general liability.
- Hired and non-owned auto. Extends liability to equipment you operate but do not own.
How much does intermodal insurance cost?
Intermodal sits among the higher-cost trucking classes because of the port environment and the extra coverages UIIA requires. For a single truck running drayage, here is the range:
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Full intermodal / drayage policy | $835 to $1,500/mo ($10,000 to $18,000/yr) |
| Physical damage portion | 3% to 12% of the truck’s value per year |
Reefer and specialized intermodal operations run higher, up to about $24,000 a year. Your location, experience, driver records, and the equipment providers you work with all move the number, and new ventures sit at the top until they build a record. Get an exact rate for your operation.
UIIA insurance requirements
The UIIA, administered by the Intermodal Association of North America, sets the baseline insurance every intermodal carrier must carry. Each equipment provider can require more. The headline limits:
| Coverage | UIIA requirement |
|---|---|
| Auto liability | $1,000,000 |
| Hired auto liability | $1,000,000 |
| General liability | $1,000,000 / $2,000,000 |
| Motor truck cargo | $100,000 (some providers $250,000) |
| Trailer interchange | $30,000 recommended (varies by provider) |
| UIIE-1 endorsement | Required on your auto liability |
Limits and additional-insured endorsements change from one equipment provider to the next. For the full breakdown by provider and how to register, see our UIIA insurance requirements guide. We make sure your policy carries the right limits and the UIIE-1 before you ever hit a gate.
Who needs intermodal insurance
- Drayage carriers hauling containers to and from ports and railyards
- Owner-operators and fleets leasing chassis from equipment providers
- Carriers registering for or already on the UIIA
- New ventures setting up to haul intermodal containers
Getting set up to haul intermodal
To run under the UIIA you need an active USDOT and MC number, a SCAC code, UIIA registration, and an insurance policy with the right limits and the UIIE-1 endorsement. We handle the insurance side start to finish: we write the coverage, add the UIIE-1, and register your policy in the UIIA system, then send you a 5C to list the equipment providers you want to work with and submit the documentation same-day. For the step-by-step registration walkthrough, see our UIIA requirements guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is UIIA insurance?
UIIA insurance is the coverage required under the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement, the standard contract between motor carriers and the equipment providers who supply containers and chassis. It means carrying $1,000,000 auto liability with the UIIE-1 endorsement, general liability, motor truck cargo, and trailer interchange, at the limits your equipment providers require.
How much does intermodal insurance cost?
A single-truck drayage operation usually runs $835 to $1,500 a month ($10,000 to $18,000 a year), and reefer or specialized intermodal can reach about $24,000 a year. Your location, experience, and records set the final number.
Does Progressive offer intermodal insurance?
Yes! Progressive offers UIIA coverage through select agencies that specialize in intermodal truck insurance such as Trucking Insurance Services. You can purchase intermodal insurance within minutes with Progressive’s powerful backing.
What insurance do I need for intermodal trucking?
At minimum, $1,000,000 auto liability with the UIIE-1 endorsement, $1,000,000/$2,000,000 general liability, $100,000 motor truck cargo, and trailer interchange on the chassis. Some equipment providers require higher cargo or trailer interchange limits.
What is the UIIE-1 endorsement?
The Truckers Uniform Intermodal Interchange Endorsement (UIIE-1) is a hold-harmless endorsement added to your auto liability. It spells out your insurer’s duties in accidents involving intermodal equipment and adds the equipment provider as an additional insured. The UIIA requires it on every intermodal liability policy.
How much trailer interchange do I need for UIIA?
Most equipment providers require $25,000 or less, but some require more, so we recommend a $30,000 trailer interchange limit to cover the majority of providers. Check the requirement for each provider you plan to work with.
How do I register for the UIIA?
You need a USDOT and MC number, a SCAC code, the UIIA annual fee, and compliant insurance with the UIIE-1 endorsement. We register your policy in the UIIA system and submit the documentation for you. The full walkthrough is in our UIIA requirements guide.
Why choose Trucking Insurance Services
Intermodal is a specialty, and we write it the right way. We place UIIA-compliant coverage with A-rated carriers, add the UIIE-1 endorsement, register your insurance in the UIIA system, and send your certificates within minutes. New venture trying to activate authority and get on the UIIA? We walk you through it. 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 intermodal truck insurance.
Figures are estimates based on the policies we place and current market rates, for general guidance only. UIIA and equipment-provider requirements change, so confirm current limits with your agent. Your actual premium depends on your operation, equipment, radius, records, and required limits. Get a quote for an exact number.