Reefer Truck Insurance
Last reviewed June 2026 by the Trucking Insurance Services team.
Refrigerated freight adds a risk no other trucker carries: the load can spoil if the reefer unit quits. Reefer truck insurance is built for that. It protects your rig, the perishable cargo, and the reefer unit itself, and it hinges on one endorsement most haulers misunderstand until a claim gets denied.
We place reefer coverage every day for produce, meat, dairy, and pharma haulers, so we know exactly where these claims fall apart. Here is what the coverage includes, what reefer breakdown really covers, why claims get denied, and what it costs.
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Reefer truck insurance at a glance
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Key takeaways
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What reefer truck insurance covers
A reefer policy is a package. It carries the same core coverages as any truck policy, plus the reefer-specific piece that protects your cold load:
- Auto liability. The legally required coverage that pays for injury and damage you cause to others.
- Physical damage. Collision and comprehensive on your tractor and reefer trailer, priced as a percentage of the equipment’s value, usually 3% to 12%.
- Motor truck cargo. Covers the freight you haul. See motor truck cargo insurance. Reefer haulers usually carry higher limits because produce and pharma loads are valuable.
- Reefer breakdown. The endorsement that pays for spoiled cargo when the reefer unit mechanically fails. This is the coverage that makes a reefer policy a reefer policy.
- General liability. Covers third-party claims on the ground, at the dock, and at the warehouse.
Reefer breakdown coverage: what it covers and what it does not
This is the part that surprises people. Your motor truck cargo policy will not pay for a load that spoils because the reefer unit quit, unless you add reefer breakdown coverage. Cargo covers the freight against things like collision, fire, and theft. Spoilage from a unit malfunction is specifically what reefer breakdown is for.
The catch is that it pays only when the unit actually breaks down mechanically. It is not a catch-all for any warm load. Here is the line:
| Covered | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Compressor or reefer-unit motor failure that spoils the load | Operator error, such as the wrong temperature setting |
| A unit that quits mid-haul while running under the policy’s conditions | Running out of fuel or an empty tank |
| Spoilage from a covered mechanical failure, up to your limit | A claim with no written maintenance logs, which most policies require every three months |
For a deeper walk-through of how the endorsement works and how to file a claim, see our reefer breakdown coverage guide.
Why reefer breakdown claims get denied
A denied reefer claim usually is not the insurer being difficult. It is almost always one of these three, and all three are avoidable:
- Operator error. The unit did not fail. The driver set the wrong temperature or let the tank run dry. That is not a breakdown, so the coverage does not respond.
- No maintenance logs. This is the big one. Most policies require written maintenance logs on the reefer unit every three months. If you cannot produce them, the claim is denied, even if the unit truly failed.
- Policy conditions not met. Some policies require the unit to run continuously, or a temperature recorder you can download. Miss a condition and the claim can be denied.
The takeaway is simple: keep the unit serviced, keep the written log current every three months, and know your policy’s conditions before you load.
How much reefer truck insurance costs
Reefer runs higher than dry-van work because the freight is valuable and reefers are a theft target. A full reefer policy generally lands in the range below, with the reefer breakdown endorsement added on top.
| Coverage | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Reefer truck (full policy) | $10,000 to $24,000/yr ($835 to $2,000/mo) |
| Reefer breakdown (endorsement) | $1,000 to $2,500/yr |
A reefer box truck runs a bit less, usually around $12,500 to $18,500 a year. The standard reefer breakdown deductible is $2,500. Rates are personalized, so run a quote for your exact number.
Get a reefer insurance quote → or call 855-281-2924 and we will build the policy around the freight you haul.
Reefer insurance requirements to know before you quote
Two requirements catch reefer haulers off guard, and both affect whether you can even get covered or booked:
- Equipment age. Many carriers require the reefer trailer to be 10 years or newer. If your trailer is older but the reefer unit was purchased and installed within the last 10 years, you may still qualify with proof of purchase and installation.
- The limit shippers require. Brokers and shippers often will not book you unless your reefer breakdown limit matches the value of the load. Carry a limit high enough for the freight you want, or you will lose those loads to a carrier who does.
Frequently asked questions
What is reefer breakdown coverage?
Reefer breakdown coverage is an endorsement that pays for cargo that spoils when your reefer unit mechanically fails. Standard motor truck cargo insurance excludes spoilage from a unit malfunction, so you add this endorsement to cover it.
Does cargo insurance cover spoiled freight?
No. Motor truck cargo insurance covers the freight against losses like collision, fire, and theft, but not spoilage caused by the reefer unit failing. That gap is exactly what reefer breakdown coverage fills.
Why did my reefer breakdown claim get denied?
Usually one of three reasons: operator error such as the wrong temperature setting or running out of fuel, no written maintenance logs (most policies require them every three months), or a policy condition that was not met. Keep the unit serviced and the log current to avoid it.
How much does reefer truck insurance cost?
A full reefer policy typically runs $10,000 to $24,000 a year, and the reefer breakdown endorsement adds about $1,000 to $2,500 a year. A reefer box truck runs closer to $12,500 to $18,500. Your rate depends on your record, equipment, radius, and the freight you haul.
Does my reefer trailer have to be a certain age?
Many carriers require the reefer trailer to be 10 years or newer. If your trailer is older but the reefer unit was purchased and installed within the last 10 years, you may still qualify with proof of purchase and installation.
What deductible is standard for reefer breakdown?
The standard reefer breakdown deductible is $2,500. Keep in mind that some shippers care more about your limit than your deductible, because they want it high enough to cover the load they are booking.
Why choose Trucking Insurance Services
Reefer is one of the operations we know cold. We spend all day around produce, meat, and pharma haulers, so we know which carriers write reefer well, how to set the cargo and breakdown limits so you stay bookable, and the maintenance-log habits that keep a claim from getting denied. We are a family-owned trucking agency, licensed since 2007, and the owner ran her own trucks before she wrote a single policy.
Get your free quote → or call 855-281-2924. Trucking Insurance Services, 380 Dahlonega St, Cumming, GA 30040.
Figures are estimates based on the policies we place and current market rates, for general guidance only. Coverage terms, limits, exclusions, and what triggers a claim vary by carrier and policy form, so read your policy and confirm with your agent. Your actual premium depends on your record, equipment, radius, and the freight you haul. Get a quote for an exact number.