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At First Choice Insurance we specialize in offering insurance products strictly for the transportation industry — long-haul, owner-operator, and motor carrier coverage.

Florida-licensed since 2011

Who this is for

  • Owner-operator (1099)Leased onto a carrier or independent.
  • Fleet of 2-10 trucksFMCSA filings on file.
  • Interstate haulerMCS-90 plus cargo plus non-trucking liability.

What's typically covered

  • Long-haul coverage
  • Motor carrier insurance
  • Owner-operator plans
  • Freight protection

Florida rules to know

  • FMCSA filingsMCS-150, BOC-3, MCS-90 coordinated with the right authority.
  • Non-trucking liability (bobtail)Covers the rig when you're not under dispatch.

Florida runs a major trucking corridor through the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, JAXPORT, and Tampa — drayage and intermodal account for a huge share of the local market. Federal FMCSA rules dominate the regulatory side: interstate motor carriers need a USDOT number, an MC docket number for for-hire authority, and the carrier files proof of $750K-$5M auto liability on a BMC-91 (or BMC-91X) form depending on commodity. The MCS-90 endorsement is a federally mandated public-protection clause that effectively forces the carrier to pay even if the policy would otherwise exclude — but it's not coverage for the trucker; the carrier can recover from the insured afterward. Cargo filings (BMC-34) now apply only to household-goods carriers — for general freight, cargo requirements come from shippers and brokers, not the FMCSA. Florida intrastate-only carriers carry lower, weight-tiered liability floors under state law (Fla. Stat. 627.7415, well below the federal minimum) and still register and file proof of insurance with FLHSMV, which took over motor-carrier compliance from FDOT in 2011. Nuclear verdicts in transportation have hammered rates; carriers underwrite MVRs, CSA scores, and driver age tightly.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, limits, and thresholds change over time — confirm current requirements with the relevant state or federal agency, or ask us about your specific situation.

About you

Trucking Insurance

What this coverage includes

Trucking insurance isn't 'commercial auto for big trucks' — it's a separate market with its own carriers, its own filings (BMC-91, MCS-90, BMC-34), and its own quirks around radius of operation, commodity, and lease structure. We specialize in placing motor carriers, owner-operators, intermodal, and regional/long-haul fleets with carriers that actually understand DOT compliance and trucking-specific exposures.

Coverages we package together: primary auto liability (state and federal minimums), motor truck cargo, physical damage on tractors and trailers, non-trucking liability for leased operators, trailer interchange, and umbrella when shippers require higher limits. We handle the filings directly so your authority stays in good standing.

Coverage examples

  • Tractor jackknifes on I-75, hits two cars

    A tractor-trailer jackknifes during a rain squall and damages two passenger vehicles plus driver injuries. Total settlement reaches $1.4M across BI and PD. Primary auto liability at the $1M limit most shippers and brokers require is exhausted; the umbrella policy at $1M picks up the gap. Without the umbrella, the motor carrier is personally exposed for the $400K difference. The MCS-90 doesn't help here because the policy was in force — MCS-90 only fills gaps in non-existent or excluded coverage.

  • Cargo theft from a reefer trailer overnight

    Refrigerated trailer parked overnight at a truck stop is broken into and $48,000 of perishable cargo is stolen. Motor truck cargo coverage pays up to the limit minus deductible (typically $1,000-$2,500). FL carriers commonly underwrite cargo at $100K-$250K limits; high-value commodities (electronics, pharma, copper) require higher limits and stricter security warranties — failure to satisfy the warranty (e.g., parking only at approved secure lots) can void the claim. We read warranties before binding.

  • Owner-operator deadheads home, gets in a crash

    A leased owner-operator finishes a delivery and bobtails home without a load — not under dispatch. He's rear-ended by a passenger car claiming injury, $85,000 medical and lost-wage claim. The motor carrier's primary policy doesn't apply because the driver wasn't under dispatch. Non-trucking liability (NTL, also called bobtail insurance) on the owner-operator's own policy picks it up. NTL is the line owner-operators most often skip and the one we most often see them need.

Why Us

Why customers choose First Choice

Trucking Insurance

Frequently asked questions

I just got my MC authority. What insurance do I need to file?
Federal authority requires a BMC-91 (or BMC-91X) for primary auto liability — typically $750,000 for general freight, $1M+ for certain commodities. Cargo filings depend on what you haul. We handle the filings electronically the same day you bind, so your authority activates without delay.
What if I lease to a carrier?
Then you usually need non-trucking liability (bobtail) and may want physical damage on your own equipment. The lessor's policy covers you under dispatch but not always when you're deadheading or off-duty. We'll match the policy to the lease.
Why are trucking rates so high compared to commercial auto?
Trucking carries higher severity claims, longer driving hours, and freight liability that personal commercial doesn't see. Rates also follow nuclear verdict trends in transportation. We focus on placing with carriers that price your specific operation correctly instead of taking the first quote.
What's the MCS-90 endorsement and do I need it?
The MCS-90 is a federally required endorsement on for-hire interstate motor carrier policies. It forces the insurer to pay third-party claims even if the policy would otherwise exclude the loss (wrong commodity, expired CDL, etc.) — up to the federal minimum financial responsibility. Important caveat: the carrier can then recover from you personally after paying. The MCS-90 protects the public, not the trucker. Yes, it's required if you operate under for-hire interstate authority.
What cargo limit should I carry?
Depends on the shippers and commodity. Most general-freight brokers and shippers require $100,000 cargo minimum; high-value commodities (electronics, alcohol, pharma) push to $250K-$500K or more. Refrigerated freight needs a reefer-breakdown endorsement separately. Read the broker-carrier agreement carefully — some agreements push cargo liability beyond what the standard policy covers. We size cargo to the actual lanes you run, not a generic number.
Owner-operator or employee — does insurance change?
Significantly. An owner-operator leased to a motor carrier needs his own non-trucking liability (NTL) and usually physical damage on his tractor; the carrier's policy covers him only under dispatch. A driver classified as an employee is fully covered under the motor carrier's policy at all times in the truck — but the carrier also owes workers' comp on him. Misclassification is a regulatory minefield in Florida; talk to a transportation attorney before deciding.
What's trailer interchange coverage?
Trailer interchange covers physical damage to a trailer you've taken under a written interchange agreement — common when motor carriers swap trailers at intermodal yards or drop-and-hook lanes. The other party's trailer is in your care, custody, and control while it's on your tractor. Standard policies don't cover it; the endorsement runs $300-$1,000 annually for $25K-$50K of limit. Required by most intermodal contracts.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, limits, and thresholds change over time — confirm current requirements with the relevant state or federal agency, or ask us about your specific situation.

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