5 Best Commercial Truck Insurance Companies 2023
Whether you are an owner-operator or work for a trucking fleet, it is important to have the right coverage for your truck, trailer, and cargo. The best commercial truck insurance companies provide a positive experience when filing insurance with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), support services when there is a claim, and quick, easy access to your policy.
Using our in-house rubric focusing on financial stability, customer satisfaction, convenience for the policyholder, and the policies offered, we evaluated 18 providers to find the five best commercial truck insurance providers for your business:
- Progressive: Best overall for semi-truck insurance
- Nationwide: Best for small fleets
- The Hartford: Best for specialized truck equipment
- CoverWallet: Best for comparing quotes from top providers
- 1st Guard: Best for owner-operators
Best Commercial Truck Insurance Companies Compared
Quote Process | Policy Purchase Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online or via an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | Unclear Process | A+ (Superior) | |
Through an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A+ (Superior) | |
Through an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) | |
Online or via an agent | Through an agent | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET | ✓ | A- to A+ (Excellent to Superior) | |
Request contact from an agent online | Through an agent | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET | ✓ | A (Excellent) | |
Progressive: Overall Best Commercial Truck Insurance Company
Pros
- In-house claims
- Independent agents
- Broad appetite for types of trucks
Cons
- May need to finish quoting process with agent
- May need to use another carrier if you seek additional coverages like a business owner’s policy (BOP)
- Complaints on commercial auto are slightly higher than the national average
Standout Features
- Heavy truck specialists to handle your claim
- Nationwide network of shops for your vehicle
- Snapshot monitors driving for possible premium savings
- Roadside assistance available for semi-trucks
Financial stability: Progressive has a strong financial position to handle claims with a rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best.
Progressive scored 4.25 out of 5 in our evaluation because of its strong financial position, 24/7 availability, support services for trucking companies, and the ability to obtain a quote and purchase a policy online. It is our best provider for commercial auto insurance because of the wide range of vehicles it will insure and the many services it provides.
It is the top insurer of commercial auto in the US for any type of commercial vehicle. However, in terms of customer satisfaction, it has a slightly higher average number of complaints when compared nationally.
You can start a quote online but will likely need to finish it with an agent.
Progressive stated that in 2020, its policyholders paid a monthly premium of $640 for specialty truckers and $982 for transportation truckers. It will partner with you to monitor your driving and help you save in two ways: Smart Haul® and Snapshot Proview®. With both programs, Progressive will install a device to monitor driving habits with the possibility to save based on the results.
You can purchase standard auto coverages: collision, comprehensive and uninsured motorists. Specialty coverage, such as motor cargo, nontrucking liability, and trailer interchange, are also available. The provider also offers rental reimbursement with downtime, so if your vehicle is disabled in a loss, then you can still receive some form of business assistance.
You can file online or call 24/7. After filing a claim, you will have one point of contact throughout the entire process and access to Progressive’s network of shops, where your vehicle will have priority status. The company also offers online services where you can easily manage your policy and premium payments.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) monitors complaints filed at the state level against insurance companies. Complaints filed against Progressive for commercial auto are higher than last year and higher than the national average. The higher complaint level hurt Progressive’s customer service score.
Nationwide: Best for Small Fleets
Pros
- 24/7 accessibility
- Nationwide availability
- Risk management services
Cons
- Unclear process for COI
- Unclear if Nationwide files Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) documents online or mails them
- Unable to get quotes online
Standout Features
- Combined deductible for physical damage and trailer
- Free dashcam to help with liability investigations
- Expanded towing coverage option
- Independent agents to advise you on your coverages
Financial stability: Nationwide is an established carrier with a solid AM Best financial rating of A+ (Superior).
In our evaluation, Nationwide Insurance scored 4.18 out of 5 because of its financial stability, range of policies for small and larger fleets, dashcam offerings, and online policy management. With coverage specifically for small fleets (one to 10 power units), it is the best provider for trucking companies with small fleets. It insures short, intermediate, and long-haul trucks.
While Nationwide provides online quotes for other types of commercial insurance, you have to contact an independent agent for its semi-truck and fleet offerings.
It provides commercial auto through its excess line. There are many coverages to choose from—including auto, general, cargo, and bobtail liability. The coverage is highly customizable to your specific needs.
For example, you can add expanded towing, which can jump your vehicle and even make minor roadside repairs. If you are leasing a truck, you can purchase gap coverage. You can also select a single deductible for combined physical damage and cargo loss.
What’s more, Nationwide covers livestock and specialty truck movers, such as hazardous materials and mobile home movers.
You can manage your policy or file a claim online or call the 24/7 call center.
You can have Nationwide install a high-definition (HD), forward-facing dashcam and receive two years of monthly service for free. Forward-facing dashcams can make a big difference when investigating a claim.
The provider also offers a telematics program to help promote safe driving—this includes an app where you can find data on your drivers’ safety and awareness.
While Nationwide scored high in our rubric for customer service, it had a lower score for convenience. This is because you cannot get a quote or purchase a policy online, and the provider has minimal online policy management capabilities for commercial trucking insurance.
The Hartford: Best for Specialized Truck Equipment
Pros
- Years of experience
- Financial strength
- Online policy management
Cons
- Coverage limited to specialty trucks
- No quote available online
- Unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, and Louisiana
Standout Features
- Tailored coverage for specialty vehicles
- Offers a wide range of insurance for any type of business
- Generate instant COI online
- Custom coverages you can add to fit your business needs
Financial stability: The Hartford has more than 200 years of operation and a rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best.
Small business provider The Hartford consistently appears in our roundup of the best small business insurance companies. It offers a large number of different business insurance policies, including commercial auto and semi-truck insurance. For commercial trucking insurance, it has coverage for specialty truck equipment—like refrigerated trailers, dump trucks, or dry freight haulers. However, while the provider is available in all 50 states, the program is unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, and Louisiana.
Its score of 4.12 out of 5 in our evaluation is because of its strong financial position and coverage available. Like Nationwide, it took a hit in our convenience criterion, which we discuss in our convenience section below.
To get a quote, you will need to reach out to an agent in your area. If you need help finding one, The Hartford has an option to locate agents or brokers near you on its commercial truck insurance page.
The provider offers commercial auto insurance for vehicles owned by the business. It also provides general liability insurance, which automatically covers employees and can be extended to cover others as needed. There is property coverage, workers’ comp, and umbrella and excess liability coverage as well.
What’s more, it offers other optional coverages depending on your business needs—like dealer plates coverage, property in transit coverage, and coverage for customer vehicles in your care, custody, or control.
The Hartford maintains a 24/7 call center for loss reporting and has in-house adjusters. It also offers convenient online policy management, including the ability to create an instant COI.
In our evaluation, it took some hits in customer satisfaction—primarily because it has higher than expected complaints for commercial auto. However, for other commercial lines, complaints are all lower than you’d expect as monitored by the NAIC.
As with nearly every provider in this guide, you cannot get a quote for your truck online and will need to locate an agent to purchase a policy.
CoverWallet: Best for Comparing Quotes From Top Providers
Pros
- Online policy maintenance
- Works with multiple top providers
- Wide range of coverage options
Cons
- Unavailable 24/7
- Does not handle claims directly
- Limited information available on claims and support services from the providers
Standout Features
- Dedicated agents to help you after purchasing a policy
- Save money by being able to compare quotes for commercial trucking insurance
- Quick quote process
- Online account to access your policy and file claims
Financial stability: As a broker, CoverWallet works with multiple providers of trucking insurance, such as Lancer, with an AM Best rating of A- (Excellent).
Because commercial truck insurance can be expensive and you might also need multiple types of coverage, an online brokerage is a great option. CoverWallet can provide quotes from top carriers across multiple types of insurance, including cargo and workers’ comp.
It scored 4.06 in our evaluation, earning a perfect mark for the policies offered and high marks for financial stability and customer satisfaction. Answer a few questions about your business and vehicle, and in less than 10 minutes, it can provide matches for your business insurance needs and find the right coverage—either by giving you a quote online or by speaking with you over the phone.
The quote process begins online. Usually, it will generate several quotes from which you can compare and choose the right coverage. Sometimes, depending on the coverage, CoverWallet will then request you call an agent to finish the process.
When researching this article, we were unable to obtain a semi-truck insurance quote online but were advised to call one of its dedicated agents to find the right coverage. It works with four different providers for semi-truck insurance.
CoverWallet also offers an advice section that suggests the coverage you’ll need and provides the average premium if you enter your business, revenue, and ZIP code. For commercial autos, the average premium for Nashville, Tennessee, is $22,285 annually.
CoverWallet is available in all 50 states. As a broker, it helps you find coverage with other providers, but unlike other brokerages, it also gives you access to your policy documents, allowing you to make policy changes. Claims will be handled directly by the carrier who underwrites your policy.
Commercial trucking is one of the industries CoverWallet specializes in finding coverage for and also has begun to build out a resource database for truckers. It has ebooks available to help with starting and running a trucking business.
Customers are happy with their experience. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars on the independent reviewer site eKomi[1] from nearly 800 reviews. Reviewers frequently compliment the customer service and the ease of use.
1st Guard: Best for Owner-operators
Pros
- In-house claims services
- Customer complaints below national average
- Monthly billing available
Cons
- Unavailable 24/7
- No Android app
- Cannot get a quote online
Standout Features
- Single deductible for truck and trailer
- App for iOS functions like a 24/7 call center
- Covers the total cost of a tow to the nearest repair facility
- More than 70 years of experience insuring semi-trucks
Financial stability: 1st Guard has a rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best.
1st Guard Insurance focuses on owner-operators and is the best provider if you own your truck. In our rubric, it earned relatively high marks given its convenient mobile app and financial stability. However, 1st Guard is unavailable 24/7. Being an insurer that focuses on owner-operator trucks, it is unable to provide any coverage for other parts of your business.
Fill out a contact request form online, and an agent will contact you to provide a quote. 1st Guard doesn’t require any upfront premium payments but does bill monthly.
Owner-operators typically need less coverage for their trucks because the trucking companies they drive for will have coverage. 1st Guard offers three types of coverage—auto physical damage, nontrucking liability insurance, and occupational accident insurance—and each has options to expand coverage. 1st Guard does not provide liability for hauling.
Nontrucking liability covers the truck when you’re not using it for work. Meanwhile, occupational accident insurance is similar to workers’ compensation for employees who do not fall under the requirements for workers’ compensation.
1st Guard has a mobile app for policyholders. Through it, you can review your policy and account status, schedule payments, and contact your claims adjuster. It will also provide location-specific notifications for weather events that could impact your route.
However, this app is only available for iOS, so if you have an Android phone and are a policyholder, you do not have the same level of control over your policy. This, along with the lack of an online quote and 24/7 availability, hurt 1st Guard in the customer satisfaction and convenience sections of our evaluation.
Complaints against 1st Guard are lower than the national average.
How We Evaluated the Best Commercial Truck Insurance Companies
We determined which insurance companies would be the best for commercial trucks with our in-house proprietary evaluation system. We reviewed 18 insurance providers and presented the five with the highest scores. In evaluating them, we focused on the customer’s needs and paid particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Commercial truck insurance, or semi-truck insurance, refers to many different policies for owner-operator or truck company fleets. Primarily, it relates to auto physical damage, general liability, nontrucking liability, auto liability, and motor cargo.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a Federal Department of Transportation division, “you must have specific insurance” documents on file if you apply to be a motor carrier. Some providers will file the forms online on your behalf once you purchase the policy.
Bobtail liability insurance is for when you are driving your truck without a trailer for business or personal use, whereas nontrucking liability insurance is limited liability protection for operating a truck only for noneconomic and personal use. Both coverages involve a truck not pulling a trailer.
Commercial auto refers to larger trucking operations, while business auto is insurance for more standard-size vehicles. An owner-operator with an 18-wheel Freightliner needs commercial auto insurance, whereas someone driving for Uber needs a business auto policy.
Bottom Line
To help you get on the road quickly, we’ve taken the time to find the best providers for semi-truck insurance. As the top insurer of commercial auto in the US, Progressive is our overall best commercial truck insurance company. No matter what type of business and vehicle you have, it has a policy for you.
User review reference:
eKomi | CoverWallet