Semi-Truck Insurance

The trucking industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the U.S. Fleets large and small need dependable semi insurance options to protect their cargo, assets, and much more. When you need dependable big rig truck insurance, American Insurance Brokers can help. Our team has been serving semi-truck drivers in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee since 1980. By working with us, you can find affordable and comprehensive semi truck insurance rates.

What kind of semi insurance do I need?

Big truck insurance requirements vary by state. The exact coverage you choose will look different depending on your location, team size, and the work you do. However, below are some of the types of 18-wheeler insurance coverages you’ll find in many of our policies.

Commercial Auto Liability

If you’re at fault for an accident, the bodily injury portion of your semi insurance will generally pay for the related expenses. It may cover hospital bills, rehabilitation, long-term care, funeral expenses, lost earnings, and many other expenses.

If you cause an accident that damages another person’s property or vehicle, the property damage portion of your semi insurance may cover the expense to repair or replace those items. In some cases, this type of big truck insurance will also cover your legal defense costs in the case of a lawsuit.

Physical Damage

Physical damage is a general term for a group of semi insurance policies that protect your truck. Physical damage insurance for a semi-truck covers collision insurance, as well as your choice of full comprehensive insurance or fire and theft with combined additional coverage (CAC) insurance.

Collision insurance provides protection for your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident. Comprehensive semi insurance can protect your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a collision with a vehicle or object, or if your vehicle is stolen.

Fire and theft with CAC provides similar protection to comprehensive insurance, except coverage is generally limited to certain specific, non-collision incidents.

Medical Payments Coverage

Your big rig truck insurance may also include MedPay coverage, which covers medical expenses for you and any passengers who are hurt during an accident. This is regardless of who caused the accident.

While this type of coverage is mandatory for semi insurance in some states, it is not available in other states or situations. Our team will help you make sense of your options.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance

This can be added to your semi insurance, protecting you if you’re involved in an accident with someone who is either uninsured or underinsured.

Options vary widely by state including coverage options, available limits, and mandatory requirements. For example, depending on the state, this type of insurance may actually be three separate semi insurance policies that are categorized together. Our team can help you determine which choices make sense for you.

Trailer Interchange Insurance

This type of physical damage insurance for a semi-truck is important for trailers pulled under a trailer interchange agreement.

It can protect you financially if your trailer is damaged by collision, fire, theft, explosion, or vandalism. Note that since the exchanged trailers are not owned by you, they require separate coverages because they are not covered under regular physical damage insurance for your semi-truck.

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance

When you’re under permanent lease to a motor carrier, and you’re not driving under dispatch, non-trucking liability insurance can provide the semi insurance coverage you need at an unlimited radius.

This is sometimes referred to as bobtail insurance; however, this assumption isn’t always correct. Bobtail insurance typically protects a tractor when it’s being operated without a trailer, regardless of whether or not it’s under dispatch. Non-trucking liability, on the other hand, protects the tractor when it’s being operated off dispatch, regardless of whether or not it’s pulling a trailer.

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

For-hire truckers may need this type of big truck insurance to cover liability for cargo that is lost or damaged due to fire, collision, or striking of a load.

If your load is accidentally dumped on a roadway or waterway, this type of big rig truck insurance can help cover the cost to remove debris or extract pollutants caused by the debris. It may also help with legal expenses and freight charges.

Motor Truck General Liability

For-hire truckers or motor carriers generally need this type of coverage for injuries or property damage resulting from business activities unrelated to truck operations.

Examples may include customers slipping or falling on your premises, libel or slander exposure, and more.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Workers’ compensation insurance, also known as workers’ comp, is necessary for businesses in a variety of industries – and it can be added to your semi insurance coverage. It can cover medical costs and a portion of lost wages for an employee who is injured on the job. It also protects companies from lawsuits relating to workplace conditions.

What is the average semi truck insurance cost?

Semi-truck insurance rates vary depending on whether you’re under your own authority or leased under a motor carrier. When shopping for semi-truck insurance rates, you may notice that these costs have gone up in the last few years. However, rest assured that American Insurance Brokers will help you find semi-truck insurance costs that are reasonable and comprehensive.

Semi-truck insurance costs when under your own authority

When you own and operate the truck under your own authority, the average cost of big rig truck insurance will be between $9,000 – $15,000 per year. Assuming you have a good driving record, this range includes the various coverages you may need under your semi insurance.

Semi-truck insurance costs when leased to a motor carrier

When you are leased to a motor carrier, your semi truck insurance cost may range between $2,000 and $4,000. These figures are a range, and your premium may be impacted by other factors.

Costs of specific semi insurance coverages

Each of the coverages listed above carries its own cost. Below you’ll find some of the expected costs you’ll find in your big rig truck insurance coverages.

• Primary liability: $5,000-$7,000
• Physical damage: $1,000-$3,000
• Occupational accident coverage: $1,600-$2,200
• General liability: $500-$600
• Umbrella policy (workers’ comp, auto liability, general liability: $500-$700

The team at American Insurance Brokers will help you determine which types of coverage you need under your semi insurance policy.

What impacts semi truck insurance costs

There are several factors that affect your semi truck insurance rates. If you have questions about these factors, our team at American Insurance Brokers can help.

How your driving record affects semi insurance

A clean history will help lower your semi insurance rate. If you have several speeding tickets or traffic violations, your rates may increase.

How your business location affects 18-wheeler insurance

Semi truck insurance rates vary by state. At American Insurance Brokers, we can help you navigate the rates and requirements across Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia.

How your distance of travel affects big rig insurance

Long distances and more time on the road may mean a higher semi-truck insurance rate. For insurance companies, long-distance travel leaves more room for potential error. This includes the higher potential of falling asleep at the wheel.

How your type of cargo affects semi insurance

Heavy loads or dangerous materials may require a higher semi insurance rate. If you were to be involved in an accident with heavy or dangerous materials, this may mean higher risk for greater injury.

How to manage big rig truck insurance costs

Many business owners worry about the costs of insuring their fleet, but semi-truck insurance costs don’t have to be astronomical. At American Insurance Brokers, we are dedicated to helping you find reasonable yet comprehensive 18-wheeler insurance costs. Fortunately, there are often a few ways to reduce the cost of your big rig truck insurance.

While every policy is different, we’ll help you look for discounts, such as incentives for paying on an annual basis. On average, you can save up to 20% on your semi insurance premium by paying upfront in one lump sum.

For drivers with a proven track record of safe driving, it may be worth considering a higher deductible or lower limit policy. If you decide to go this route, it’s important to remember that if an accident does occur, you will be responsible for much more financially.

A clean driving record can also help you lower your semi-truck insurance costs over time, though. To take advantage of this, keep your vehicles in optimal condition and always remain cautious while on the road. Make sure your team knows the importance of safety during every mile.

18-wheeler insurance in Louisiana

At American Insurance Brokers, we’re proud to call Mandeville, Louisiana, our home. We’ve spent decades working with truck drivers and businesses across the state to help them find sensible big truck insurance. Our certified agents know the challenges that make 18-wheeler insurance in Louisiana so important.

We can get you coverage for risks particular to our state and make sure you get the best semi truck insurance rates for your business. Rest assured knowing we cover the following endorsements:

• MCS90
• BMC34
• Form E
• Form H
• OS/OW COI
• SR22

Is your business taking you beyond state lines? Our experienced team can help you find a semi insurance policy that will get you the coverage you need, wherever you need it.

Big rig truck insurance in Texas

There are a lot of roads to cover in Texas. If you’re traveling through this vast state, you need big rig truck insurance you can count on.

While requirements for big truck insurance coverage are similar to most of the other states in the South, there are a few differences. In Texas, on-hook towing insurance is known as Garagekeepers legal liability insurance. This type of coverage may help you repair or replace a vehicle you don’t own if it is damaged by a collision, fire, theft, explosion, or vandalism while you are towing or hauling.

Because of this difference in definition, storage location insurance is the term used for traditional garage keepers coverage. This can protect business owners who offer towing services or operate service stations.

Semi-truck insurance in Alabama

Over the course of a year, a truck driver can average more than 100,000 miles on the road. For comparison, the average person drives only about 13,500 miles a year. This puts into perspective the importance of big rig truck insurance. Serving all of Alabama, including Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile, American Insurance Brokers offers a semi insurance policy for nearly any trucking situation in the state.

Your quote will be highly personalized, considering your:

• Driving record
• Garage location
• Limit of liability coverage and deductible desired
• Type of operation
• Condition and age of equipment

It will also consider whether you travel across Alabama state lines.

Big truck insurance in Mississippi

Trucking accounts for nearly 71% of the freight that is moved around the country. That surpasses trains, boats, and planes when it comes to moving cargo around the U.S.

Depending on the type of goods you’re transporting, the type of semi insurance coverage that is necessary for truckers in Mississippi includes:

• $300,000 for household goods
• $750,000 for general freight
• $1,000,000 for oil transport
• $5,000,000 for hazmat materials

If you do cross state lines, you’ll need to meet federally mandated, big truck insurance coverage guidelines. Typical liability minimums are between $750,000 and $1,000,000.

18-wheeler insurance in Tennessee

From Knoxville to Memphis, big rig truck insurance in Tennessee is easier when you work with American Insurance Brokers. Like many other states, the amount of semi insurance you need will depend on what you’re transporting.

From there, we can add on important coverages, such as medical payment insurance, trailer interchange insurance, and much more. Our skilled team at American Insurance Brokers will create a policy that serves your needs in Tennessee and beyond.

Semi-truck insurance in Arkansas

According to experts, most grocery stores would start running out of food in just three days if truckers stopped working. For Arkansas, the home and headquarters of Walmart, this is particularly significant.

Whether you’re transporting food or other products, we offer a variety of options for big rig truck insurance in Arkansas. You choose the semi insurance coverage you need as dictated by state law.

Big rig truck insurance in Georgia

In Georgia, trucks operating within state lines usually require at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident in liability coverage.

If your business takes you to surrounding states and beyond, we can help you find the right semi insurance and interstate coverage to meet your needs. Our agents are knowledgeable about issues that are specific to Georgia big truck insurance policies, whether or not you’re crossing state lines.

Your first choice for 18-wheeler insurance

Our goal is to make your process for finding semi-truck insurance rates simple and straightforward. We combine decades of proven reliability with the best in customer service. Every agent we employ at American Insurance Brokers is committed to finding a semi insurance policy that fits your company’s unique needs.

If you’re looking for maximum security without overpriced premiums, call American Insurance Brokers today. Get your free policy review, and find out why we’re your first choice for big rig truck insurance in the South.