Commercial Trucking Insurance in Texas
Texas is home to one of the largest and most complex trucking industries in the country. From long-haul interstate carriers to intrastate delivery operations, trucking businesses operating in Texas face unique regulatory requirements, risk exposures, and insurance considerations.
Commercial trucking insurance in Texas is designed to protect owner-operators and fleets from the financial impact of accidents, cargo losses, liability claims, and regulatory compliance issues. At VOS Insurance, we help Texas-based trucking operations understand their coverage needs and secure policies that align with how and where they operate.
Type of Trucks VOS Covers
We cover an extensive range of commercial vehicles, ensuring your operations are fully protected, regardless of the nature of your trucking activities. Our coverage includes:
- Box trucks
- Dump trucks
- Tractor-trailers
- 18-wheelers
- Flatbed trucks
- Tow trucks
- Garbage trucks
- Auto trailers
Who Needs Commercial Truck Insurance in Texas?
Commercial truck insurance is required for most trucking operations operating in Texas, including:
- Owner-operators operating under their own authority
- Trucking companies with multiple power units or fleets
- Contracted carriers hauling freight for shippers or brokers
- Intrastate carriers operating solely within Texas
- Interstate carriers based in Texas but hauling across state lines
If your truck is used for business purposes, such as transporting goods, materials, or equipment for compensation, you likely need a commercial truck insurance policy rather than a personal auto policy.
Texas Trucking Insurance Requirements (State & Federal)
Commercial truck insurance requirements in Texas are influenced by both federal regulations and Texas-specific considerations. Understanding how these overlap is critical to staying compliant and adequately protected.
Federal (FMCSA) Minimum Insurance Considerations
Trucking operations engaged in interstate commerce are subject to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements. These requirements typically include:
- Auto liability insurance with minimum limits based on:
- Vehicle weight
- Type of cargo hauled
- MCS-90 endorsement, which guarantees public liability coverage for federally regulated carriers
- Cargo insurance, often required by shippers and brokers, even when not mandated by federal law
Federal minimums represent a legal baseline, not necessarily sufficient protection for real-world loss scenarios.
Texas-Specific Trucking Insurance Considerations
Texas-based carriers operating intrastate must also comply with Texas regulations, which can differ from federal rules depending on the operation. Important considerations include:
- Intrastate vs interstate distinctions and filing requirements
- Liability limits that may vary based on vehicle type and use
- Contractual insurance requirements imposed by shippers, ports, or oilfield operators
Many Texas trucking businesses choose coverage limits above the legal minimum to better protect against claim severity and litigation exposure.
Commercial Truck Insurance Coverages for Texas Truckers
Commercial trucking insurance is typically structured as a package of coverages tailored to the operation.
Primary Coverages
- Auto Liability Insurance covers bodily injury and property damage caused to others in an accident.
- Physical Damage Coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement of your truck due to collision, theft, fire, or vandalism.
- Motor Truck Cargo Insurance covers loss or damage to freight while in transit, often required by shippers and brokers.
- Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail Insurance) provides coverage when a truck is operated for non-business purposes.
Additional/Specialized Coverages
- Trailer Interchange Coverage covers non-owned trailers used under a trailer interchange agreement.
- General Liability Insurance protects against non-auto liability exposures, such as loading dock incidents.
- Workers’ Compensation or Occupational Accident Coverage addresses employee or driver injury exposures.
- Umbrella or Excess Liability Insurance provides additional liability limits above the underlying policies.
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage helps protect trucking businesses if a commercial truck is involved in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance or insufficient coverage.
- Medical Payments Coverage helps pay for reasonable medical expenses or funeral costs resulting from an accident, regardless of fault.
Risks in Texas Trucking That Impact Your Insurance
Trucking operations in Texas face a unique combination of risk factors that directly influence insurance coverage requirements and pricing. The size of the state alone contributes to longer operating distances, extended time on the road, and increased exposure across major highway corridors used by both intrastate and interstate carriers. Higher traffic volumes and the potential for severe accidents further elevate liability risk for trucking businesses operating in Texas.
Many trucking operations in the state are also involved in construction, energy, and industrial freight, which can increase underwriting scrutiny due to the nature of the cargo being hauled. Weather-related risks are another important consideration, as Texas trucking companies may encounter extreme heat, hailstorms, flooding, and other conditions that can lead to equipment damage or cargo loss. In addition, high-value freight lanes can increase exposure to theft and loss, which impacts both coverage availability and premium costs.
Insurance carriers consider these operational and environmental risks when evaluating eligibility, determining pricing, and structuring coverage terms for commercial trucking insurance in Texas.
Owner-Operator vs fleet Truck Insurance in Texas
Owner-Operator Insurance Needs
Owner-operators often need coverage that balances cost control with contractual compliance. Key considerations include:
- Operating authority status
- Cargo requirements imposed by brokers or shippers
- Radius of operation and freight type
- Affordability while maintaining adequate limits
Policies for owner-operators are often customized to reflect smaller operations and specific hauling contracts.
Fleet Truck Insurance Needs
Fleet operations face additional complexities, such as:
- Managing multiple drivers and vehicles under one program
- Claims history and driver safety records
- Consistent coverage across expanding operations
- Risk management and loss control considerations
Fleet policies are typically structured to scale with growth while maintaining underwriting stability.
How Much Does Texas Commercial Trucking Insurance Cost?
The cost of commercial trucking insurance in Texas can vary significantly based on several operational and risk-related factors. Insurance carriers closely evaluate a driver’s record and prior claims history, as well as the type of truck and trailer being insured. The kind of cargo hauled also plays a major role, since certain freight types present higher liability or loss exposure than others.
How far a truck operates is another key consideration. Local, regional, and long-haul operations each carry different levels of risk, which can affect both pricing and coverage structure. In addition, the coverage limits selected and the size of deductibles chosen will influence overall premium costs.
Because of these variables, monthly insurance costs for Texas trucking operations can range widely. While policies carrying only minimum liability limits may appear more affordable upfront, they often provide limited protection in the event of a serious accident or claim. If you’d like to get an estimate from VOS Insurance, try requesting a quote!
Why Choose VOS Insurance for Texas Trucking Coverage?
VOS Insurance works with Texas trucking businesses to design coverage strategies that reflect real operational risk, not just minimum requirements. Our approach includes:
- Access to multiple commercial trucking insurance carriers
- Experience working with Texas-based owner-operators and fleets
- Coverage reviews focused on compliance and protection
- Ongoing support as operations change or grow
As an independent agency, our focus is on helping trucking businesses understand their options and make informed decisions.
Whether you operate a single truck or manage a growing fleet, VOS Insurance can help you explore commercial trucking insurance options available in cities like San Antonio or Austin, or all around Texas. Our quote process focuses on understanding your operation first—so coverage aligns with how you actually operate.
Texas Commercial Trucking Insurance FAQs
Most commercial truck drivers need auto liability insurance that meets federal or Texas intrastate requirements. Cargo insurance and additional coverages are often required by shippers or brokers.
Yes. Interstate trucking is governed by federal FMCSA rules, while intrastate operations may follow Texas-specific requirements. Coverage needs can vary based on how and where you operate.
Costs vary based on risk factors such as driving history, cargo, and operating radius. Monthly premiums can range widely depending on coverage limits and operation type.
Cargo insurance may not always be legally required, but it is commonly mandated by shippers and brokers and is essential for protecting freight-related income.
Minimum liability limits depend on vehicle weight and operation type. Many trucking businesses choose higher limits due to the potential severity of claims.
Yes. Fleet policies are commonly used to insure multiple trucks under a single program, often providing administrative and pricing efficiencies.
Texas does not mandate workers’ compensation for all employers, but many trucking businesses still carry coverage to manage injury-related risks.
Operations involving hazardous materials, heavy equipment, long-haul routes, or poor claims history are often more challenging to insure due to higher perceived risk.