ServicesHotshot Truck Insurance
Hotshot Truck Insurance in Union City
You run a heavy pickup and a trailer, and brokers want proof of coverage before they hand you a load. We put together hotshot insurance that fits your operation and lay out every coverage and cost in writing, so you know what you are paying for.
Coverage Built for a Pickup and a Trailer
Hotshot work sits in an odd spot. The truck looks like a pickup, but once you hook a 30 or 40 foot gooseneck to a one-ton and haul for hire, you are a commercial motor carrier. A personal auto policy will not cover that work, and most brokers will not load you without a certificate of insurance showing commercial limits.
We write hotshot policies for operators who run under their own MC authority and for drivers leased on to a carrier. The pieces usually include primary liability, cargo coverage, and physical damage on the truck and the trailer. Before you commit, you get a written breakdown that lists each coverage, its limit, its deductible and its premium. If something is optional, it says so.
What a Hotshot Policy Usually Includes
- 01
Primary auto liability
This pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Interstate for-hire carriers hauling general freight in vehicles over 10,000 pounds have to meet a federal minimum limit, and many brokers ask for a higher one. We price the limit your loads actually require, not the biggest one we can sell.
- 02
Motor truck cargo
Covers the freight on your deck. Load boards and brokers often set a minimum, so we check what the shippers you work with expect before we pick a limit.
- 03
Physical damage on truck and trailer
Your pickup and your trailer are listed separately, each with its own value and deductible. That way a wreck that damages the trailer is not left out because only the truck was scheduled.
- 04
Federal and state filings
When you run under your own authority, your insurer has to file proof of coverage with FMCSA. We handle those filings with the carrier and tell you when they are in place.
- 05
Certificates of insurance
Brokers and shippers will ask for a certificate naming them. We send those out when you need them so you can get loaded.
Questions about Hotshot Truck Insurance?
Call(770) 790-4033Signs Your Hotshot Coverage Needs a Look
You are on a personal auto policy
If you haul for pay on a personal policy, a claim can be denied outright. That is the most common problem we see with new hotshot drivers.
A broker turned down your certificate
Low cargo limits or a missing trailer on the policy will get you rejected at the load board. It usually means the policy was set up for a different kind of work.
You added a bigger trailer
Moving from a bumper pull to a 40 foot gooseneck changes the value and the risk. Your policy should list the new trailer and its real value.
You got your own MC authority
Going from leased on to running your own authority means you need your own liability and filings. Non-trucking liability alone will not cover you anymore.
Your renewal jumped and nobody explained why
A higher premium should come with a reason. If yours did not, we can walk through the numbers line by line.
How We Set Up Your Coverage
- 1
A short phone or video call
We ask about your truck, your trailer, what you haul and how far you run. Have your DOT number, MC authority and driver's license handy if you have them.
- 2
We shop the markets
Not every insurer writes hotshot. We go to the ones that do and compare liability, cargo and physical damage options for your setup.
- 3
You get it in writing
Your written quote lists each coverage, limit, deductible and premium on its own line. We explain any exclusions that matter for your loads, like limits on certain commodities.
- 4
Bind, file and send certificates
Once you pick a policy, we bind it, handle the filings and send certificates to your brokers. You know the cost up front, with no add-ons showing up later.
What Moves the Price of Hotshot Insurance
Hotshot premiums swing a lot from one driver to the next. Your quote will show which of these factors shaped your price, so you can see where you might save.
- Driving record and experience
- Years of commercial driving count for a lot. Recent tickets or accidents raise the premium, and some insurers will not write drivers with less than a year or two behind the wheel.
- Age of your authority
- A brand new MC number costs more to insure than one with a few clean years. Our New Authority Truck Insurance page covers that first stretch in more detail.
- What you haul and how far
- Vehicles, heavy equipment and steel all price differently. Long interstate runs usually cost more than staying within a few hundred miles of Union City.
- Truck and trailer value
- Physical damage is priced on what your rig is worth. A newer one-ton and a new gooseneck cost more to cover than older equipment.
- Deductibles and limits
- Higher deductibles lower the premium, and higher liability or cargo limits raise it. We show you the tradeoff side by side.
Hotshot Insurance Questions
Do I need a DOT number for hotshot work?
If your truck and trailer together are rated over 10,000 pounds and you haul across state lines for hire, you need a USDOT number. Running for hire under your own name also takes MC authority. We can tell you what applies to your setup during the call.
Can I just add my trailer to my personal truck policy?
Not for hire work. Personal policies exclude hauling freight for pay, so a claim on a load can be denied. You need a commercial policy that lists both the truck and the trailer.
I am leased on to a carrier. What do I need?
The carrier usually provides primary liability while you are under dispatch. You will likely need non-trucking liability for when you are off dispatch, plus physical damage on your own truck and trailer. Check your lease agreement and we will match the coverage to it.
How much cargo coverage should I carry?
It depends on what you haul and what your brokers require. Many brokers set a minimum, and if you move vehicles or expensive equipment you may need more than that. We look at your typical loads before suggesting a limit.
Will my quote change after I sign?
The written breakdown shows each coverage and its premium before you commit. Your price can change at renewal or if you add a truck, a driver or a new kind of freight, and we explain any change when it happens.
Get Your Hotshot Rig Covered
Tell us about your truck, your trailer and the loads you run. We will put together a written breakdown that shows every coverage and what it costs.