Cargo Liability Insurance

Cargo Insurance protects those goods from damage and theft. You’ll want to assure your client that their cargo will make it safely to the destination safely or that they will be reimbursed if it doesn’t. Any number of things can go wrong while goods are in transit, so getting broad cargo coverage is a must.

If you are in an accident, commercial cargo insurance will pay for destruction or damage to the load that is being carried.  Coverage may also cover cargo that is stolen, broken or lost items during the transport.

1. You’ll want to make sure your commodity is covered. Don’t assume that all loads will be covered. Some goods like tobacco, jewelry, and liquor are hard to find coverage for since they are prime targets of thieves.
2. If you stumble upon a lucrative load that is outside the normal goods you haul, will your insurance broker be able to help you get coverage in a pinch?
3. Make sure you are not over or under insuring the goods you are hauling.
4. In the event of a loss, how fast is the claims service?

Coverage to look for in a policy

You’ll want to make sure your cargo is covered no matter what the risk. Some scenarios to consider would be:

• Stolen or hijacked goods
• Water leaks in the trailer that damage the cargo
• Cargo damage during loading or unloading
• If your truck is out of commission, will your cargo insurance transfer to your temporary truck?
• Refrigeration equipment breakdown resulting in spoiled cargo
• If your load is strewn about the highway after an accident, you’ll need to make sure you have debris removal covered in the policy.

The insurance companies will only pay up to the maximum limit found in the policy they wrote for you. Typically limits range from $10,000 to $100,000. Limits above 100k are also written depending on the value of the cargo  being hauled. When you pick up a load your client is going to want to see a copy of your cargo insurance. This is not coverage you want to entrust to a rookie agent. This and every coverage should be handled by a professional.