Class 8 (33,001+ lbs GVW) · 80,000 lbs gross combined weight
Semi-trucks — Class 8 tractors at 80,000 lbs gross combined weight pulling 53-foot trailers — are the foundation of U.S. long-haul freight and the centerpiece of any motor carrier's insurance program. Riskara writes semi-truck insurance for owner-operators leased to a motor carrier, owner-operators under their own MC authority, and small-to-mid fleets running general freight, flatbed, refrigerated, tank, and specialty loads across Illinois and Texas.
$12,000–$25,000 per year (owner-operator, single tractor, $1M primary liability, $100K cargo, physical damage on $80K tractor). Hazmat and new-authority risks at the higher end.
$750,000 is the FMCSA minimum for general freight; $1,000,000 for oil; $5,000,000 for placardable hazardous materials. Most shippers and brokers contractually require $1,000,000 regardless. Higher limits ($2M base + excess/umbrella to $5M+) are common for specific contracts.
Yes. Cover Whale, Nirvana, and Progressive's new-venture program all write motor carriers with under 12 months of active authority. Year-one premium is higher (often $20–30K range for a single tractor) and drops 15–30% at first renewal with clean loss runs.
Physical damage on owned trailers is scheduled separately on the policy at the trailer's stated value. For trailers you don't own but pull under an interchange agreement, you need trailer interchange coverage — an endorsement on the auto policy.
Tell us about your vehicle and how you use it — we'll come back with quotes from the carriers that fit your class best.
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