Industries · Trucking and transportation
Insurance for courier services.
Auto liability, hired and non-owned auto, cargo, and general liability for courier companies running same-day routes with company vans, drivers’ own cars, and bikes.
What couriers usually carry
- Commercial auto liability
- Hired and non-owned auto
- Cargo or bailee coverage
- General liability
- Workers’ comp
- Crime, if you carry deposits
Watch for these in a courier policy
- Drivers’ own carsMany personal auto policies exclude delivering for pay. When a driver’s policy will not answer, the claim comes looking for your business.
- Contractors are still your riskCalling drivers independent contractors does not keep you out of a lawsuit. Hired and non-owned auto is what defends the business.
- Cash and documentsCargo forms usually exclude money, securities, deeds, and similar papers. Couriers who carry deposits or original legal documents need that covered on purpose.
- Bike and foot couriersAn auto policy does not cover a bike messenger. General liability and workers’ comp carry those deliveries instead.
- Specimens and prescriptionsLab specimens and prescriptions bring temperature and chain-of-custody duties. Check that your cargo coverage does not exclude them before you sign the contract.
What labs, pharmacies, and law firms ask couriers for
- Auto liability, $1MCommon in lab and hospital contracts, with non-owned auto included.
- Additional insuredOn general liability, and often on auto, for the lab or firm that hires you.
- Driver screeningBackground checks and clean MVRs for every driver who carries their material.
Questions couriers ask
Straight answers.
The questions we hear most, answered plainly.
My drivers use their own cars. What do I need?
Hired and non-owned auto at a minimum, so the business is defended when a driver causes a crash on your route. Their own policies should allow business use, and many do not.
Are the packages I carry covered?
Only with cargo or bailee coverage. General liability excludes property in your care, which is every package on the route.
Do bike couriers need workers’ comp?
If they are employees, almost always. A courier hurt on a bike with no comp in place can sue the business directly.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes. Most policies can be paid in full or monthly.
Trucking and transportation
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