Industries · Trucking and transportation

Insurance for flatbed carriers.

Primary liability, cargo, physical damage, and trailer coverage for flatbed, step deck, and lowboy carriers hauling steel, lumber, machinery, and building materials.

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What flatbed carriers usually carry

Primary auto liability, $1M
Motor truck cargo
Physical damage
Tarps, chains, and binders
Trailer interchange
General liability
Workers’ comp or occupational accident

Watch for these in a flatbed policy

Weather on open loadsRain and road spray on an untarped load can fall outside a cargo policy. Ask how yours treats weather damage when the load calls for tarps.
Oversize and overweightPermitted oversize loads are often excluded or rated separately. List them if you run with permits or escorts.
Commodity limitsSome cargo forms cap coils, copper, and heavy machinery below your full limit. Check the commodity list against what you actually haul.
Falls from the deckFalls while tarping or strapping are the classic flatbed injury. Have workers’ comp or occupational accident in place before the first load.
A load that comes offLost securement can mean cargo, liability, and cleanup claims at once. Many insurers ask about securement training before they quote.

What shippers, mills, and brokers ask flatbed carriers for

Cargo sized to the loadMachinery and steel shippers often want $250,000 or more on a single load.
Auto liability$1M is the floor for most brokers, and oversize freight can ask for more.
Named on the certificateMills and shippers often want their exact name on your certificate before the first pickup.

Questions flatbed carriers ask

Straight answers.

The questions we hear most, answered plainly.

Does cargo insurance cover a load that falls off?

It depends on the form. Broad cargo forms usually do. Named-peril forms may pay only if a collision or overturn caused it, so ask which one you have.

Are tarps and chains covered?

Not by cargo, which covers the freight. Many policies can add coverage for tarps, chains, and binders, which add up fast on a flatbed.

What do insurers want from a new flatbed carrier?

Driver experience on open decks, securement training, the commodities you haul, and your radius. Prior flatbed time often helps more than general driving years.