Missouri Truck Insurance

MO License #: 3001110148

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Kansas City • St. Louis • Springfield • Columbia • Independence • Joplin • Jefferson City

Truck Insurance in Missouri

There’s more to keeping trucks on the road and turning a profit than just hiring qualified drivers. Even with the safest drivers available, you still need insurance to protect both them and your trucks. With rising insurance rates, finding the right insurance for you can be daunting, but it’s just as important as ever. According to the FMCSA, “in 2018, 5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes,” which was a 48 percent increase from its low of 3,432 in 2009. It’s not a matter of whether or not you should be insured but how to find the best value for your money while keeping you, your drivers, and your trucks protected on the road.

Every state has its own special considerations. Let’s take a closer look at why you need Missouri truck insurance and why you should use an independent insurance agent when protecting your trucks.

Why do I need Missouri Trucking Insurance?

  • Truck Liability Coverage

    Your trucks must have liability coverage, regardless of which state you drive in. At its core, liability insurance covers any injuries or damage sustained by the other driver or vehicle involved in an accident. In Missouri, how much coverage you need depends on what freight you transport and where you carry it. If you don’t take your truck out of state, you must get an intrastate-only USDOT number and be insured.

  • Physical Damage Coverage

    While physical damage coverage is not required by law, it’s just as crucial. Accidents are pricey, and those involving trucks can quickly get even more expensive. According to the FMCSA, “the average cost of all large truck crashes is about $91,000 per crash.” That average goes up to nearly $200,000 when the crash results in injuries and can reach millions depending on the severity of the crash. But don’t worry—physical damage coverage protects you from losses, especially when a truck is put out of commission.

  • Motor Truck Cargo

    It’s also beneficial to your customers to provide insurance to protect the goods you are transporting. Motor truck cargo insurance is needed by for-hire truckers to properly cover the commodities they are hauling. It is generally required by the party who owns the product being transported. This ensures that if their goods are damaged or stolen while in transit, their assets will be covered. You may need specific endorsements based on the cargo in your big rig. For example, if you transport refrigerated goods, you will need to make sure you have “reefer breakdown” coverage. This might cover a $50,000 load of frozen pizzas when the reefer unit stops running in the middle of I-70. Of any line of 18-wheeler insurance, cargo insurance is the one you particularly need to understand and pay attention to. You usually get what you pay for, and some carriers will make a long list of exclusions that specifically exclude coverage for certain events.

  • Truckers General Liability

    Here is the simplest way to understand truckers general liability: This coverage is designed to protect your business from damage that might occur when you are not behind the wheel of your truck. On the other hand, your auto liability coverage covers your business when you are driving. If you have other aspects of your business—such as a quarry or a consolidation warehouse—you will need a more robust general liability insurance policy that considers exposures outside the realm of trucking.

Why Should I use an Independent Insurance Agent?

Find Insurance Programs Specific to Your Needs

You will get much better service when you find a program that has experience with the types of trucks you use. While a generic program may provide a sufficient enough fit, it’s always best to find one that is tailored to your specific needs. For example, TIS specializes in the trucking niche and provides market access to numerous specialty truck insurance programs, including programs for the following:

Instant Certificates of Insurance with our Mobile App

Insurance is there to help you when you least expect to need it. If you knew exactly when or where you would need insurance, it likely wouldn’t be necessary at all. At TIS, we know the last thing anyone wants is to be stranded in the middle of the night and waiting for an insurance agent to return a call or get back into the office. That’s why we are available 24/7 to issue your certificate of insurance through our mobile app. We strive to be there for you for every mile of your journey.

Get Assistance with your Missouri Trucking Permits & Filings

With so many laws and regulations, ensuring you stay compliant can be tricky—but not staying compliant can be expensive. The right agent will do more than make sure you’re insured. They’ll also go above and beyond to help you keep all of your permits up to date. At TIS, our permit department is well versed in all things Missouri truck insurance, and we are constantly watching the ever-changing system for updates that might trip you up. We ensure our clients have all of the necessary truck permits for Missouri and keep you informed of all changes made to laws and regulations.

As an independent brokerage, TIS has access to nearly every carrier under the sun. No matter what kind of truck you’re driving, we can partner you with the carrier right for your business. Contact us today to learn more.

Missouri Truck Insurance Quote

Here is what Our Happy Customers have to say

I would like to thank Codi and all of the people at the Insurance Store for how well they have always treated me. Codi is always very professional, very helpful and very easy to talk to and has always treated me like a person. I know I am at the right place. Thank you for your great service.
John Camacho
Lara Care is very professional and has great customer service.
AV Trucking
TIS Insurance was actually referred to me from another Insurance company who suggested TIS could provide me with a better rate than they could. Erin Whitney went over and beyond my expectations.. I can’t say enough about her professionalism and knowledge. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for insurance. I will be referring them to anyone I know looking for a policy.
DT