South Carolina Truck Insurance

SC License #: 3001067403

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Charleston • Columbia • Mount Pleasant • Greenville • Rock Hill • Summerville • Florence

South Carolina Commercial Truck Insurance

It’s essential that you do all you can to protect your drivers, your trucks, and your cargo. And that means doing more than hiring qualified drivers and performing regular maintenance checks—it also means finding the right insurance for you and your business. According to the FMCSA, there was a 48 percent increase in the number of large trucks and buses in fatal crashes in 2018 compared to its low of 3,432 in 2009. That means “5,096 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes” in just one year. With that sobering statistic, it’s easy to see why insurance is required throughout the nation. With rising insurance rates, finding the right South Carolina commercial truck insurance for your budget can be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Luckily, we’re here to guide you through it.

No matter where you drive, insurance is a must-have. While the same general regulations apply throughout the US, there are variations across the states to consider as well. Let’s dive into why you need South Carolina commercial truck insurance and why you should use an independent insurance agent when protecting your trucks.

Why do I need Truck Insurance in South Carolina?

  • Truck Liability Coverage

    Liability coverage is necessary in every state, for clear reasons: In the case of an accident, liability insurance will cover the injuries or damages sustained by the other driver or vehicle so you don’t have to. South Carolina law, as in other states, sets a minimum level of liability insurance you must hold, which is determined by what you are hauling and where you are hauling it. For example, if your truck doesn’t cross state lines and weighs more than 10,000 GVW, you are required to get an intrastate only USDOT number and maintain proper insurance coverage.

  • Physical Damage Coverage

    While physical damage coverage isn’t required by law, it is still essential. The FMCSA reports that the average cost of a crash involving a large truck is $91,000. Factor in injuries and that cost can go up to nearly $200,000. With physical damage coverage, you’re protected from losses, such as a truck being put out of commission.

  • Motor Truck Cargo

    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. In South Carolina, you are required to maintain a minimum level of cargo insurance that covers $3,500/vehicle and $5,000/catastrophe. Depending on the cargo that is in transport by your big rig, you may need specific endorsements. 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 ice cream when the reefer unit breaks down on I-26 in the middle of the humid summer. Of any line of 18-wheeler insurance, cargo insurance is the one you need to understand and pay attention to the most. 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

    You may think liability coverage is all you need to protect yourself in the case of an accident, but that’s not always the case. Truckers general liability is designed to cover accidents that may occur when nobody is behind the wheel. For example, if something were to happen to your warehouse or fulfillment center, truckers general liability would help cover those costs. If you have other aspects of your business that aren’t on wheels, you need truckers general liability insurance to make sure you’re covered everywhere—off the road and on.

Why Should I use a South Carolina Insurance Agent?

Find Insurance Programs Specific to Your Needs

When acquiring South Carolina commercial truck insurance, you’ll save time and money by finding a program that caters to the types of trucks your business uses rather than forcing a generic policy to fit your needs.

TIS specializes in the trucking niche and provides access to numerous specialty truck insurance programs, including markets for:

Instant Certificates of Insurance with our Mobile App

Insurance needs are unpredictable; you never know when or why they’ll come up. If we could predict future accidents, we likely wouldn’t need insurance at all. When the unexpected happens and you need to prove your policy and coverages, you want to know that someone will answer your call, no matter what time it is, day or night. The last thing you want is to be waiting in the middle of the night for an agent to answer your call or return to the office. At TIS, we offer 24/7 service through our mobile app, meaning we’re there with you through it all so your certificate of insurance goes wherever you or your drivers may go.

Get Assistance with South Carolina Truck Permits & Filings

The best agent isn’t only concerned with keeping you insured. They also want to help you stay up to date with all of your permits as well. After all, compliance can be tricky, and operating without the right permits can be costly with the resulting fines and barriers to your business. We know that with everything else you’re keeping track of, staying on top of your permits can be demanding. At TIS, our permit department does the work for you. We are well versed in all things related to South Carolina truck insurance and are constantly watching the system of ever-changing permits and regulations. We ensure you have all of the necessary South Carolina truck permits 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. So, 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.

South Carolina Truck Insurance Quote

Here is what Our Happy Customers have to say

Rita helped me get all my permits made it super easy and fast and with no head ache! Answered all my questions with out any problems really enjoyed working with her!
Luis Hernandez
The service I received from the staff is always friendly, professional and very helpful thank you
Silvia Alvarez
Gloria was SO helpful! I have been very busy since we just moved and she quickly and efficiently helped me with my insurance questions. Thank you Gloria!
Maggie Devlin