Truckers General Liability Insurance (GL)
Truckers general liability (GL) covers claims that happen off the road: injuries at your yard or office, damage from your business operations that doesn’t involve driving your truck, and the contract requirements shippers, Amazon Relay and the UIIA put in front of you. MIG shops trucking GL with 30+ A-rated insurance carriers in 48 states.
Free and no obligation. We compare options across our insurance carrier partners to help you find the right coverage at a competitive price.
What Is General Liability Insurance for Truckers?
FMCSA doesn’t require general liability, but many shippers, brokers, landlords and facility owners do. If you sign contracts, lease a yard or deliver into customer facilities, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked for a GL certificate.
- Injuries to visitors at your office, yard, shop or terminal
- Damage to other people's property from your business operations, other than using your trucks
- Personal and advertising injury, such as a defamation claim over your marketing
- Legal defense for covered claims
- Accidents involving your truck → Auto Liability
- Freight you're hauling → Motor Truck Cargo
- Your own truck or trailer → Physical Damage
- Your employees' injuries → Workers' Comp
Amazon Relay and UIIA Insurance Requirements
Two of the most common reasons carriers need general liability: hauling Amazon Relay loads and pulling intermodal equipment under the UIIA. Requirements below are as published by each program; always confirm the current requirements in your account before you book.
Amazon Relay Insurance Requirements
To haul for Amazon Relay, carriers need more than auto liability. Here’s how each requirement lines up with your coverage:
| Auto liabilityPer occurrence → Auto Liability | $1,000,000 |
| Trailer coverageFor Amazon trailers → Trailer Interchange / Non-Owned Trailer | $50,000 |
| Motor truck cargo→ Motor Truck Cargo | $100,000 |
| General liabilityPer occurrence / aggregate → this page | $1M / $2M |
| Workers' comp & employer's liabilityWhere required by state; EL $100,000 → Workers' Comp | Varies |
We’ll quote to Amazon Relay’s published requirements. Confirm current requirements in your Relay account.
UIIA General Liability Requirements
Motor carriers in the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement must carry commercial general liability in addition to auto liability.
- $1,000,000 per occurrence commercial general liability
- Equipment providers named as Additional Insureds
- No self-insured retention. Deductibles are allowed
Amazon and Amazon Relay are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. MIG is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon.
Packaged or Stand-Alone
Some insurance carriers offer GL as part of a package with your trucking policy. Other times, GL is quoted on its own as a separate (mono-line) policy. Either way, it’s typically a lower-cost addition, and more brokers are starting to require it, so it’s worth adding to your current program.
Already a MIG client? Ask your producer about adding GL. Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM ET.
Auto Liability vs. General Liability for Trucking
Your auto liability policy is built for claims arising from owning, using or driving your trucks. General liability is built for most everything else your business does. Together they cover far more than either one alone.
| Auto Liability | General Liability | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Claims arising from owning, using or driving your trucks | Claims from your premises and business operations |
| Common examples | Highway accident, backing into a dock door, a jackknife that damages property | Visitor slips at your office, a fire you cause damages the office you rent, an advertising claim |
| Required by | FMCSA, to get and keep your authority | Contracts: shippers, brokers, landlords, Amazon Relay, UIIA |
| Typical limits | $1,000,000 combined single limit for most broker requirements | $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate |
Loading and unloading: many truckers GL policies exclude it completely, along with anything arising out of any auto, owned or not. Auto policies commonly treat loading and unloading as “use” of the truck. How a claim is handled depends on your policy wording, so ask your producer how yours applies.
Which Policy Would Respond?
Simplified examples. Every claim depends on the facts and your policy wording, and the insurance carrier makes the coverage decision.
A visitor slips in your office
A broker’s rep stops by your terminal, slips on a wet floor and is injured.
Damage to the office you rent
A space heater in your rented office starts a fire that damages the landlord’s building.
An advertising claim
A competitor says your website or social posts damaged their reputation.
Backing into a dock door
Your driver backs the truck into the shipper’s building. That’s use of the truck.
Freight damaged in transit
The load shifts and arrives damaged. GL excludes property in your care.
Your driver is hurt
Your own driver is injured on the job. GL doesn’t cover your employees.
Send Us the Contract Before You Bind
Shipper agreements, facility access agreements and yard leases often spell out exactly what your GL must include. Share those requirements with your producer up front so the policy can be built to match.
- Limits. Usually $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.
- Additional Insured. The shipper, landlord or facility owner listed on your GL policy by endorsement.
- Waiver of subrogation. The insurance carrier agrees not to pursue the other party after paying a claim.
- Primary and non-contributory. Your GL responds before the other party's insurance.
Add an endorsement or get a COI
Request Additional Insured, waiver of subrogation or other changes through our Policy Change Request portal, or get a certificate. For current MIG clients only.
Quote GL to Your Contract
Have the contract’s insurance section handy and we’ll shop GL that fits it. Free and no obligation.
Understanding Your GL Limits
A GL policy has several limits, not just one. Here’s what each line on a typical truckers GL declarations page means. Amounts shown are common examples, not recommendations.
These limits aren’t added together. The general aggregate is the most the policy pays for most claims during the policy period.
| Each occurrenceMost paid for any one incident | $1,000,000 |
| General aggregateMost paid for most claims in the policy period | $2,000,000 |
| Products / completed operations aggregateClaims from work you've finished; often shown as "Included" | Varies |
| Personal & advertising injuryDefamation, false advertising and similar claims | $1,000,000 |
| Damage to premises rented to youDamage you cause to a building you rent, such as a fire | $100,000 |
| Medical expenseMinor medical bills for an injured visitor, regardless of fault | $5,000 |
Truckers GL Exclusions to Know
Truckers GL is often written with trucking-specific exclusions. These are the ones that most often surprise carriers. Your policy documents control.
Autos and Loading
Anything arising out of an auto, owned or not, including loading and unloading, is commonly excluded. That’s auto liability territory.
Only What's Listed
Many policies cover only the business classifications listed on the declarations. If you also do warehousing, repair work or brokerage, tell your producer so it can be addressed.
Employees & Contractors
Injuries to employees, and often to independent contractors and casual labor, are excluded. Look at workers’ comp or occupational accident.
Forklifts & Mobile Equipment
Some truckers GL policies exclude forklifts, yard equipment and other mobile equipment you own or use. Ask before you assume it’s covered.
Contract Indemnity
Some forms limit coverage for liability you take on in a contract, like a shipper’s indemnity clause. Share contracts with your producer before you sign or bind.
Cargo & Pollution
Freight in your care belongs on cargo, and fuel or cargo spills generally need separate pollution coverage.
What Affects the Cost of Truckers GL
GL is usually a smaller part of a trucking insurance program than auto liability. Many truckers GL policies are rated on the number of power units, and premium may be adjusted by audit at the end of the term.
Number of power units
Operations type
Terminals & yards
Warehousing activity
Claims history
Limits requested
Build a Complete Trucking Program
Auto Liability
Injury and damage from operating your trucks.
Motor Truck Cargo
Covers the freight you’re hauling.
Physical Damage
Repairs or replaces your truck and trailer.
Workers' Comp
Injury coverage for your employees.
Amazon Relay Insurance
Every Relay requirement in one place.
Intermodal / UIIA
Drayage and interchange requirements.
Request a COI
Certificates for shippers and brokers.
Trucking Terms Glossary
Plain-English trucking insurance terms.
Truckers General Liability Questions
Do trucking companies need general liability insurance?
What's the difference between auto liability and general liability for truckers?
Does Amazon Relay require general liability insurance?
Does the UIIA require general liability?
Can I add general liability to my current trucking policy?
How much general liability do truckers need?
Does general liability cover loading and unloading?
Does truckers general liability cover forklifts?
What do "each occurrence" and "general aggregate" mean on a GL policy?
Does general liability cover cargo?
Can a shipper be added as an Additional Insured on my GL?
Is the quote free?
Get a Free, No-Obligation GL Quote
Have your contract requirements handy. Start online in minutes, or talk to a MIG Producer Mon–Fri, 8 AM–5 PM ET. We’re happy to help.
This page is general information about general liability insurance for trucking companies and is not legal advice or a statement of coverage. Coverage, limits, eligibility and pricing are determined by the insurance carrier, and your policy documents control. Marquee Insurance Group is an independent insurance agency and does not issue policies, make underwriting decisions or decide claims. Program requirements are summarized from published sources and may change. Amazon and Amazon Relay are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. MIG is an independent insurance agency and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Amazon.