ServicesPrimary Auto Liability
Primary Auto Liability Insurance in Palmetto, GA
Primary auto liability pays for the people and property your truck hurts in a wreck. It is also the policy that keeps your authority active. We explain the limits, the filings and the fine print in plain words before you sign anything.
What primary auto liability actually covers
If your truck causes a crash, this coverage pays for the other driver's injuries, their vehicle and anything else you damage, like a fence or a storefront. It also pays for your legal defense if you get sued. It does not fix your own truck or pay for the load. Those are physical damage and motor truck cargo coverage, and they are separate policies.
For a motor carrier, this is the one policy you cannot run without. The federal minimum for most general freight carriers is $750,000, but many brokers and shippers want $1,000,000 before they will tender a load. Your insurer files proof of coverage with the FMCSA so your MC authority stays active. Let the policy lapse and that filing gets pulled.
Our doors have been open 5 years now. The state has us on record with a property and casualty license, the kind that covers commercial truck policies like this one. Most days, that means owner-operators and small fleets from around Palmetto sitting across from us while we go down a quote one line at a time until it makes sense.
What we set up with your liability policy
Limits that match your contracts
We look at what your brokers, shippers and any lease agreement require. Then we quote limits that meet them, so you are not turned away at the dock for a short certificate.
Federal filings
Your carrier files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with the FMCSA. We confirm it posts to your DOT number and check it again if anything on the policy changes.
Georgia intrastate filings
If you haul inside Georgia only, the state has its own filing requirements. We make sure the right one is on record for the way you actually run.
Certificates of insurance
Brokers ask for a certificate before every new load board relationship. We send them out and add certificate holders or additional insureds when a contract calls for it.
Scheduled units and drivers
Each truck and driver gets listed correctly. A unit or driver missing from the schedule is one of the most common reasons a claim turns into a fight.
The MCS-90 explained
Federal filings come with the MCS-90 endorsement. We explain what it does and why it is not the same as coverage for every situation.
Signs your liability coverage needs a look
A broker rejected your certificate
Usually it means your limit is under what they require, or the certificate is missing their name. Both are fixable, but you want it fixed before the next load.
You got a pending cancellation notice
The FMCSA will see the cancellation filing. If a replacement policy does not get filed in time, your authority can be revoked and you stop hauling.
You added a truck or driver
New units and new drivers have to be added to the policy. Running one that is not listed is a gamble you do not want to take.
Your renewal jumped and nobody said why
Premiums move for real reasons, like a claim, a ticket on a driver's record or a change in how far you run. You deserve to know which one it was.
You changed what you haul or where
Switching from local dry van to long-haul or to a different commodity changes the risk. The policy should reflect it, or a claim could be questioned.
How getting a quote works with us
- 1
We talk about your operation
By phone, video or at our office, we ask what you haul, how far you run, how many units you have and who is driving. Have your DOT number and driver license info handy.
- 2
We shop the market
We take your details to carriers that write trucking liability. Some will not write new authorities or certain commodities, so we focus on the ones that fit.
- 3
We walk you through the quote
You get the limit, the deductible if there is one, what is excluded and what drives the premium. Ask anything. No question is too basic.
- 4
We bind and file
Once you pick a policy, we bind it, make sure the federal and any state filings are submitted, and send your certificates of insurance to the people who need them.
What moves your liability premium
Liability is usually the biggest single piece of a trucking insurance bill. The price comes from how risky an insurer thinks your operation is. Here is what they look at, so nothing on the quote is a mystery.
- Time in business and authority age
- A brand new MC authority has no track record yet, and insurers price that in. Premiums tend to ease as you build clean years.
- Driver records and experience
- Insurers pull motor vehicle records for every driver. Accidents, violations and fewer years behind the wheel of a CDL truck all push the price up.
- Radius and commodity
- Running long-haul across several states costs more than staying local. What you haul matters too, since some loads carry more risk on the road.
- Limits you choose
- Going from the federal minimum to a higher limit adds premium. Often the brokers you work with decide this for you.
- Loss history and safety scores
- Past claims and your FMCSA safety data both get reviewed. A clean record is the best long-term way to bring this number down.
Primary auto liability questions we hear a lot
Something not covered here? (770) 769-1250
Is $750,000 enough, or do I need $1,000,000?
$750,000 meets the federal minimum for most general freight. In practice, many brokers and shippers require $1,000,000, so a lot of carriers carry that to avoid losing loads. We will check your contracts and tell you what you actually need.
Does this cover damage to my own truck?
No. Primary auto liability only pays for damage and injuries you cause to others. Your own truck is covered under physical damage insurance, and the freight is covered under motor truck cargo insurance.
I am leased onto a carrier. Do I need my own liability?
Usually the motor carrier you are leased to provides primary liability while you are under dispatch. What you likely need is non-trucking liability, also called bobtail coverage, for when you are off dispatch. Read your lease and we can go over it with you.
How long does the FMCSA filing take to show up?
The insurance company submits it after the policy is bound. It typically posts on the FMCSA system shortly after, and we check that it shows correctly on your DOT number. If it does not, we follow up with the carrier.
Can I lower my premium?
Sometimes. Hiring drivers with clean records, keeping your radius accurate and staying claim-free all help over time. We will also look at whether your limits match what your contracts really require.
Get your liability questions answered
Tell us what you haul and how you run, and we will explain your options in plain words. We work with carriers from Palmetto out to Newnan, Douglasville and the rest of the area.