Commercial Truck Insurance

General Liability
Coverage Guide

On-premises and operations liability beyond the road

Optional — Often required by shippers, brokers, and customers by contract

What Does General Liability Cover?

Commercial general liability (CGL) covers bodily injury and property damage claims that arise from your business operations but are not related to driving your truck. This includes incidents at your terminal, warehouse, or facility; loading and unloading accidents at a customer site; advertising injury; and products liability. It does NOT cover accidents while the truck is moving — that's what your primary auto liability covers.

Who Needs General Liability?

Owner-operators and fleet operators who have a terminal, yard, or office; carriers who load or unload freight at customer sites; construction-related carriers (dump trucks, flatbeds) who work at job sites; and any carrier required by a shipper or broker contract to carry a CGL policy. Many larger shippers require $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate minimum.

Cost & Coverage Limits

$600 – $2,500
per truck, per year (estimates vary)
$300,000 per occurrence (varies widely by contract requirements)
statutory or lender minimum
$1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate
industry standard limit

Key Facts About General Liability

Common Questions About General Liability

Do I need general liability if I have commercial auto insurance?
Yes — they cover different things. Commercial auto liability covers accidents while driving your truck. General liability covers incidents at your business location, during loading/unloading, or from your business operations that aren't truck accidents. A slip and fall in your yard, a customer's property damaged while you're backing up to a dock, or a bodily injury during freight handling would all be general liability claims.
What does loading and unloading liability cover?
Most commercial auto policies exclude or have gaps in coverage for incidents that occur during the loading and unloading process — the time when freight is being moved between your truck and a building, dock, or another vehicle. General liability fills this gap. If you or an employee injures a bystander while unloading freight, general liability is what responds.
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Other Commercial Truck Coverage Types

Also see: Full Coverage Checklist  ·  Coverage by Truck Type  ·  FMCSA Requirements Guide