Primary Insurance
Primary liability insurance is the foundational commercial auto liability policy required by FMCSA for carriers operating in interstate commerce. It covers bodily injury and property damage when the truck is under dispatch and actively engaged in commerce.
In Depth
Primary insurance is 'on the hook' first in any accident involving your commercial vehicle while it is under a load or under dispatch. It is the policy that satisfies the FMCSA filing requirement via the MCS-90 endorsement.
Primary insurance is distinct from personal auto insurance (which explicitly excludes commercial use) and bobtail insurance (which covers the truck when not under dispatch). Together, primary and bobtail insurance provide continuous coverage through all phases of a driver's operations.
Rates for primary insurance are heavily influenced by safety score (CSA), years of experience, violations history, and operating region. Clean records in low-accident corridors qualify for significantly better rates.
Usage Example
Example: 'My primary insurance kicks in whenever I'm under a load. When I'm bobtailing between loads, I switch to bobtail coverage.'
Related Calculators
Related Terms
Bobtail Insurance
Bobtail insurance (also called non-trucking liability) covers a semi-truck when it is being driven without a trailer and outside of active dispatch — such as driving home after a delivery or repositioning to a pickup. It fills the gap that primary insurance does not cover.
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance in trucking covers bodily injury and property damage caused by the carrier's vehicle to third parties. FMCSA requires a minimum of $750,000 in liability coverage for general freight carriers in interstate commerce.
Cargo Insurance
Cargo insurance (also called motor truck cargo insurance) covers the freight a carrier is transporting in the event of theft, damage, or loss during transit. FMCSA requires a minimum of $5,000–$10,000 cargo coverage, though brokers commonly require $100,000.
CSA Score
A CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score is an FMCSA safety measurement system that grades carriers and drivers across seven categories called BASICs based on roadside inspection data, violation history, and crash reports. Higher scores indicate more safety risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does primary insurance cover me?
Primary insurance covers you when the truck is under dispatch and engaged in for-hire commerce. Bobtail insurance covers you when operating without a load.