Commercial Truck Insurance Quote Checklist

Quote Checklist and Red Flags to Watch For

Getting a commercial truck insurance quote sounds simple but it almost never is — at least the first time. Carriers ask for a lot of information upfront, and if you're missing pieces, you either get a bad quote (priced for the worst-case scenario) or no quote at all.

The good news: once you have your packet with all necessary information, you can reuse it every renewal cycle. Here's exactly what you need — and what to watch for when comparing what comes back.

The 4to18 Commercial Truck Insurance Quote Checklist

Think of the commercial truck insurance quote checklist as your “insurance profile” to help build your quotes faster. The accurate and more complete it is, the better your pricing will be and the sooner you can start comparing what carriers are offering.

📋 Business & Authority Information

• Legal business name and garaging state

• USDOT number (required for most interstate operations)

• MC number (if operating as a for-hire motor carrier)

• Business entity type (sole prop, LLC, S-Corp, etc.)

• Years in business under current authority

🚛 Equipment Schedule

• Year, make, model, and VIN for each vehicle

• Stated or actual cash value (ACV) of each vehicle

• All owned trailers (same level of detail)

• Specialty equipment or any custom modifications

👤 Driver Information

• Full legal name, date of birth, CDL number, and issuing state for each driver

• Years of CDL experience (this heavily impacts your rate)

• MVR (motor vehicle record) — most carriers pull this, but better to know your own driving history record

• Which drivers are assigned to which vehicles

📦 Operations Overview

• Primary commodity or freight type hauled

• Operating radius (local, regional, OTR / long-haul)

• States you regularly operate in

• Percentage and average of interstate vs. intrastate miles

📂 Loss History

• 3–5 years of loss from your current or prior carrier (claims, incurred loss, incurred expenses)

• Clear explanation of any major claims or incidents

• Ways to get prior claims:

  • Reach out to your agent to request claim on your behalf

  • Contact Your Carrier, if Agent isn’t willing to help you can always reach out to your carrier

  • Online Portals with your carrier can have claims and documents ready to download

5 Red Flags to Watch When Comparing Quotes

Getting the quote back is where most truckers stop paying attention. DON’T. Here's what to actually read before you sign anything.

Red Flag #1 — Filings Not Confirmed in Writing

The MCS-90 is a federal endorsement required by FMCSA under 49 CFR § 387.15. It attaches to your liability policy and guarantees minimum public liability protection — it is not issued per truck, and it is not automatically included in every trucking policy. The BMC-91X is separately filed with FMCSA as the certification that MCS-90 was issued. Ask your carrier or agent to confirm in writing which filings are included before you bind.

Red Flag #2 — Bobtail and Non-Trucking Liability Conflated

These are NOT the same coverage, and your lease or broker contract may specify which one you need. The Hartford explicitly lists both bobtail (driving without a trailer) and non-trucking liability (personal use of the truck) as distinct coverage types in a tractor-trailer policy. Confusing them — or letting your agent confuse them — creates a real coverage gap.

Red Flag #3 — Cargo Coverage With Unclear Exclusions

What commodities are excluded? What is the per-occurrence limit vs. per-load limit? Cargo policies vary significantly in exclusions by carrier. Ask for a full list of excluded commodities before binding. Also confirm reefer (refrigerated) breakdown coverage if you haul temperature-sensitive freight — The Hartford lists this as a separate option, not a default.

Red Flag #4 — No Trailer Interchange Coverage When Pulling Others' Equipment

If you routinely pull trailers owned by another company under a written agreement, trailer interchange coverage should be explicitly listed in your policy. Acuity's trucking page specifically calls this out as a required coverage when you are contractually responsible for a third-party trailer.

Red Flag #5 — Carrier Coverage Gaps Discovered AFTER Full Submission

Some carriers do not write placarded loads, certain commodities, local-only operations, or OTR-only routes. Think of it as carrier “appetite” and how a mismatch in coverage and expectations lead to declined quotes — sometimes after you've already invested significant time in the full application process. Always pre-check application before submitting.

4to18 Pro Tip: Ask every carrier/agent two questions before submitting a full application:

1. Does my commodity and radius fit carrier's appetite?

2. Which federal and state filings are included at no extra cost with this quote?

Those two questions eliminate wasting time when gathering trucking insurance quotes.