Florida truck insurance from people who only insure trucks
State & Co Insurance LLC is a family-owned independent agency, and trucking insurance is all we do. Since 2010 we have worked with more than 15 A-rated carriers, and we are licensed in 34 states, Florida included. Florida is one of the toughest trucking insurance markets in the country, which is exactly why you want an agent who only does trucking and shops the whole market for you.
Florida’s freight economy is built on trade and consumption. PortMiami and Port Everglades move container freight for South Florida, JAXPORT serves the northeast, and the Port of Tampa handles the Gulf side. I-95 runs the Atlantic coast, I-75 runs down the Gulf side through Tampa to Miami, I-4 connects Tampa and Orlando, and I-10 crosses the panhandle. Agriculture, especially produce and citrus, drives seasonal reefer demand, and the tourism economy keeps retail and food distribution freight moving year-round. Two things shape Florida pricing more than anywhere else: some of the highest auto liability litigation costs in the nation, and hurricane exposure every storm season.
Coverage built for Florida truckers
- Primary auto liability. The federal minimum is $750,000 for general freight, but Florida brokers and shippers typically require $1,000,000, and given the state’s litigation environment, higher limits are worth a hard look.
- Cargo insurance. $100,000 is the standard broker requirement. Produce haulers should confirm reefer breakdown coverage, and port drayage operators should review theft and pilferage terms.
- Physical damage. Covers your tractor and trailer for collision, theft, fire, and storm damage. In Florida, confirm how your policy handles hurricane and named-storm losses, including deductibles, before storm season.
- Non-trucking liability (bobtail). For non-dispatch use of the truck between loads.
- Trailer interchange. Common on port drayage work around Miami, Everglades, Jacksonville, and Tampa, where you are pulling chassis and trailers you do not own.
- Workers comp / occupational accident. Florida generally requires workers comp for non-construction businesses with four or more employees, with different thresholds for construction and agriculture. Owner-operators commonly carry occupational accident coverage instead.
- General liability. Covers off-the-road exposures such as loading dock incidents and customer premises work.
New authority in Florida
- BMC-91 filing. FMCSA requires your insurer to file proof of liability coverage before your MC number goes active. We handle that filing when we write your policy.
- UCR registration. Florida interstate carriers must complete Unified Carrier Registration each year and pay based on fleet size.
- Minimum limits warning. The $750,000 federal minimum activates your authority, but Florida brokers will expect $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo, and the state’s claims environment makes running minimum limits a gamble.
What truck insurance costs in Florida
A typical owner-operator full package (liability, cargo, physical damage) runs about $12,000 to $18,000 a year, with Florida operators often landing at the higher end. New authority in the first year is usually $18,000 to $30,000 or more. The Florida-specific reality: high litigation costs and dense urban traffic push liability rates up, and carriers price hurricane exposure into physical damage, so shopping across multiple carriers matters more here than in most states.
Cities we serve across Florida
- Miami. PortMiami container and drayage freight, plus Latin America trade connections on the I-95 corridor.
- Tampa. Port of Tampa and the I-75 and I-4 junction, driving Gulf Coast distribution and produce freight.
- Orlando. Central Florida distribution hub on I-4 and Florida’s Turnpike, fed by tourism-driven retail and food freight.
- Jacksonville. JAXPORT and the I-95 and I-10 junction, the state’s main gateway for freight moving north and west.
- Fort Lauderdale. Port Everglades container freight and South Florida regional distribution.
Why truckers use an independent agent
As an independent agency we work with more than 15 A-rated carriers instead of one company. That means we shop your coverage across the market, match the carrier to the way you actually run, and you talk to the same people when a claim or an audit comes up. We do not answer to a home office quota. We answer to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does truck insurance cost in Florida?
Most owner-operators pay $12,000 to $18,000 a year for a full package, often toward the higher end because of litigation costs and storm exposure. First-year new authority typically runs $18,000 to $30,000 or more.
What are the minimum liability limits?
Federal minimums are $750,000 for general freight and $300,000 for household goods. Florida brokers and shippers almost always require $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo in practice.
I just got my MC number. What do I need to get it active?
An insurance policy with a BMC-91 filing to FMCSA, UCR registration, and your BOC-3. We handle all three as part of setting up your coverage.
Does Florida require workers comp for my drivers?
Florida generally requires workers comp for non-construction businesses with four or more employees, with separate rules for construction and agriculture. Solo owner-operators typically carry occupational accident coverage instead.
How does hurricane season affect my truck insurance?
Named-storm deductibles can apply to physical damage claims, and carriers may restrict binding new physical damage coverage when a storm is approaching. If you run Florida year-round, review your storm terms before hurricane season, not during it.
How fast can I get covered?
Most quotes come back within one business day, and once you approve the quote we can bind coverage and file your BMC-91 the same day.
State & Co Insurance LLC
11220 Elm Lane Suite 202, Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 475-8075 | kevin@statecoinsurance.com
