While most truckers will do everything they can to avoid an accident, there is more potential for injuries and fatalities with commercial trucks. Insurance helps cover the costs in these situations, and it’s an important step for small and large trucking companies alike.

Trucking insurance in California offers coverage for liabilities, cargo damage, property damage, and more. You will first need to consider the type of trucking business you operate when getting the insurance you need for this state. The rates you pay will depend on the type of coverage you get for your fleet.

California law requires all trucks on the roadways to have a valid insurance policy with the right level of coverage. If your truck weighs more than 10,000 pounds, transports hazardous materials, or carries more than eight passengers, you are required to get a DOT number.

However, before you can even get that DOT number, you must have commercial truck insurance with liability coverage of $750,000 to $1,000,000 and cargo insurance that covers theft and accidents. Certain factors will impact your trucking insurance rates in California, too, and it’s important to know those as you look for suitable insurance rates.

Which Factors Impact the Cost of Trucking Insurance in California?

In addition to securing your DOT number and fulfilling the contractual requirements set by the FMCSA, here are the factors that may affect your insurance rates.

Type of Cargo

The rates for your commercial trucking insurance will be impacted by the type of cargo hauled. Certain things are much riskier to transport. If you haul hazardous materials, the cost of your insurance will be much higher because an accident would be much more likely to cause extensive injuries or damages.

You must accurately and completely disclose the types of cargo that your trucks will be transporting. If you neglect to do so, you will likely have your claim denied and your insurance terminated.

Operating Radius

While California has rules of its own, truckers who have a larger operating radius have a greater risk. Whether they are driving up and down the length of the state or heading cross country, the longer they go on the road, the higher you can expect these rates to be.

Type of Truck

The heavier your semi is, the higher the commercial truck insurance cost will be, too. This is because heavier vehicles have greater potential to cause more damage in the event of a crash. Newer trucks will also have higher rates because they are much more expensive to repair and replace than older trucks.

Driving History of Truckers

When looking at trucking insurance, any accidents or violations will have a higher impact on the policy. Again, this is due to how much larger and heavier these vehicles are compared to other vehicles on the road. Along with the type of cargo, it can greatly increase those trucking insurance rates in California.

A truck driver who has a minor speeding ticket on their record can expect to pay quite a bit more for insurance than one with a perfect driving record. While some accidents can’t be avoided no matter how cautiously you operate a truck, taking care to obey driving laws can help keep costs down by hundreds or thousands of dollars on a trucking insurance package.

Click here to find out more about trucking insurance rates in the state of California and find a policy that keeps you covered on the road ahead.