Rules and compliance
Refrigerated truck insurance: the coverages a reefer carrier needs and what brokers ask for
Updated By ReeferDispatchers Dispatch Desk3 min read
The coverages a reefer carrier carries
| Coverage | What it pays for | Notes for reefers |
|---|---|---|
| Auto liability | Injury and property damage you cause to others | Federal minimum $750,000 for for-hire general freight (49 CFR 387.9); brokers usually want $1,000,000 |
| Motor truck cargo | Loss or damage to the freight you're hauling | Brokers commonly ask for $100,000 or more; check spoilage exclusions |
| Reefer breakdown | Spoilage caused by a refrigeration unit failure | Often an add-on to cargo, with conditions |
| Physical damage | Your tractor and trailer | Reefer trailers and units are expensive to replace |
| Trailer interchange | Damage to a trailer you don't own that's in your care | Needed if you pull other carriers' or shippers' trailers |
| Non-trucking or bobtail liability | Driving without a load or off dispatch | Mostly relevant if leased on to another carrier |
| Occupational accident or workers' comp | Injury to you or your drivers | Requirements depend on state and setup |
The federal minimum is a floor for your operating authority; it's not what the market expects. Your insurer files proof with FMCSA, and you can see your filings on FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance site.
Reefer breakdown coverage explained
Standard motor truck cargo policies usually cover named perils like collision, fire and theft. Many exclude loss caused by a change in temperature. Reefer breakdown coverage closes that gap for one specific cause: the refrigeration unit breaking down.
Policies set conditions, and it pays to know yours before a claim. Common ones include:
- The unit must have broken down mechanically, not simply run out of fuel or been set wrong.
- The unit may need to be within a certain age or have documented maintenance.
- You may need a temperature recorder or downloadable controller.
- Deductibles for reefer claims are often higher than for other cargo claims.
Read your policy for the exact wording; it varies by insurer.
Spoilage exclusions to watch for
Losses from wrong setpoints, product loaded warm, delays, or doors left open are often outside reefer breakdown coverage. That's why the paperwork at pickup (setpoint on the bill of lading, pulp temps, seal number) and the unit download matter as much as the policy itself. Our guide to refrigerated freight lists the records to keep.
What brokers ask for
Most reefer broker carrier packets ask for:
- $1,000,000 auto liability.
- $100,000 or more in motor truck cargo, with reefer breakdown coverage.
- The broker named as certificate holder, sometimes as additional insured.
- A certificate sent directly by your agent.
- Some ask for higher cargo limits on high-value freight like meat or pharmaceuticals.
Those numbers are broker requirements, not law. Each broker sets its own. Our guide to reefer freight brokers covers the rest of their checks.
What drives the cost
We don't publish premium figures, because they depend on too many things to average honestly. The factors insurers commonly weigh:
- Experience and authority age. New authorities usually pay more.
- Driving and safety record, including inspections and out-of-service rates.
- Claims history.
- Equipment value, especially the reefer trailer and unit.
- Radius and lanes. Long-haul and certain regions cost more.
- Commodities. High-value or high-claim freight costs more to cover.
- Limits and deductibles you choose.
Get quotes from agents who write trucking insurance regularly, compare the exclusions, not just the premium, and ask specifically how reefer breakdown claims are handled.
Where insurance fits in running a reefer
Insurance is one of the fixed costs that sets your minimum rate per mile. Once it's in place, it also decides which loads you can take, since some brokers' limits will be above yours. To see how premiums affect what a load has to pay, see what a reefer truck is and how reefer trucking pays, and check our reefer loads page for how we match loads to your coverage. To test whether a load covers your insurance and everything else, use the rate per mile and load profit calculator.
General information, not insurance advice. We are a dispatch service, not an insurance agency. Policy terms vary; read yours and talk to a licensed agent.
Frequently asked questions
What is reefer breakdown coverage?
An add-on to motor truck cargo insurance that covers spoilage caused by a mechanical breakdown of the refrigeration unit. Standard cargo policies often exclude spoilage from temperature change unless this coverage is added, and policies differ on conditions like unit age and maintenance records.
How much insurance do I need to haul reefer loads?
The federal minimum liability for interstate for-hire general freight is $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9. In practice, most reefer brokers ask for $1,000,000 auto liability, $100,000 or more in cargo coverage and reefer breakdown coverage before they'll load you.
Does cargo insurance cover a rejected produce load?
Sometimes. It depends on why the load was rejected and on your policy's exclusions. Temperature-related losses are often covered only with reefer breakdown coverage, and only if the conditions in the policy are met. Records from pickup and the unit download are central to any claim.
Why is reefer insurance more expensive?
Higher-value trailers, perishable cargo with spoilage risk, and long-haul operations all raise the risk an insurer prices. Your own safety record, experience and claims history usually matter just as much.
Sources
- 0149 CFR 387.9, minimum financial responsibility, for-hire property (nonhazardous), GVWR 10,001 lb or more · current regulation · checked October 2026
- 0249 CFR 387.307, property broker surety bond or trust fund (BMC-84 / BMC-85) · current regulation · checked October 2026
- 0321 CFR 1.908, Requirements applicable to transportation operations (carrier paragraph e) · current regulation · checked October 2026
- 04FMCSA Licensing and Insurance public search · live database · checked October 2026
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