Dry Van Trucking Insurance: Coverage, Costs & FMCSA Requirements

By Nazar Mamaev, CDS, TRS, TRIP, ARM — Trucking Insurance Specialist, Full Coverage LLC

Dry van trucking insurance is the most common and generally most affordable commercial trucking coverage, typically costing between $8,000 and $16,000 per year for an owner-operator. New authorities generally pay $11,000–$16,000 annually, while experienced dry van operators with 3+ years of clean operation and no losses often pay $8,000–$12,000. Dry van is the baseline freight type insurers use to set rates — other cargo types (reefer, flatbed, hazmat) are priced as multiples above dry van rates.

Why Dry Van Trucking Still Has Important Coverage Considerations

Dry van is the most common trucking operation — enclosed trailers, general freight, standard roads. While it doesn’t have the extreme exposures of hazmat or reefer, dry van operators face insurance considerations that are frequently overlooked:

1. Cargo Theft Exposure: Dry van trailers are the #1 target for cargo theft. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods transported in unmarked dry vans are frequently targeted at truck stops and rest areas. Cargo policies typically require specific theft-prevention measures (trailer locks, yard security) to avoid claim denial — and some policies require drop-hook tracking or GPS to process theft claims.

2. Broad Commodity Coverage: The advantage of dry van is flexibility — you can haul almost anything in an enclosed trailer. But your cargo policy needs to be written broadly enough to cover all commodity types you actually haul. A policy written for “general merchandise” should cover most freight, but specialty items (electronics, clothing, building materials) may have sub-limits or exclusions to watch for.

3. Freight Broker Requirements: Almost every load broker today requires a Certificate of Insurance showing $1M primary liability and $100K cargo before they’ll dispatch you a load. Keeping your insurance current and your COI readily available is a business necessity for dry van operators working the spot market.

Required Coverages for Dry Van Trucking Operations

How Much Does Dry Van Trucking Insurance Cost?

Dry van is the benchmark category for trucking insurance pricing. Here are typical annual costs from our book of business at Full Coverage LLC:

Key cost factors for dry van: driver MVR and safety score, years of CDL experience, operating radius (OTR typically costs more than regional), loss history, cargo types (electronics or pharmaceuticals cost more than general merchandise), and whether you own or lease your trailer. Your CSA score — the FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability metric — directly affects your premium at renewal. A clean CSA score is one of the best ways dry van operators can lower their insurance costs.

Dry Van FMCSA Requirements and Compliance

Primary Liability Minimums: FMCSA requires all for-hire dry van carriers in interstate commerce to maintain at least $750,000 in primary liability coverage. However, virtually every load broker requires $1,000,000. The BMC-91 or BMC-91X filing certifies your insurance to FMCSA — your broker files this electronically when your policy is bound.

ELD (Electronic Logging Device) Mandate: All CMV operators subject to HOS (Hours of Service) rules must use an FMCSA-registered ELD. Violations create CSA score points that directly impact insurance renewals. Maintaining ELD compliance is not just a regulatory requirement — it’s an insurance cost control measure.

Annual DOT Inspection: Dry van tractors and trailers must pass an annual DOT inspection (or CVSA roadside inspection equivalent). Out-of-service violations create CSA score points. Carriers with elevated Vehicle Maintenance BASIC scores face higher insurance premiums and limited market access at renewal.

Cargo Securement: Even dry van freight must be secured per 49 CFR Part 393. While the requirements are less complex than flatbed, improperly loaded freight that shifts and causes an accident is a covered cargo claim — but only if securement was appropriate. Claims adjusters look at loading documentation when processing cargo claims.

What Our Expert Says About Dry Van Coverage

According to Nazar Mamaev, CDS, TRS, TRIP, ARM, trucking insurance specialist at Full Coverage LLC: “Dry van is the most competitive segment of trucking insurance, which means there’s real opportunity to find good rates if you shop the market. But I always tell new dry van operators: don’t just buy the cheapest policy. Check the cargo policy exclusions carefully — if you plan to haul electronics, clothing, or anything with high theft value, you want to make sure those commodities aren’t sub-limited or excluded. We shop 30+ carriers to find the right combination of price and coverage for each dry van operator we work with.”

— Nazar Mamaev, CDS, TRS, TRIP, ARM | Trucking Insurance Specialist, Full Coverage LLC

Related Coverage and Resources

• Primary Liability Insurance — FMCSA requirements and what liability coverage actually covers
• Motor Truck Cargo Insurance — protecting the freight you haul
• Physical Damage Insurance — comprehensive and collision for your tractor
• Bobtail / Non-Trucking Liability — coverage when you’re off-dispatch
• Trucking Insurance in Indiana — dry van operators on the I-65/I-70 corridor

Get Your Dry Van Trucking Insurance Quote Today

Full Coverage LLC specializes in commercial trucking insurance for every cargo type and operation. We have access to 30+ carriers and can typically bind coverage within 24–48 hours. Call us at (317) 427-5599 or submit a quote request below.

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