Arkansas has a deep trucking tradition, and its carriers run long-haul lanes across the country. Transportation Risk Specialists works with Arkansas owner-operators, small fleets, and long-haul carriers from our Alabama office.

Where Arkansas carriers run

I-40 crosses the state through Fort Smith, Little Rock, and West Memphis.
I-30 runs from Little Rock southwest to Texarkana and Dallas.
I-49 runs north–south through Fort Smith and northwest Arkansas.
I-55 passes through the northeast corner by West Memphis, across from Memphis.
Northwest Arkansas is home to several large carriers and retail-related freight operations.

Your lanes affect your insurance. Underwriters look at where your trucks are garaged, your radius, and the states you run, so tell us how you actually operate, not just where you’re based.

What Arkansas carriers haul

Arkansas freight includes retail and consumer goods tied to northwest Arkansas, poultry and agricultural products, timber and paper, and long-haul dry van and refrigerated freight running the I-40 and I-30 corridors.

What you haul drives your cargo coverage. Some commodities are excluded or limited on many cargo policies, and refrigerated freight usually needs reefer breakdown coverage. We match the policy to your freight.

Coverage for Arkansas trucking operations

Primary auto liability — Meets FMCSA requirements and your contract limits.
Motor truck cargo — Written for the freight you haul and the limits your brokers require.
Physical damage — For your tractors and trailers, with lender requirements met.
Non-trucking liability and bobtail — For leased-on owner-operators.
Also available: general liability, trailer interchange, occupational accident, workers’ compensation, and umbrella or excess.

We work with owner-operators, leased owner-operators, small fleets, long-haul carriers, and new authorities in Arkansas.

Federal and Arkansas requirements

Interstate carriers: For-hire interstate carriers hauling non-hazardous freight in vehicles of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more must carry at least $750,000 in liability, filed by the insurer with FMCSA. Carriers of certain hazardous materials need $1,000,000, and carriers of explosives, poison gas, or radioactive materials need $5,000,000. Many brokers and shippers require $1,000,000 regardless.

Intrastate carriers: If you run only within Arkansas, state rules decide whether you need a USDOT number and what insurance must be on file with the state. Tell us you’re intrastate-only and we’ll confirm the current Arkansas requirements before you bind.