Tennessee sits at the crossroads of several of the country’s busiest interstates, and its carriers run in every direction. Transportation Risk Specialists works with Tennessee owner-operators, fleets, and long-haul carriers from our office in nearby Jasper, Alabama.

Where Tennessee carriers run

I-40 crosses the entire state, connecting Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville.
I-24 links Nashville and Chattanooga toward Atlanta and the Midwest.
I-65 runs through Nashville between Alabama and Kentucky.
I-75 and I-81 carry freight through East Tennessee.
Memphis, with its river, rail, and air connections, is one of the country’s major distribution hubs.

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 Tennessee carriers haul

Tennessee freight includes distribution and warehouse loads out of Memphis and Nashville, automotive parts and finished vehicles tied to the state’s assembly plants, music-industry and event freight around Nashville, and agricultural and manufactured goods across the state.

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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee.

Federal and Tennessee 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 Tennessee, 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 Tennessee requirements before you bind.