Florida’s freight comes in and out through busy ports and runs heavy with produce and consumer goods. Transportation Risk Specialists works with Florida owner-operators, small fleets, and long-haul carriers from our Alabama office.

Where Florida carriers run

I-95 runs the length of the Atlantic coast through Jacksonville and Miami.
I-75 runs from Georgia through Tampa and across to South Florida.
I-10 crosses the Panhandle from Pensacola to Jacksonville.
I-4 links Tampa and Orlando through Central Florida’s distribution centers.
Ports such as Jacksonville, Miami, Port Everglades, and Tampa generate container and drayage freight.

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 Florida carriers haul

Florida freight includes produce and other refrigerated loads, consumer goods moving out of Central Florida distribution centers, port drayage, building materials, and vehicles moving to and from the state’s ports.

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 Florida 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 Florida.

Federal and Florida 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 Florida, 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 Florida requirements before you bind.