Box Truck Insurance Requirements for Hauling Freight

Published October 20, 2026 · Fifty Bridges Insurance Services

Many carriers start hauling freight with a box truck. Before you book your first load, you need the right registration and the right commercial box truck insurance. Here is what the federal rules say, what brokers and Amazon Relay ask for, and what your lender may require.

Do You Need a USDOT Number and Authority?

It depends on how heavy your truck is and how you use it. If you run in interstate commerce, meaning across state lines, and your box truck has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more, FMCSA requires a USDOT number. Some states also require one for trucks that never leave the state, so check with your state if you only run local routes.

If you haul freight for pay across state lines, you usually also need operating authority, often called an MC number. FMCSA lists private carriers that haul their own goods, and carriers that haul only exempt commodities, as examples of companies that do not need it.

How Much Liability a Box Truck Needs

Federal rules set the minimum. A for-hire carrier in interstate commerce hauling general freight in a vehicle of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more needs at least $750,000 in liability. For carriers with operating authority whose whole fleet is under 10,001 pounds GVWR, the federal minimum for general freight is $300,000.

These are only minimums. Brokers and load boards can ask for more. C.H. Robinson and Amazon Relay, for example, both ask carriers for $1,000,000 in auto liability.

Cargo Coverage for Box Trucks

Federal law does not require cargo insurance for general freight. The one exception is household goods. If you move household goods for the public, federal rules require cargo coverage of at least $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence.

For general freight, shippers and brokers often ask for cargo coverage anyway. C.H. Robinson and Amazon Relay both list $100,000. Our cargo insurance page explains what a cargo policy covers and what it often leaves out.

Box Trucks on Amazon Relay

Amazon Relay asks every carrier for $1,000,000 in auto liability per occurrence, $100,000 in cargo coverage, and commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Carriers with W-2 employees also need workers' compensation and employer liability.

Trailer interchange is listed only for carriers running a semi, so a box truck carrier does not need it. Amazon also asks for an MC number that has been active for at least 180 days. Our guide to Amazon Relay insurance requirements covers the full list.

If Your Box Truck Is Financed

If you have a loan or lease on the truck, your lender may require physical damage coverage, which pays to repair or replace your own truck after a covered loss. Liability does not cover damage to your own truck. Learn more about physical damage insurance.

Box Truck Insurance FAQ

Related Coverage

Learn more about Small Fleet Insurance, Cargo Insurance and Commercial Truck Insurance. More articles are on the Fifty Bridges blog.

More Articles