Short answer
Most motor truck cargo policies cover theft of the freight you are hauling, but usually with conditions. The most common are unattended vehicle restrictions, requirements that the cargo be in a locked and enclosed trailer, and lower limits or exclusions for high-theft commodities.
- Cargo insurance covers the freight, not your tractor or trailer. Theft of the equipment itself is a physical damage claim.
- Because cargo forms are not standardized, two policies with the same limit can treat the same theft very differently. Read the theft wording before you need it.
What cargo insurance is, and what a theft claim touches
IRMI describes motor truck cargo as an inland marine form covering loss of property in transit. There is no federal cargo requirement for general freight (FMCSA's filing chart shows $0), and cargo wording differs from insurer to insurer. A stolen loaded trailer can involve three coverages: motor truck cargo for the freight, physical damage for your own equipment, and trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage for someone else's trailer.
| What was stolen | Coverage that usually responds | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| The freight | Motor truck cargo, subject to theft conditions | Motor truck cargo insurance page |
| Your tractor or trailer | Physical damage (comprehensive or specified perils) | Truck physical damage insurance page |
| Someone else’s trailer you were pulling | Trailer interchange or non-owned trailer coverage | Trailer interchange insurance page |
The conditions that decide a theft claim
- Unattended vehicle wording. Theft while the truck is unattended may be excluded unless conditions are met. See the unattended vehicle exclusion.
- Locked and enclosed body. Many forms require that cargo be in a fully enclosed, securely locked trailer, sometimes with visible evidence of forced entry. Open-deck freight may not qualify.
- Commodity limits. Electronics, alcohol, tobacco, metals and other targeted freight are often excluded or sub-limited. See what does cargo insurance exclude.
- Fictitious pickup and fraud. Losses where a thief poses as a carrier, or where the load is released to the wrong party, may be treated differently from physical theft. Ask how your form handles it.
- Security conditions. Some programs require kingpin locks, GPS tracking, or secured-lot parking for high-value loads.
Where cargo coverage commonly falls short
After a theft
Report the theft to police immediately and get the report number. Notify your agent and insurer the same day, and notify the broker or shipper as the contract requires. Preserve the evidence the policy cares about: photos of broken locks or seals, gate logs, the driver's log showing where and when the truck was parked, and GPS history. Then read the insurer's response against the actual policy wording, not the certificate.
Before a high-value load
If a rate confirmation states a cargo value above your limit, or the commodity is one your form restricts, call your agent before you accept the load. Afterward is too late.
Common questions
Is theft covered if the trailer was locked but not broken into?
It depends on the wording. Some forms require visible evidence of forced entry, so a theft with no visible damage can be denied.
Does cargo insurance cover my stolen trailer?
No. Cargo covers the freight. Your trailer is covered under physical damage if you carry it.
Are some commodities never covered for theft?
Many cargo forms exclude or sub-limit specific commodities. The list varies by insurer, so check yours against what you actually haul.
Sources
- IRMI, Motor truck cargo (glossary). Motor truck cargo as inland marine coverage for property in transit.
- FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements. No federal cargo requirement for general property carriers.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 03-20005 (2003, unpublished). Example of a theft exclusion tied to an unattended trailer, locked body and forced entry.
This page explains insurance, not law. Have your attorney review indemnity and contract language; our job is making the insurance match it.
Keep reading
Coverage
Motor truck cargo insurance: what it pays, what it leaves out, and what brokers check
Questions
What is the unattended vehicle exclusion in cargo insurance?
Questions
What does cargo insurance exclude?
Coverage
Physical damage: how your own truck and trailer get paid for after a loss
Questions
How much cargo insurance do brokers require?