Insurance options for Kentucky truckers | Kentucky Trucking Permit Blog

1. Minimum Insurance & Legal Requirements in Kentucky

For general motor vehicles in Kentucky: liability coverage must be at least $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident (all persons), and $25,000 property damage per accident, or a single combined limit of $60,000.
For commercial trucks (intrastate and interstate) in Kentucky: minimum liability insurance varies by cargo type and weight.
- For example: Trucks a GVWR over 10,001 lbs transporting non-hazardous freight need at least $750,000 liability.
- Trucks hauling oil may need $1,000,000 liability; hazardous materials can require $5,000,000.
If you’re a for-hire intrastate carrier in Kentucky, your insurance company must file a Form E (Proof of Insurance) with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Motor Carriers Division.

Here are key policy types beyond the minimum liability:

Primary Liability Insurance (Commercial Auto Liability): Covers bodily injury or property damage to others resulting from the truck’s operation. Required for commercial trucking.
Cargo Insurance: Protects the freight or goods in transit if damaged, lost or stolen. As noted, some shippers require it.
Physical Damage Coverage: Covers the truck itself (collision, comprehensive) — useful when you own or lease a truck.
Non-Trucking Liability (or Bobtail): Covers when truck is used without a trailer / not under dispatch. In Kentucky many owner-operators carry this even if not legally required.
Trucker’s General Liability: Covers liabilities not directly tied to driving — e.g., loading/unloading, accident at yard, premises.
Trailer Interchange / Non-Owned Trailer Coverage: If you rent or interchange trailers.
Excess / Umbrella Liability: For higher limits (especially for hazardous cargo) beyond the minimum.

Premiums vary widely based on: driver history, cargo type, miles/region/usage, truck type, coverage limits, whether interstate or intrastate, etc.
As one example: For full coverage across different liability limits in Kentucky:
- $300,000 liability → approx. $11,200/year
- $750,000 liability → approx. $13,200/year (for certain truck types)
Some sources estimate broad cost ranges: between $8,000 and $16,000 per year per truck for comprehensive coverage in Kentucky.

Always confirm your specific cargo and operation type (intrastate vs interstate) to know the correct limit required.
Make sure your insurance carrier files the required Form E / Form H with the state if you’re a commercial carrier.
Review the route & operations: hauling hazardous materials? Expect much higher liability limits.
Maintain a clean driving record, use safety/telematics programs, manage your exposure—these all help reduce premiums.
For owner-operators: if you lease under a carrier, check whether you or the carrier holds liability/cargo coverage.
In contract arrangements: shippers and brokers may require cargo insurance and higher liability limits — being under-insured may cost opportunities.

A truck accident or cargo loss can quickly lead to hundreds of thousands or millions in liability or cargo damage.
Having proper coverage helps protect your business, your equipment, and your reputation.
In Kentucky’s trucking environment (rural routes, interstate traffic, varying cargo) risk is real — and compliance is mandatory to avoid fines / registration revocation.