Progressive Commercial is our top pick for trucking insurance providers, with coast-to-coast availability, fast regulatory filings, and a deep menu of trucking-specific coverages. If you’re an owner-operator or a growing fleet that needs to get compliant quickly, Progressive’s wide coverage, 24/7 heavy-truck claims support, and telematics-driven savings programs make it a reliable option.
Hi, I'm Michael Marshall from FreightWaves
Our featured partner for trucking insurance is Progressive
Progressive Commercial helps protect the vehicles your business relies on, from cargo vans and pickups to dump trucks and tractor-trailers. With 24/7 claims support, a large truck repair network, and online certificates of insurance, it’s easier to keep your fleet moving.
Fast, easy quote process
Customizable coverage
50+ years experience
Coverage in all 50 states
Why Trust FreightWaves Checkpoint
At FreightWaves Checkpoint, our mission is to provide truckers and fleet owners with data-driven, unbiased insights into the products and services that keep the industry moving, including trucking insurance.
We analyzed dozens of trucking insurance providers nationwide, focusing on important factors like pricing transparency, coverage options, claim handling, financial strength, and customer satisfaction. We also studied real driver feedback and online reviews to understand how each insurer performs in the real world in terms of claims support, responsiveness, and ease of policy management.
Our editorial team thoroughly fact-checks all content to ensure the information is accurate, current, and relevant to what matters most to truckers looking for reliable insurance protection.
Progressive at a Glance
Who it’s for: Owner-operators, motor carriers, and private carriers in all 50 states. Progressive covers a wide range of vehicles, from box trucks to tractors and vocational rigs.
Core strengths: Extensive trucking coverages, including motor truck cargo, trailer interchange, non-trucking liability; federal and state filings that can post quickly; 24/7 heavy-truck claims with in-house adjusters; and usage-based savings through Smart Haul (ELD) or Snapshot ProView (for non-ELD fleets).
Typical cost range: Progressive’s nationally published averages fall around $750–$1,000 per month, but your rate will vary based on authority status, operating radius, cargo type, and USDOT history. Treat these figures as benchmarks rather than quotes.
Progressive Financial Strength & Ratings
- AM Best rating: A+ (Superior)
- Year founded: 1956
- Headquartered: Mayfield Village, Ohio (Cleveland area)
- Coverage area: Commercial truck insurance available in all 50 states
- Quote process: Start a quote online, call Progressive’s commercial truck team, or work through a local agent
- Industry position: Progressive states it is the #1 truck insurer in America
- Customer scale: Trusted by more than 1 million small businesses nationwide
- Truck claims infrastructure: 24/7 in-house truck claims handling plus a heavy-truck repair network with 100+ network shops
- Experience: 50+ years supporting commercial vehicle and trucking customers
Why it matters: Progressive pairs strong financial backing with nationwide reach, multiple quoting channels, and a commercial-focused claims operation.
Coverage Overview
| Coverage | What It Helps Cover | Who It’s Best For | Available from Progressive? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary liability | Bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an at-fault accident | Owner-operators, motor carriers, and private carriers that need to meet state or federal requirements | Yes |
| Motor truck cargo | Freight you haul if it is damaged, stolen, or lost in transit, subject to policy terms and limits | For-hire carriers hauling customer loads | Yes |
| Non-trucking liability (NTL) | Liability protection when a leased truck is used for non-business driving | Leased-on owner-operators | Yes |
| Trailer interchange | Damage to non-owned trailers in your possession under a written interchange agreement | Carriers pulling trailers they do not own | Yes |
| Motor truck general liability | Non-driving business risks, such as incidents that happen during loading, unloading, or on your premises | Trucking businesses that want broader liability protection beyond auto claims | Yes |
| Physical damage | Damage to your insured truck from collision, theft, vandalism, weather, and other covered losses | Any carrier protecting the value of owned equipment | Yes |
| Rental reimbursement with downtime | Rental vehicle reimbursement and limited downtime-related help after a covered loss | Operators who cannot afford extended time off the road | Yes |
| Heavy truck roadside assistance | Emergency roadside help for covered trucks, where available | Fleets and owner-operators that want extra support during breakdowns | Yes |
| Bobtail/deadhead-related options | Protection that may apply when operating without a trailer or between dispatched loads, depending on policy structure | Leased-on drivers and owner-operators | Optional/quote-specific |
| State and federal filings support | Compliance filings such as BMC-91X, MCS-90, and common intrastate forms after binding | Carriers needing authority-related insurance filings | Yes |
How Quotes Work with Progressive
Progressive builds trucking quotes around your specific operation, so your rate depends on the trucks you run, the freight you haul, where you operate, and which coverages and filings you need.
What To Expect
- Share your operation details: Progressive typically rates your quote using factors like truck type, garaging location, operating radius, cargo, driver history, authority status, and whether you need filings such as BMC-91X or MCS-90.
- Build your coverage package: Start with core protections like liability and physical damage, then add trucking-specific options such as motor truck cargo, non-trucking liability, trailer interchange, downtime, and roadside assistance.
- Review pricing, payments, and filings: Your quote should spell out premium, down payment, installment options, deductibles, and any quote-specific fees. If you bind coverage, Progressive can then begin processing required federal and state filings, with many completed within roughly 48 hours.
What Can Change the Price?
- Risk profile: Long-haul routes, higher-risk cargo, new authority, and weaker driver histories generally increase premiums
- Coverage choices: Higher limits, lower deductibles, and added endorsements usually raise the quote
- Telematics participation: Smart Haul and Snapshot ProView may create savings opportunities, but renewal pricing can rise or fall based on recorded driving behavior and loss trends
- State and payment plan differences: Fees, installment structures, and available options can vary by state and policy setup
Tip: Ask every insurer to quote the same liability limits, cargo limits, deductibles, and endorsements so you can compare Progressive side by side with other carriers on a true apples-to-apples basis.
What Progressive Offers Truckers
Truck-Specific Coverages
- Primary liability: Meets financial responsibility requirements and satisfies federal and state mandates
- Motor truck cargo: Covers the goods you haul, with options for sub-limits and endorsements that can address risks like temperature damage or theft
- Non-trucking liability (NTL): Protects you when using a tractor for personal reasons
- Trailer interchange: Insures non-owned trailers under a written interchange agreement
- Motor truck general liability: Extends GL protection to non-driving business activities
- Downtime, rental, and roadside options: Add-ons like rental reimbursement with downtime and heavy truck roadside assistance
Filings & Compliance
Progressive issues federal filings like the BMC-91X and the MCS-90 endorsement and can handle common intrastate filings (Form E, Form F, Form H, Form K, and state-specific documents such as the CA MCP-65). Filings are typically generated after you bind coverage, and many complete within roughly 48 hours.
Programs & Discounts
- Smart Haul (for ELD users): Allows Progressive to review ELD data to recognize safer driving. Progressive’s marketing examples cite four-figure first-year savings for some new policies, but the actual impact depends on verified driving behavior and risk profile.
- Snapshot ProView (for non-ELD fleets): Offers an automatic introductory discount and light fleet-management insights. It’s a way for light-duty units or mixed fleets without ELDs to participate in telematics-based pricing.
- Standard auto discounts: Prior insurance, paid-in-full, EFT, and multi-policy discounts can further trim premiums.
Claims & Repair Network
Progressive staffs heavy-truck claims with in-house adjusters around the clock and provides access to a network of pre-approved commercial truck shops that prioritize Progressive-insured vehicles. This can shorten repair cycles and help reduce downtime after a covered loss.
Progressive Pros & Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive trucking menu: You can assemble cargo, GL for truckers, NTL, trailer interchange, downtime, and roadside coverages in one place to simplify account management
- Compliance support: Progressive handles federal and intrastate filings so you can focus on operations
- Telematics savings: Options for both ELD and non-ELD setups (Smart Haul and Snapshot ProView)
- Heavy-truck claims expertise: Dedicated adjusters and a commercial-focused shop network
Cons
- Pricing variability: Rates, fees, and payment plans depend on operation type, cargo, radius, and safety history, and many line items are quote-specific
- Data can cut both ways: Usage-based programs may raise or lower renewal pricing depending on recorded driving behavior
Who Progressive Fits Best
- Owner-operators with new authority: If you need filings immediately and want to add cargo, GL for truckers, and interchange in one build, Progressive is a practical starting point.
- Leased-on drivers: NTL and optional deadhead or bobtail coverage help protect you off dispatch while meeting lease requirements.
- Small and mid-size fleets: Mixed light/heavy fleets can leverage Smart Haul or Snapshot ProView and benefit from 24/7 heavy-truck claims support.
If you need published, line-item fee schedules before quoting, Progressive’s quote-specific pricing and payment plans may not be the best fit.
Progressive vs. the Competition
We always recommend comparing at least three trucking insurance quotes before you buy. Here’s how Progressive stacks up against two other top commercial truck insurance providers, biBERK and Infinity Auto.
Progressive vs. biBERK
biBERK works especially well for simpler vehicle risks and small-business owners who want to quote and purchase coverage without going through a traditional broker or agency process. That said, Progressive is usually the better fit for trucking-specific risks, offering a broader trucking menu and more compliance help.
Bottom line: Choose Progressive if you need trucking-specific coverages, filings, and support for owner-operators or fleets. Choose biBERK if you want a simpler direct-purchase commercial auto option for less specialized risks.
Progressive vs. Infinity Auto
Infinity Auto can be a good option if you want a brokerage-style agency that shops your commercial auto risk across multiple carriers. Progressive, on the other hand, is the stronger choice when you want one recognizable trucking insurer with a faster path to filings, a deeper lineup of truck-specific coverages, and 24/7 heavy-truck claims support.
Bottom line: Choose Progressive if you want a trucking-focused carrier with broad coverage and fast compliance support. Choose Infinity Auto if you prefer a multi-carrier shopping approach and want help finding a fit across different insurance markets.
Our Take on Progressive
Progressive combines robust coverage options, fast and familiar regulatory filings, and a commercial-ready claims operation that understands heavy equipment. Add in flexible telematics programs for both ELD and non-ELD fleets, and you have a versatile insurer for owner-operators and smaller carriers alike. Go in with clear expectations about how telematics may affect renewal pricing and insist on a detailed fee table with your quote, and Progressive can be a reliable, scalable partner for your trucking risks.
Learn More about Trucking Insurance
- What Is Commercial Trucking Insurance?
- Best Commercial Trucking Insurance
- What Is Fleet Insurance?
- Telematics Insurance for Truckers
- Non-CDL Hotshot Insurance
- Top Telematics Insurance Companies for Truckers
- Trucking and FMCSA Ins Requirements
- Best Bobtail Insurance Companies
- Motor Truck Cargo Insurance
- Commercial Dump Truck Insurance
FAQ
Is Progressive good for owner-operators?
Yes, Progressive is one of the stronger options for owner-operators because it offers coverage whether you’re leased on to a motor carrier or running under your own authority. It also has trucking-specific options like cargo, physical damage, trailer interchange, and non-trucking liability, which makes it easier to build a policy around how you actually operate.
Does Progressive file BMC-91 or BMC-91X forms?
Progressive can handle federal truck filings, including the BMC-91X filing and the MCS-90 form, when your operation requires them. If you’re getting your authority active, confirm which filing your business needs and when it will post after binding coverage.
Can new trucking companies get insured with Progressive?
Yes, Progressive does insure many new ventures, but approval and pricing depend on factors like your operating authority, vehicle type, driving history, cargo, radius, and inspection record. New ventures usually pay more than established carriers, so ask for a detailed breakdown of coverages, fees, and down payment requirements before you bind.
Does Progressive insure hotshot trucking?
Yes, Progressive has a dedicated hotshot trucking insurance program for commercial haulers using Class 3 to 5 trucks and trailers. That makes it a practical option for operators who need trucking-specific coverages but don’t run full-size semis.
Does Progressive offer bobtail or non-trucking liability coverage?
Progressive offers non-trucking liability (NTL) coverage for owner-operators using their truck for personal reasons while leased to a motor carrier. Progressive also explains that bobtail insurance and deadhead insurance are different coverages, so if you need protection while driving without a trailer for business purposes, ask specifically whether bobtail coverage is available and how it should be written for your setup.
