Cargo insurance
Cargo insurance covers loss of or damage to the freight a carrier is hauling, and brokers commonly require a minimum limit before tendering a load.
Last reviewed · by the Fleetchart team
Policies carry exclusions that matter in practice — certain commodities, unattended vehicles, or reefer breakdown without a functioning temperature record.
A reefer breakdown clause typically requires evidence the unit was maintained and running, which is why temperature records and maintenance receipts have direct financial value.
For example, say you haul a reefer load of produce worth $80,000 and the unit fails overnight. If the policy has a reefer breakdown clause and you cannot show the unit was serviced and running, the claim may be refused, and the $80,000 loss can come back to you. Even when a claim is paid, say your deductible is $2,500. On a load that pays $3,000, one small claim can wipe out the profit on that trip and more.
Brokers also check your cargo limit before they give you a load, so if a load is worth more than your limit, ask before you book. Keep maintenance receipts and temperature records with each load so a claim can be paid.