Commercial Trucking Insurance — Florida
Owner-Operator Trucking Insurance
Independent Trucker Coverage
Owner-operators are the backbone of Florida's freight industry — independent truckers who own their equipment and run their own business. Whether you're leased onto a motor carrier or running your own authority, your insurance needs are different from a company driver. Bright Coast Insurance specializes in owner-operator coverage programs that protect your truck, your income, and your authority without paying for coverage you don't need.
Estimated Annual Cost
$9,000 – $20,000
per year, per truck
Owner-operators with their own authority pay $9,000–$20,000/year depending on truck type, commodity, and authority age. Leased owner-operators pay much less — typically $2,500–$6,000/year for bobtail, occupational accident, and non-trucking liability.
FMCSA Minimum Liability
$750,000
combined single limit (CSL)
Owner-operators with their own authority must carry $750,000 primary liability minimum (FMCSA). Leased owner-operators are covered by the motor carrier's primary policy while under dispatch — but need bobtail coverage for personal use.
Coverage
What Does Your Policy Cover?
Every policy is tailored to your truck type, operating radius, and cargo requirements.
Florida Market
Florida has one of the highest concentrations of owner-operators in the Southeast, driven by the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, and the state's large construction and distribution industries. Many Florida owner-operators run regional routes along I-95 and I-75, hauling produce, building materials, and consumer goods.
Workers' Comp for Your Drivers
NCCI Class Code 7219
Owner-operators who are sole proprietors are exempt from Florida workers' comp requirements for themselves, but must cover any employees under Class Code 7219 or 7229. Most owner-operators carry occupational accident insurance instead of workers' comp as a cost-effective alternative.
View Class Code 7219 — Florida RatesFAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between own authority and leased owner-operator insurance?
Own authority owner-operators have their own FMCSA MC number and operate independently — they need a full primary liability policy ($750K minimum), cargo coverage, and physical damage. Leased owner-operators work under a motor carrier's authority and are covered by the carrier's primary policy while under dispatch — they need bobtail/non-trucking liability for personal use, physical damage for their truck, and occupational accident coverage. Leased coverage is significantly less expensive.
Do owner-operators need workers' compensation in Florida?
Florida law exempts sole proprietors and single-member LLCs from workers' compensation requirements for themselves. However, if you have any employees (including part-time drivers), you must carry workers' comp. Most owner-operators carry occupational accident insurance instead — it provides similar income replacement and medical benefits at a fraction of the cost of a full WC policy. Occupational accident is not a substitute for WC if you have employees.
What is occupational accident insurance for truckers?
Occupational accident (occ/acc) insurance provides medical expense coverage and income replacement for owner-operators injured on the job. It's not workers' compensation — it doesn't provide the same legal protections — but it fills the coverage gap for owner-operators who are exempt from WC requirements. Most occ/acc policies cover medical expenses up to $1,000,000 and provide disability income replacement. It typically costs $1,500–$3,000/year.
Ready to Get a Quote?
Speak with a Florida trucking insurance specialist today. We cover all commercial truck types throughout Florida.