Whether you run one truck or a small fleet, the I-75 corridor through Southwest Florida demands the right coverage. Bruno works with owner-operators and carriers to build policies that meet FMCSA requirements, protect your rig, and keep your operation moving — in English or in Spanish.
Coverage Types
Commercial truck insurance is not a single policy — it is a package of coverages tailored to how you operate. Here are the six core components every owner-operator and fleet in Florida should understand.
Federally required coverage that pays for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others while operating under your DOT authority. Minimum $750,000 for general freight, up to $5 million for hazmat. Required for your MCS-90 filing and to activate your operating authority.
Covers the freight you are hauling if it is lost, stolen, or damaged in transit. Required by most shippers and brokers. Limits from $100,000 for general freight to $250,000+ for high-value or temperature-sensitive loads. Coverage specifics depend on cargo type.
Covers your truck (tractor and trailer) for collision damage, theft, fire, vandalism, and weather events. Your motor carrier's policy does NOT cover your truck — this is your own coverage. Essential if you have a loan or lease on your rig, and recommended if your truck has significant value.
Covers your truck when operating without a trailer — after a delivery, heading to a pickup, or driving for personal use. Primary liability only covers you under dispatch. Bobtail fills the gap. Often required by the motor carrier you lease to. One of the most affordable and most overlooked trucking coverages.
Provides medical expense, disability, and accidental death benefits for owner-operators injured on the job — at a fraction of workers' comp cost. Florida sole proprietors are not required to carry workers' comp for themselves, but this coverage protects your income if you can't drive. Many motor carriers require it in their lease agreement.
Covers non-trucking business liability — loading/unloading incidents, terminal accidents, damage at a client's facility, and advertising injury. Separate from primary auto liability. Required by some freight brokers and shipping contracts. Especially important for carriers operating in commercial yards and distribution centers in Southwest Florida.
SWFL Trucking Market
Southwest Florida's trucking economy runs on I-75 and US-41 — moving construction materials into Collier County's active building market, hauling agricultural goods from SWFL's farming communities, delivering to the warehouses and retail hubs in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and servicing the seasonal spikes that come with Naples' tourism industry.
Bruno works with independent owner-operators hauling general freight under their own authority, truckers leased to larger motor carriers who need bobtail and physical damage coverage, small fleet operators (2–10 trucks) building a commercial package, and drivers transitioning from leased operations to running their own authority for the first time.
The Hispanic trucking community in Southwest Florida is a core part of this market. Bruno is bilingual — every conversation, every policy document, every claim question can be handled in Spanish. No intermediary, no translation layer. Direct communication with the agent handling your policy.
Florida is one of the busiest trucking states in the country, and its insurance market reflects that. Rate factors that matter in Florida specifically: hurricane exposure (physical damage claims spike after storm season), high litigation rates in auto liability, and the concentration of uninsured motorists on I-75 that can complicate subrogation after an accident.
FMCSA compliance is non-negotiable. Operating without the required primary liability filing (MCS-90) means your operating authority can be revoked immediately. If you are starting a new authority, Bruno walks you through the filing process and coordinates the filing directly with the carrier. You should not be trying to get on the road without this in place.
For new authority holders, getting competitive rates requires at least 2 years of verifiable CDL experience and a clean MVR. If you are newly licensed or have prior incidents, Bruno works with specialty markets that understand the trucking space and can still build a competitive package. See general commercial insurance options →
Free Truck Insurance Quote
Tell Bruno about your operation. He responds personally within 24 hours — in English or Spanish.
Thank you — Bruno will reach out within 24 hours. Call or text anytime: (239) 850-2268.
Common Questions
Useful Resources
Quick access to the government tools and resources that matter for owner-operators and carriers in Southwest Florida.
Look up any carrier's DOT number, operating authority, safety rating, and insurance status. Essential before signing a lease or haul contract.
safer.fmcsa.dot.gov →Verify CDL status and license validity through the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles portal. Free and instant.
flhsmv.gov →Federal Emergency Management Agency. Disaster assistance, hurricane preparedness, and flood maps for Southwest Florida carriers.
fema.gov →Tax resources for independent contractors and owner-operators. Schedule C, quarterly estimated payments, and deduction guides.
irs.gov →Licensed Florida agent. Independent. Bilingual. Honest coverage for owner-operators and small fleets in Southwest Florida.