Core coverages in this program
- •Commercial Auto Liability (with MCS-90 endorsement)
- •Motor Truck Cargo
- •Physical Damage (tractor, trailer, equipment)
- •Non-Trucking Liability / Bobtail
- •Trailer Interchange
- •Workers' Compensation or Occupational Accident
- •General Liability & Umbrella
Texas requirements for trucking & transportation businesses
Intrastate Texas carriers register with TxDMV for a TxDMV number and file proof of insurance; interstate operations use FMCSA authority with the MCS-90 endorsement. Texas is one of the largest freight markets in the country, and Houston and Laredo port and cross-border runs are underwritten separately from dry van work.
Workers' compensation in Texas
Texas is the only state where private workers' compensation is optional. Going bare as a 'non-subscriber' removes the exclusive-remedy protection, which is why nearly every general contractor, landlord, and municipality requires subscription anyway. Rates are developed through TDI-approved carriers using NCCI class codes, and trucking & transportation payroll typically rates at $6 to $14 per $100 of payroll for long-haul and local trucking class codes. Non-subscriber status must be reported to the Texas Department of Insurance annually and posted for employees. Most contracts override the choice — read the insurance exhibit before deciding to opt out.
What Texas operators actually pay in 2026
The ranges below reflect what KTL clients in Texas pay today for a small-to-midsize operation, adjusted for Texas rating. Your actual premium turns on payroll, revenue, loss history, and — more than anything — whether the risk was classified correctly to begin with.
| Coverage | What it covers | Typical TX annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Auto Liability | Per power unit, $1M CSL | $7,650 – $13,600 |
| Motor Truck Cargo | $100K limit | $1,000 – $2,700 |
| Physical Damage | Per unit, ~1.5–3% of value | $2,150 – $5,550 |
| Non-Trucking Liability | Per owner-operator | $400 – $950 |
| General Liability | $1M/$2M | $750 – $2,050 |
The Texas angle most brokers miss
Texas fleets that run Laredo or El Paso cross-border need a specific Mexico endorsement or a separate policy — a standard MCS-90 does not follow the truck across.
Exposures we underwrite for Texas accounts
Every submission we send out is built around the specific ways businesses in this class actually have claims. That is what separates a benchmarked program from a rate quote.
- •Nuclear verdicts on interstate bodily-injury claims
- •Cargo theft and reefer breakdown losses
- •Lapsed filings shutting down operating authority
- •New-venture and new-driver underwriting surcharges
- •Owner-operators running without adequate bobtail coverage
Where we write in Texas
We serve Texas clients remotely by phone, email, and video — no office visit required — with concentrations in Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso. New business, renewals, mid-term changes, and certificates are all handled directly by a licensed advisor rather than a call center.
Ready for a benchmarked quote?
A KTL specialist will shop your risk across multiple A-rated markets within one business day.