Commercial Umbrella / Excess Liability
Umbrella (excess) liability adds limits on top of your primary auto liability, protecting the fleet when a catastrophic accident blows past the underlying limit.
A single severe trucking accident can produce a judgment far above a $1,000,000 primary limit — the era of “nuclear verdicts” is real. Excess liability raises your ceiling, and many shippers and brokers now require $2,000,000 or more in combined limits before they’ll work with a carrier.
What it covers
- Additional limits above primary auto liability
- Catastrophic and severe-injury claims that exceed the underlying policy
- Contract requirements for higher combined limits
Who needs it
Growing fleets, carriers hauling for large shippers, and any operation whose contracts require limits above the primary policy.
Common questions
- How much excess liability should a trucking fleet carry?
- It depends on your exposure and your contracts — many shippers and brokers now require $2,000,000 to $5,000,000 in combined limits. Given the size of severe trucking verdicts, excess coverage is often the most cost-effective protection a growing fleet can add.