Most dry vans entering Florida meet something other states do not have: agricultural inspection stations. FDACS runs 23 of them on 19 highways, and trucks, vans and trailers must stop, with bypass programs only for eligible carriers not hauling agricultural loads. On the coast, JAXPORT calls itself Florida's largest container port, feeding van work up and down I-95 and across I-10. Florida's $300,000 minimum for vehicles at 44,000 pounds and up applies only to intrastate work, so a Jacksonville to Atlanta lane needs the federal $750,000 and MC filing. Hurricanes matter for a parked trailer too. Ask how your physical damage deductible treats wind and flood at your yard, and what happens to cargo sitting in a van during a storm.
Dry van is an enclosed trailer, usually 53 feet, for palletized and boxed freight that does not need temperature control: retail goods, packaged food, paper and consumer products. Most van authorities depend on brokers and shippers for loads, so what your certificate shows matters almost as much as the policy itself. Theft, cargo claims and long miles shape the risk.
What it costs
Across 14 policies Protec sold in 2026, commercial auto liability for this type of truck ran about $11,300 to $16,000 per truck per year, with a middle of $14,600. That's before taxes and fees, mostly from new and small Texas carriers, so your state and record can move it. It isn't a quote.
Filings in Florida
Staying inside Florida? Insurance is checked through vehicle registration. Under the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) commercial vehicle procedure, you show proof such as a Certificate of Liability Insurance or an ACORD form with the policy number, limits and Personal Injury Protection. FLHSMV also says companies operating commercial motor vehicles must get a USDOT number and display it. There is no registration fee for carriers that run only intrastate, and FLHSMV lists an exception for non-placarded property vehicles under 26,001 pounds declared weight.
Minimum liability under Florida Statute 627.7415 (combined, per occurrence):
- $50,000 at 26,000 pounds or more, but under 35,000
- $100,000 at 35,000 pounds or more, but under 44,000
- $300,000 at 44,000 pounds or more
FLHSMV's procedure also requires proof of $10,000 in PIP. If the insurer sends a cancellation notice, the registration can be suspended.
If you cross state lines, the federal rules apply. A for-hire carrier of general freight in interstate commerce with vehicles of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more needs at least $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9. The policy carries the MCS-90 endorsement, and your insurance company, not you, files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA. Hazmat limits run higher.
Coverages to ask about
- Primary auto liability
- Motor truck cargo
- Physical damage on the tractor and owned trailer
- Trailer interchange, if you pull trailers you do not own
- Non-trucking liability, for leased owner-operators
- General liability, when a broker or shipper requires it
What underwriters look at
- Radius and the lanes you actually run
- Commodities, especially high-value or theft-prone freight
- Motor vehicle records for every driver
- Age of the MC and years of trucking experience
- FMCSA safety data and inspection history
- Prior insurance and loss runs
Other trucks in Florida
- Dump truck insurance in Florida
- Flatbed insurance in Florida
- Hot shot insurance in Florida
- Box truck insurance in Florida
Free FMCSA check · New authority checklist
Protec Consulting Group is a licensed insurance agency in Florida.
Sources: Florida Statutes 627.7415 (Florida Senate) · FLHSMV Procedure RS-33, Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance (rev. 12/12/2019) · FLHSMV, Florida USDOT Numbers · Florida Statutes 316.302 (Florida Senate) · FDACS, Agricultural Inspection Stations · FDACS, Bypass Services · 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits (Cornell LII) · 49 CFR 390.5, definition of interstate commerce (Cornell LII) · FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements · USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020, Crushed Stone (2019 data) · FDOT, 2019-2023 Florida Seaport Mission Plan · 49 CFR 390.23, relief during emergencies (Cornell LII) · JAXPORT. Reviewed: 2026-11-03.