Chicago's rail network touches a lot of Illinois van work. CMAP says about 25 percent of the nation's freight trains and 50 percent of its intermodal trains pass through the metro area, so freight constantly moves between rail ramps, warehouses and vans. That raises two insurance questions. First, a local move of freight that came off a train from another state can count as interstate under 49 CFR 390.5, so ask before you rely on an ICC certificate alone. Second, if you pull trailers you do not own, a trailer interchange agreement may require coverage your policy does not include. Illinois sets its intrastate floor at $750,000 for vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR, the same number as the federal rule.
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 Illinois
Staying inside Illinois? For-hire property carriers generally need a Public Carrier Certificate from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), unless an exemption applies. Household goods movers fall under a separate ICC program.
Minimum liability on the ICC application (Form PCC-1): $750,000 for non-hazardous property in freight vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR, and $300,000 for non-hazardous property in lighter vehicles. Some hazmat requires $1,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Filings: your insurance company files the Form E. If you haul cargo worth more than $5,000, you also need cargo coverage proved with a Form H: $5,000 for commodities in dump-type vehicles, unprocessed farm goods, bulk milk and ordinary livestock, and $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence for other commodities. Otherwise you may file a Cargo Insurance Waiver Affidavit. Carriers operating solely in Illinois also need a cab card for each for-hire vehicle.
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 Illinois
- Dump truck insurance in Illinois
- Flatbed insurance in Illinois
- Hot shot insurance in Illinois
- Box truck insurance in Illinois
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Protec Consulting Group is a licensed insurance agency in Illinois.
Sources: Illinois Commerce Commission, Motor Carrier Property FAQ · Illinois Commerce Commission, Application for Public Carrier Certificate (Form PCC-1, rev. 10/27/2021) · Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Freight and Rail · 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) · Illinois Commerce Commission, Household Goods Applicant's Handbook · Illinois Commerce Commission docket transcript, South Kedzie viaduct · City of Chicago, Chicago Sustainable Industries (viaducts and truck route classes) · CDOT, Posted Viaduct Clearances · State of Illinois, Designated Truck Route List (IDOT) · IDOT, OPER 993 Special Vehicle Movement permit form · City of Chicago 311, Parking pickup trucks and commercial vehicles · USDA, 2022 Census of Agriculture Highlights: Illinois and Missouri. Reviewed: 2026-11-03.