National (Long-Haul Interstate) Premiums by State + DC
Below is the table of average annual national premiums for for‑hire interstate trucking hauling general freight across all 50 states based on the 2024 DAT and CoverWallet data:
| State | Avg. Annual National Premium | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $4,664 | 🏆 Lowest |
| Wyoming | $7,149 | |
| Nebraska | $8,664 | |
| Iowa | $8,866 | |
| Montana | $9,492 | |
| North Dakota | $9,206 | |
| Ohio | $9,933 | |
| Wisconsin | $9,231 | |
| Idaho | $9,008 | |
| Vermont | $9,643 | |
| New Mexico | $9,738 | |
| Kansas | $10,160 | |
| North Carolina | $10,630 | |
| Indiana | $11,141 | |
| Utah | $11,110 | |
| Colorado | $12,110 | |
| Minnesota | $12,820 | |
| Washington | $12,706 | |
| Oklahoma | $13,383 | |
| Pennsylvania | $12,470 | |
| South Carolina | $13,376 | |
| Massachusetts | $17,017 | |
| Maine | $13,763 | |
| Michigan | $13,793 | |
| Virginia | $13,119 | |
| Maryland | $16,056 | |
| Rhode Island | $17,220 | |
| Connecticut | $17,004 | |
| California | $14,041 | |
| Nevada | $16,912 | |
| Georgia | $20,641 | |
| Florida | $19,480 | |
| Louisiana | $20,255 | |
| New Jersey | $20,255 | 🏛 Highest |
| New York | $17,585 | |
| DC | (Estimate similar to Maryland) |
Understanding Premium Pricing for Interstate Truckers
Interstate truckers generally pay $ 1 million Combined Single Limit (CSL) liability at minimum (due to freight broker requirements). Your premiums reflect risk exposure, cargo, geography, and regulatory environments.
Key Rating Factors
- Liability Limits & Legal Requirements
- Federal minimum is $750K, but most brokers and shippers demand $1M CSL.
- New Jersey mandates $1.5M for any truck entering or operating in the state, effectively doubling insurer exposure and raising premiums significantly.
- Crash Statistics & Loss Frequency
- States with higher truck-involved crash rates and more fatality-prone highways (e.g., Florida, Georgia, Louisiana) drive up loss costs and push premiums higher.
- Congestion & Traffic Conditions
- Dense interstate corridors like I‑95 (NJ, NY, MD, CT), I‑35 (TX, GA), and I‑10 (FL, LA) have elevated accident frequency—boosting insurer loss projections and rates.
- State Regulation & Litigious Environments
- States with high jury verdicts or mandates for higher coverage (e.g. NJ’s $1.5M) generate elevated premiums. States like New York and California also trend higher due to litigation environments and severity of claims.
- Fleet Structure & Authority Type
- Owner-operators under their own authority generally pay more than contracted or leased operators.
- Cargo Type & Haul Distance
- Interstate freight is riskier than local trips because of more miles driven, unfamiliar routes, and cross-state exposure to multiple insurance jurisdictions.
- Safety Controls & CSA Scores
- Telematics programs, clean CSA history, safety training, and loss prevention measures can reduce premiums by 10–20% in many cases.
Why Certain States Are More Expensive
- New Jersey: mandates $1.5M liability, significantly above federal or broker norms, raising premiums across national operations.
- Florida, Georgia, Louisiana: high traffic volumes, frequent severe crashes, aggressive nuclear verdicts, and weather risks (hurricanes, flooding) boost loss costs and rates.
- California, Connecticut, New York: urban density, high cost of claims, and regulatory burdens keep premiums elevated.
- Mississippi, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota: low traffic, few urban hotspots, strong driver safety records, lower claim frequency = much lower premiums.
Final Analysis
Top-tier (most expensive) states for national long-haul trucking insurance:
- New Jersey, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, New York, Connecticut (~$17K–$21K/year).
Mid-tier states:
- California, Massachusetts, Nevada, Maryland ($14K–$17K).
Lower-cost states:
- Mississippi (<$5K), plus Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho—ranging ~$9K–$10K/year.
National average:
- Roughly $15K–20K/year depending on cargo type, authority structure, and states of operation .
Practical Advice for Carrier Operators
- Understand state-specific liability limits: New Jersey’s $1.5M mandate requires either high primary limits or umbrella policies to ensure coverage compliance.
- Improve driver safety and CSA performance: reduce claims frequency.
- Use telematics and safety programs: often yield measurable premium discounts.
- Structure your authority wisely: carriers working under dispatch or lease programs may access lower rates.
- Plan routes strategically: avoid lanes through NJ or high-accident highways if possible—or account for rate increases.
Bottom Line
For national interstate, long-haul for-hire trucking, expect annual auto-liability premiums ranging from about $9K in low-risk states (e.g. Mississippi, Nebraska) to $20K+ in high-cost states like New Jersey, Georgia, and Louisiana. Key drivers of cost include state liability mandates, accident frequency, congestion, litigation climate, and safety controls. Contact Cogo Insurance to get you the best quote for your trucking operations.
