The coverage looks familiar. The underwriting does not.
Liability and Why the Radius Question Matters
Liability is the core, usually at a $1,000,000 combined single limit because shippers and contracting platforms require it. Underwriters ask for radius first: a courier working a 50 mile circle around Tampa is a different risk from one running to Orlando and Fort Myers daily, and the answer changes both price and eligibility.
Florida's baseline of $10,000 in personal injury protection and $10,000 in property damage liability applies to every registered vehicle (ss. 627.736, 324.022, Fla. Stat.), and uninsured motorist coverage has to be offered at your liability limits unless rejected in writing (s. 627.727, Fla. Stat.). With the Insurance Research Council estimating 20.6 percent of Florida drivers uninsured in 2023, that rejection deserves thought for drivers who are on the road all day.
Cargo and What You Are Carrying
Auto physical damage covers the van. It does not cover the freight inside. Motor truck cargo coverage does, and the limit needs to reflect what a full load is actually worth, whether that is pharmaceuticals, electronics, auto parts or restaurant supply.
Some cargo is harder than others. Refrigerated loads, high-value electronics and anything requiring signature and chain of custody all narrow the carrier list further.
Vehicles: Cargo Vans, Box Trucks and Hotshot Pickups
Most last-mile fleets run Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter or Ram ProMaster vans, covered on our work van and cargo van insurance page. Box trucks bring the 10,001 pound federal threshold into play, since a vehicle at or above that gross vehicle weight rating used in interstate commerce is a commercial motor vehicle under federal safety rules (49 C.F.R. § 390.5T), detailed on our commercial truck insurance page.
Hotshot operators towing gooseneck trailers reach those thresholds on the combination rating, and interstate for-hire carriers hauling non-hazardous property in vehicles rated 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in public liability coverage (49 C.F.R. § 387.9).
