How to Save on Your Truck Insurance: Real Tips That Actually Work

Truck insurance has become one of the biggest challenges in the industry. Rates have climbed year after year, and it often feels like no matter what you do, premiums keep going up.
But the truth is, there are real, proven ways to save money on truck insurance — if you know how the system works.

In this guide, I’m breaking down what insurance companies are looking for, discounts you can get right now, and options that most truckers don’t even know exist. Whether you’re running one truck or fifty, this can help you keep more money in your pocket without sacrificing protection.

1. Start With the Easy Wins: Dash Cam and ELD Discounts

If you’re looking for quick savings, start here.
Many trucking insurance companies now offer instant discounts just for using dash cams and ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices). These tools show insurers that your company is serious about safety — and that means lower risk.

Dash Cam Discounts

A lot of carriers are literally paying truckers to have dash cams:

• Some offer 5% off your premium for installing a dash cam.

• Others will give you a dash cam for free or reimburse you for buying one.

• A few go further and combine dash cam + ELD discounts for even bigger savings.

ELD Discounts

ELD programs are becoming the biggest factor in insurance pricing.
Here’s how it breaks down:

• Progressive + Motive: 5% discount upfront for using Motive ELD, up to 15% at renewal, plus an additional 10% for a Motive dash cam. That’s potentially 30% off total.

• Berkshire Hathaway Homestate: Gives 5% off just for sharing your ELD data — even if they don’t use it for your rates.

• Northland: Offers ELD and dash cam discounts plus better underwriting consideration when data is shared.

• Nirvana Insurance: Insanely competitive pricing for fleets with compatible ELDs. I’ve personally seen quotes go from $40,000 down to $26,000 — that’s nearly a 40% savings.

Even if your ELD isn’t connected to your insurer, it still helps. Some underwriters won’t even quote unless they can see your ELD data because it proves you’re managing hours, speeding, and maintenance properly.

Bottom line:
✅ Dash cams + ELDs = up to 30% savings
✅ Better underwriting = more carriers to choose from
✅ Free or discounted tech = extra incentive to install them

2. Be Transparent — It Actually Saves You Money

When I ask drivers what they haul, 9 out of 10 say “general freight.”
That might sound fine, but here’s the problem: when underwriters see “general freight,” they assume the worst-case scenario — things like tires, heavy machinery, or high-risk commodities. They’ll rate your policy as if you haul the riskiest loads possible.

So instead of saving you money, it ends up costing you thousands more.

What to Do Instead

Be specific and honest about what you haul, how far you go, and how your company operates.
Here’s what underwriters want to know:

• What commodities you haul (with percentages if possible)

• Average mileage and routes

• Safety programs or driver training processes

• Maintenance schedules and documentation

• Prior claims and how you handled them

Even if you’ve had a claim, being upfront helps your agent explain it to the underwriter.
I’ve turned denials into approvals just because a client explained what happened, what they learned, and what steps they took afterward. That kind of transparency builds trust — and trust gets you better pricing.

3. Understand the Factors That Drive Your Rate

Truck insurance pricing isn’t random — it’s based on specific risk factors.
If you understand what affects your rate, you can take control of it.

The Big Six

Insurance underwriters also look at your FMCSA data, CAB report, and loss runs.
A strong safety record backed by ELD data can make your company more attractive to top-tier carriers.

4. Know the Insurance Options Most People Don’t

Most truckers think the only choices are Progressive, Geico, or Cover Whale. That’s not true.
There are dozens of strong insurance companies that specialize in trucking — they just don’t advertise on TV.

For Small Fleets (1–5 Trucks)

Carriers like Acuity, Midwest Family Mutual, Continental Western Group, and Lancer often have better pricing and coverage than big-name brands.
They look for:

• Lower mileage operations

• Clean safety history

• Local or regional hauls

• Stable ownership and management

Some programs even offer pay-per-mile insurance, where your rate is based on how much you actually drive. That’s perfect if your trucks run seasonally or have downtime — you don’t pay full freight for idle time.

Example: Amazon Hauler Program

If you haul for Amazon or run warehouse-to-warehouse freight, you might qualify for a pay-per-mile program with weekly payments.
It’s designed for smaller fleets but comes with top-tier coverage and allows some new CDL drivers — something rare in the market.
Only about 15 agents in the nation have access to it, which is why most truckers never hear about it.

For Larger Fleets (10+ Trucks)

Once you grow past 10 units, a whole new level of insurance becomes available.

• Revenue-Based Policies: Premiums adjust with your income. If your revenue drops, your insurance goes down too.

• Self-Insured Retentions (SIRs): You take on a portion of each claim, lowering premiums dramatically.

• Captive Insurance: Your company becomes part-owner of a private insurance group. You pay your own claims, but profits stay in your pocket.

Captives can be incredibly powerful for fleets with strong safety programs and predictable loss history.
Instead of paying premiums forever, you’re building equity in your own insurance company.

5. Stop Over-Shopping Your Insurance — It Hurts You

This is one of the most overlooked mistakes truckers make.
They let 10, 20, even 50 different agents “shop” their insurance.

Sounds smart, right? More quotes = better deal?
Actually, it’s the opposite.

When multiple agents send your info to the same carriers, it blocks those companies from giving quotes to other (more qualified) agents.
Worse — if an inexperienced agent sends incomplete info or poor documentation, that underwriter might pass on your account entirely. Then when a good agent tries to quote later, it’s too late — you’re already “blocked.”

What You Should Do Instead

Pick one trusted trucking insurance specialist and let them handle your quotes.
Here’s what to look for:

• They understand trucking — not just general commercial insurance.

• They have direct access to multiple trucking carriers (not just Progressive).

• They have relationships with underwriters who trust their submissions.

At Nelson Insurance Agency, we work directly with underwriters at Northland, Berkshire Hathaway, and other top carriers. Because of those relationships, we can sometimes get exceptions or approvals that others can’t.

6. Run Your Company Like an Underwriter Is Watching

You can’t fake good operations — insurance companies know what to look for.
The fleets getting the best rates are doing a few simple things right:

• Performing regular maintenance and keeping records (PM logs, DVIRs, repair invoices).

• Implementing a driver safety policy — including drug testing, cell phone restrictions, and driver monitoring.

• Using telematics or GPS data to track hard braking, speeding, and idle time.

• Documenting corrective action when violations occur.

• Training new hires and documenting that training.

The difference between a “high-risk” and “preferred” account often comes down to paperwork.
You don’t have to run a perfect fleet — just a well-documented one.

Final Thoughts: Knowledge Is Profit

The trucking insurance world can feel like a maze — but once you understand how it works, you can control your costs.

Here’s the recap:

• Install ELDs and dash cams — and make sure your agent knows.

• Be transparent about your operations.

• Focus on safety and documentation.

• Work with one experienced agent who knows trucking.

• Explore advanced options like pay-per-mile or captive programs as you grow.

By doing these things, you could save 10–40% on your insurance premiums and gain access to programs that most fleets never even hear about.