Excess Auto Liability,
for the trips that demand it.
Large shippers want $2MM in auto liability before they'll tender freight. Buy the excess layer per trip — $1MM or $2MM above your $1MM primary — instead of financing an annual umbrella you only need for a handful of loads.
- $1MM or $2MM excess per occurrence
- Auto and general liability in one layer
- Certificate emailed the moment you bind
- Available 24/7 — nights, weekends, holidays
- Excess limit
- $1MM or $2MM
- Sits over
- $1MM primary AL & GL
- Term
- Per trip
- Paper
- Crum & Forster Specialty
- Territory
- US & Canada
- Certificate
- Instant, 2 holders
What it is
What is per-trip excess auto liability?
Excess auto liability (often called an umbrella) adds a layer of liability protection above your primary auto policy. Most carriers run a $1MM primary. Contract freight from large corporations frequently requires $2MM or more — a limit that, bought annually, comes with a premium and finance charges that wipe out the margin on the loads that need it.
XS Auto is that excess layer, bought per trip. Choose $1MM or $2MM of excess auto and general liability above your $1MM primary, bind it for the days the load is moving, and get a certificate the shipper can accept — instantly.
Why carriers use it
Shippers want higher auto limits
Large US corporations require the protection of higher auto limits to carry their product. Without them, small carriers can't haul that contract freight.
Annual umbrellas bust the budget
A shipper-specific policy with a high annual premium and finance charges is not cost-effective for occasional or infrequent hauls.
Buy the umbrella just for the trip
Send the shipper the CargoLabs bid spec, buy up to $2MM 24/7 for exactly the trip you need, and keep the money you saved on the annual policy.
How it works
XS Auto coverage in three steps
From quote to certificate in minutes, not days. Everything is self-service.
Quote
Enter the trip, equipment or driver details. You get a price in seconds — no paper application, no phone call.
Bind
Pick the limit or term you need and pay online. Coverage is bound instantly for exactly that period.
Get certified
Your compliant certificate of insurance is emailed immediately, ready to forward to the broker, shipper or rental company.
Who it's for
Who buys per-trip excess auto
Anyone who has lost a load to a shipper's liability requirement — or wants to stop losing them.
Motor carriers & owner-operators
Meet a $2MM auto liability requirement on a single contract load without carrying an annual umbrella. Quote it, bind it, forward the certificate.
See carrier coverageFreight brokers & 3PLs
Open your enterprise freight to more of your carrier base. A carrier that runs $1MM can meet the shipper's spec on the spot instead of declining the tender.
See broker toolsShippers with liability requirements
Keep the requirement, widen the pool. Point carriers to the CargoLabs bid spec and let them satisfy it per trip.
Compare
Per-trip excess auto vs. an annual umbrella
Same protection on the load. Very different bill.
| Per-trip with CargoLabs | Annual umbrella policy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pay only for the loads that require it | Yes | No |
| Annual premium & finance charges | None | Yes, financed up front |
| Time to bind | Minutes, online | Days to weeks |
| Limit options | $1MM or $2MM excess | Fixed at purchase |
| Certificate delivery | Instant, emailed | Agent turnaround |
| Available nights & weekends | Yes | No |
More per-trip coverage
Every coverage a load can require
The same quote → bind → certificate flow works across the CargoLabs product line.
Excess Single Trip Cargo Insurance
Raise your Motor Truck Cargo limit up to $1MM for one load. Excess over your annual policy, bought per trip.
Learn moreShort-Term Truck Physical Damage Insurance
Daily physical damage for a rental, substitute or interchanged unit. Certificate with year, make, VIN and stated value — in minutes, 24/7.
Learn moreOccupational Accident Insurance for Owner-Operators
Monthly occ/acc for 1099 owner-operators and contract drivers — accidental death, medical and disability benefits, with contingent liability included.
Learn moreNon-Trucking Liability Insurance
Liability coverage for leased owner-operators when the truck is off dispatch — $1MM limit, ~$1/day per unit, start online.
Learn moreTrailer Interchange Insurance
Coverage for non-owned trailers in your possession under an interchange agreement. Dedicated per-trip product in development — daily physical damage on non-owned trailers available today.
Learn moreDouble Brokering Protection
Protection for freight brokers and carriers against losses from double-brokered loads. In development.
Learn moreFAQ
Per-Trip Excess Auto Liability Insurance, answered
- What is excess auto liability insurance for trucking?
- It's an additional layer of liability coverage that sits above your primary commercial auto policy — commonly called an umbrella. It responds after your primary limit is exhausted, which is why shippers with high-value or high-exposure freight require it.
- How much excess auto liability can I buy per trip?
- You can choose $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 of excess auto and general liability per occurrence, sitting above your $1,000,000 primary layer.
- Do I need a primary auto policy to buy XS Auto?
- Yes. XS Auto is written in excess of a $1,000,000 primary auto liability and general liability limit. Your annual primary policy stays in force; the per-trip layer stacks on top of it for the covered trip.
- Does the excess layer include general liability?
- Yes. The per-trip excess layer covers both auto liability and general liability at the limit you select.
- How long does per-trip excess auto coverage last?
- You pick the coverage start date and duration to match the pickup and delivery dates on the bill of lading.
- Can I get a certificate the shipper will accept immediately?
- Yes. The certificate is generated and emailed the moment you bind, with up to two certificate holders — for example the shipper and the broker — listed on it.
- Can I buy XS Cargo and XS Auto together?
- Yes. They're sold as a pair on the same per-trip basis. Many carriers buy both when a shipper's bid spec calls for higher cargo and higher auto limits on the same load.
- Where is per-trip excess auto available?
- Trips can pick up and deliver in any US state or Canadian province. Coverage is self-service and available 24/7.
Shipper asking for $2MM auto liability?
Quote per-trip excess auto now. Bind in minutes, certificate in seconds, pay only for this trip.