The best time to start a Trucking Insurance renewal is before the current policy is close to expiring. I ask clients to start about 60 days out. That gives time to collect documents, fix anything that is out of date, and review options if the first indication is not what you hoped for.
Have these items ready, and send them privately — by email to oleg@purelinecoverage.com, by phone, or by a private message. Do not post declarations pages, loss runs, or driver lists in public comments or group threads.
Your current declarations page and the latest loss runs.
A current driver list with names, dates of birth, and hire dates. I’ll tell you the safest way to send license numbers and motor vehicle records.
Confirmation that each driver’s medical certification actually shows on the CDL or CLP record. As of October 12, 2026, a paper med card is no longer proof of medical certification in every state except Alaska, including Illinois.
An equipment list with VINs, values, and how the trucks are used, including radius and what you haul.
Your USDOT and MC numbers, and a quick check that your FMCSA insurance filings are current if you run under your own authority.
Any recent changes: new drivers, a new commodity, a larger radius, added or sold trucks, or a lapse in authority.
Underwriters may review safety and inspection history when they evaluate Trucking Insurance. It helps to look at your own inspection record and driver qualification files the same way you would want an underwriter to see them: complete and current, not pieced together at the last minute.
One more practical point. Federal minimum liability limits are not always what a broker or shipper will accept. For many general-freight operations, the federal minimum is still $750,000. Many contracts ask for $1,000,000 or more. That is a coverage decision, not a way to “get a better rate.” Changing limits, deductibles, or what is on the policy can raise or lower the premium, and it can also change what is covered. Review those choices carefully.
If your renewal is in the next 60 days, send the documents and we can go through them. Starting early does not guarantee a lower premium or a particular result. It does give you more time.
Questions? Call or text (847) 874-6263, or request a quote.
This article is general information, not legal or coverage advice. Coverage is subject to underwriting.
Sources: FMCSA insurance filing requirements and 49 CFR Part 387 (federal liability minimums); Federal Register, October 8, 2026 (91 FR 64454), https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/08/2026-20649/qualification-of-drivers-commercial-vehicle-safety-alliance-application-for-exemption, for the medical-certificate change referenced in the checklist.
