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Freight Insurance & Carrier Liability Calculator

See how much of your cargo's value the carrier actually covers — and what full protection costs.

Your shipment

Most brokered freight rates under spot, volume, or FAK provisions, which many tariffs cap at lower liability. Leave on for a realistic estimate.

What's covered

Enter your shipment details to see the carrier liability included with a standard LTL shipment and what full-value coverage would cost.

Included-liability figures come from each carrier's published rules tariff and can change; actual liability is determined by the tariff and bill of lading terms in effect at shipment. Coverage is subject to provider terms and conditions.

"Insured" is not what most shippers think

LTL carriers don't insure your freight — their rules tariffs limit what they'll pay for loss or damage, and the limits surprise almost everyone.

Paid by the pound, not the price tag
Included liability is a per-pound limit — from $0.50 to $25 per pound depending on carrier and freight class — with per-shipment caps as low as $10,000. A light, valuable shipment is exactly where the math works against you.
The used-goods trap
Used, refurbished, or reconditioned goods drop to about $0.10 per pound at nearly every carrier — and several apply the same cut to new goods shipped uncrated. Restoration-grade machinery can be covered for less than a dinner out.
Full-value coverage, one step
Declare your cargo's value when you quote with us and add full-value coverage before you book — priced up front, no separate policy paperwork. Learn more on our insurance & cargo protection page.

Freight insurance FAQs

Is my freight automatically insured when I ship LTL?
No. LTL carriers include limited liability, not insurance — a per-pound limit set by their rules tariff, commonly $1–$25 per pound for new goods depending on carrier and freight class, with per-shipment caps. That's often far less than the freight is worth.
How much liability is included for used goods?
Almost every major LTL carrier limits used, refurbished, or reconditioned goods to about $0.10 per pound, usually capped at $10,000 per shipment — regardless of what the goods are worth. A 500-lb used machine would be covered for roughly $50.
What is the difference between carrier liability and freight insurance?
Carrier liability is the carrier's tariff-limited responsibility for loss or damage while the freight is in its possession, and it requires proving carrier fault. Freight insurance (or full-value coverage) protects the declared value of the cargo itself, typically without the per-pound limits.
Why might my discounted LTL rate carry even lower liability?
Many carrier tariffs reduce liability further on spot-quoted, volume, or FAK-rated shipments — commonly to $1–$2 per pound with a $10,000 cap. Since most brokered freight moves on that kind of pricing, the realistic included liability is often the lower carve-out tier, not the standard tariff number.
How much does additional cargo coverage cost?
Across the market, full-value programs typically run about $0.65–$1.00 per $100 of declared value with a minimum charge. With Freight Sidekick you can add full-value coverage in one step when you quote — declare your cargo value and the cost is shown before you book.
Does full-value coverage have a deductible?
On LTL it scales with the insured value: $0 up to $10,000, $500 up to $25,000, and $1,000 up to $100,000 — so smaller shipments are covered first-dollar. Truckload and partial coverage carries 1% of the insured value ($500 minimum, $2,500 maximum). The calculator shows the deductible for your entered value.
Is this calculator free?
Yes — it's free to use and requires no account. Liability figures come from each carrier's published rules tariff.

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Compare carrier rates, see each rate's included liability, and add full-value coverage in one step.

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