In this instructional video, Morgan of Allison Insurance Agency explains Hartford’s Livestock Cargo (Livestock Transit) insurance, a specialized inland‑marine policy that protects live animals during transport. The video defines the policy, contrasts it with standard cargo coverage, and outlines how it operates on either a broad‑peril or named‑peril basis. It details the core coverages—death, crippling injury, theft, escape, vehicle‑accident loss, and loss after unloading—along with valuation methods and limit structures (per animal, per vehicle, or combined). Morgan then walks through the five key optional endorsements (deck‑collapse, carcass‑removal, vehicle substitution, refusal of shipment, and post‑transit coverage), explaining their practical benefits. A real‑world scenario of a storm‑induced trailer overturn illustrates how the policy and endorsements would respond. The video also covers premium drivers (animal count, value, coverage type, routes, loss history) and identifies the ideal customers (livestock haulers, farmers, ranchers, brokers, owners of high‑value breeding or show animals). Finally, Morgan outlines the application process—information needed from the insured—and emphasizes that specialized livestock transit coverage can be the difference between a catastrophic loss and business continuity. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the channel.
Chapters
Hi everybody, it's Morgan with Allison Insurance Agency. We are back with another video and today we are going to discuss the Hartford Livestock Cargo Policy. If you haul livestock for a living, such as cattle, horses, sheep, or other animals, you already know it's not just considered cargo. Live animals are unique. They can be injured, die from stress, is collapse on decks or depreciate in value from a covered loss. And today we are breaking down the Hartford's Livestock Cargo or Livestock Transit insurance policy. So we are going to discuss what it covers, how it works, the optional extras, and how it protects your business on the road. Let's get into it. So what is the Hartford's Livestock Cargo? So when most people think of cargo insurance, they think of goods, so pallets, equipment, boxes, but livestock is living and it's a breathing property and it requires special coverage. So the Hartford's livestock cargo insurance, it's officially called the livestock transit coverage. It is specialized inland marine coverage that protects live animals while they are in transit from the moment you load them until they're delivered at the destination. So unlike normal motor truck cargo policies, This coverage is tailored to livestock with options for death, crippling injuries, loss after unloading, um, that is optional, and a carcass removal, uh, deck collapse coverage, refusal of shipment, value depreciation. So how it works is livestock transit coverage from the Hartford generally operates like this. They have covered perils. The policy can be written on either a broad peril basis, which covers most causes of loss, or a named peril basis, which only covers specific causes listed in the policy. So broad perils are generally more expensive but offer a wider protection. Named perils are more economical and narrower. So what's covered? While in transit, this policy generally helps COVID death of livestock from covered causes, crippling or serious injury, transportation-related losses, theft during transit, escape, or loss from vehicle accidents. So just depends on the form for that one, and it's going to be up to the policy limits. Now, how coverage is valued— valuation is typically based on the substantiated value of the animals So that means documented worth at the time of loss, which is important for high-value livestock like breeding or show cattle. Limits may be set per vehicle, per animal, or a combination of both depending on how your policy is structured. One of the reasons the Hartford's livestock policy stands out is the variety of optional endorsements that you can add to tailor coverage. So number 1 is DELEC, deck collapse coverage. So if multi-deck trailers fail and livestock are injured or killed, this endorsement responds. You also have carcass removal expense. So if animals die during transit due to covered causes, this covers the cost of removal, which is a real concern for livestock haulers. You also have substitution of vehicles. So if the transport truck or trailer becomes disabled during a trip and you need to switch to another vehicle, this endorsement can provide continuity of coverage. Number 4 is going to be refusal of shipment. So this protects you when a consignee refuses the entire shipment due to a covered cause of loss. So for example, unacceptable health of animals caused by a covered peril. Um, number 5 is going to be coverage after transit. This optional coverage extends protection for a certain number of days after unloading if death or crippling due to a covered cause occurs within that period. So these add-ons are vital because livestock isn't just property, it's living, and losses can come from many unexpected angles. A real-world example: so imagine hauling 60 feeder cattle from South Dakota to Nebraska. A sudden storm blows through, the trailer overturns, and some animals are injured or killed. If you're insured under a Broad Perils Livestock policy, E. Hartford would help cover both death and crippling injures— injuries caused by the accident up to your policy limits, assuming covered perils apply. If you also added carcass removal, you're not left with extra costs for disposing of animals that perish. If you added substitution of vehicles, you could continue the delivery in a backup truck without a coverage gap. To get livestock cargo coverage from the Hartford, you would need to contact an agent specifically familiar with livestock transit policies. They can provide— you'll need to provide details like the types of animals hauled, average heads per trip, distance and routes, trailer types, estimated annual values, or animal values, not annual, animal values, loss history, and whether you haul for others or just your own livestock. So this is typically part of the livestock transportation application process, by the way. Now you may be wondering what influences the premium. So the premium is going to depend on the number of animals, value per animal, the type of coverage. So if you have the broad versus named perils, optional endorsements, routes, and average miles per trip, and your loss history. If your livestock is high value, so show cattle, breeding stock, or performance horses, expect a higher premium because the coverage limits are higher. Now you may ask yourself, who is this policy the best for? This kind of livestock transit policy is especially valuable for any livestock transporters and farmers and ranchers moving animals between farms, markets, feedlots, or shows, um, brokers arranging shipment of animals, anyone hauling high-value livestock. It's less relevant if you're simply moving trailers short distances on private property. Basically, it protects you when animals are exposed to transportation risks. Some final thoughts would be transporting livestock is risky, um, weather, traffic accidents, trailer issues, stress injuries, and more can impact an animal's health and value. A dedicated livestock transit, or called cargo policy, from The Hartford gives you specialized protection that normal general cargo insurance simply doesn't provide. If you haul animals for a living, this coverage is not just smart, it could be a difference between absorbing a big financial loss or staying in business. I hope you guys enjoyed this video. If you did, please like, comment, subscribe, and we'll see you in the next video.