Samuel Tucker, CPCU, CRMCEO at Carrier Risk Solutions, Inc.

Why Are Truck Insurance Rates So High in 2026? (And How to Lower Yours)

3 Mar 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

1:15

In this video, Samuel Tucker explains that commercial truck insurance premiums are soaring in 2026 primarily because of social inflation— a surge in large lawsuits and "nuclear" verdicts that force insurers to raise rates across the board, even for fleets with clean records. He emphasizes that the way to counteract these hikes is to prove a low‑risk operation by building robust safety programs, maintaining meticulous DOT compliance, and leveraging telematics and dash‑cam technology to monitor and coach drivers. Tucker notes that a fleet’s home terminal location matters, with states like California and Florida driving higher premiums due to higher litigation exposure. He predicts continued double‑digit premium increases throughout the year but asserts that fleets demonstrating proactive safety and compliance will retain a pricing advantage. Finally, he promotes the MySafetyManager service as a resource for improving fleet safety and DOT compliance.

Chapters

If your commercial truck insurance rates keep climbing, you're not alone. The biggest reason? Social inflation— the wave of massive lawsuits and nuclear verdicts hitting trucking companies across the country. Even if your record is spotless, insurers raised premiums industry-wide to cover those potential payouts. So what can you do about it? The key is proving you're a low-risk operation. Build a strong safety program, document everything for DOT compliance, and use telematics and dashcams to monitor and coach your drivers. Insurers reward fleets that can show real, measurable risk control. Location also matters. Having your home terminal in states like California, Florida, or other high-litigation areas will push rates higher than in lower-risk regions. And yes, investing in dashcams truly pays off. They protect your drivers, provide evidence after a crash, and can even earn you premium discounts. Truck insurance rates will most likely keep rising in 2026. We're anticipating continued double-digit increases on average. But fleets that demonstrate proactive fleet safety and solid DOT compliance will always have the advantage. For help improving your fleet safety and DOT compliance, check out www.mysafetymanager.com today.