Casey places commercial insurance for hazmat and petroleum tanker operations — fuel haul, chemical bulk transport, propane, and other placarded freight. We know the FMCSA-required higher minimums, when MCS-90 with hazmat endorsement applies, and which markets write meaningful pollution liability instead of stripped-down MCS-90A coverage.
FMCSA minimums are $1M for most hazmat, $5M for certain hazardous materials and bulk fuel. The MCS-90 endorsement is required at the higher hazmat limits.
02
Physical Damage
Coverage on the tractor and tanker trailer. Tankers (especially stainless and aluminum) carry high values — stated-value scheduling is standard.
03
Motor Truck Cargo
Petroleum and chemical cargo limits sized to load value. Fuel haulers typically carry $250K+ to match common load values at current fuel prices.
04
Pollution Liability / MCS-90A
Covers cleanup and third-party pollution claims from spills, leaks, and overturns. Federal MCS-90A is a minimum financial-responsibility filing; real pollution coverage requires separate endorsement (CA-9948 or proprietary).
05
General Liability
Premises and operations including loading at racks and terminals.
06
Excess / Umbrella
Major refiner and chemical-shipper contracts often require $5M–$10M total liability. Excess sits over primary auto.
Newer tankers with rollover stability and modern overfill protection earn meaningful credits.
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Spill response plan / contractor
Documented emergency response plans and pre-arranged spill contractors reduce pollution claim severity and earn credits.
▼
Telematics / dashcam
Forward-facing cams and tanker rollover sensors earn solid credits on hazmat programs.
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Class 1 / 2 / 6 / 7 hazmat
Explosives, gases, toxics, and radioactives narrow the market sharply and price up.
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Long-haul radius
Hazmat long-haul rates higher than regional because of exposure duration.
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Prior spill / pollution claims
Pollution loss history is the single largest premium-up driver. Even closed claims affect rates for years.
▲
Tanker age over 10 years
Older equipment face physical damage surcharges, exclusions, or stated-value caps.
Quote in 24–48 hours
What you’ll need to send to get a real quote.
—DOT Number (we pull SAFER + L&I)
—Currently-effective dec page including MCS-90 and pollution endorsements
—Loss runs (3 to 5 years, current within 60 days)
—Driver list with CDL #, hazmat endorsement status, and DOB
—MVRs (we can pull if you authorize)
—Schedule of tractors and tankers (year, make, model, VIN, stated value, last CTI date)
—Hazmat class mix (UN/NA numbers, typical load profile)
—Spill / emergency response plan if available
FAQ
Most hazmat operations get a real quote in 3–5 business days. Hazmat is a manually-underwritten class — carriers won’t auto-quote it. New ventures and accounts with pollution history can run 7–10 business days.
MCS-90 is a federal financial-responsibility endorsement — a public-protection guarantee, not real coverage in the carrier-to-insured sense. Real pollution liability (CA-9948 or proprietary) responds to cleanup and third-party pollution claims as primary coverage. You need both.
Yes, but narrowly. A small carrier panel writes new authority hazmat, typically at rated-up pricing and with experienced-driver requirements. Most carriers want 12–24 months under the same MC#.
Most carriers write Class 3 flammable liquids and Class 8 corrosives. Class 1 (explosives), Class 2.3 (poison-by-inhalation gases), Class 6.1 (poison liquids), and Class 7 (radioactives) narrow the market significantly. We’ll tell you what’s writeable.
Yes — federal law requires CDL with H endorsement and TSA background screening for any driver hauling placarded hazmat loads. Underwriters require copies of current endorsements on file.
Up materially over the last three years on both auto liability and pollution. Nuclear verdict environment and PFAS/forever-chemical claim development have driven pollution capacity tighter.
COIs for terminal access and shipper contracts are routine. We don’t perform PHMSA compliance audits — that’s typically a separate consultant — but we coordinate with whoever you use for hazmat compliance.
Get a quote
Quote your hazmat & petroleum operation
Send your DOT and a few details. A broker will reach out within 1 business hour.
Casey places commercial insurance for hazmat and petroleum tanker operations — fuel haul, chemical bulk transport, propane, and other placarded freight. We know the FMCSA-required higher minimums, when MCS-90 with hazmat endorsement applies, and which markets write meaningful pollution liability instead of stripped-down MCS-90A coverage.
Hazardous materials and petroleum haul carry the highest regulatory burden in commercial trucking. FMCSA minimums move from $750K to $1M, $5M, or higher depending on placard and quantity. The MCS-90 endorsement carries a hazmat-specific schedule. Pollution liability (CA-9948 or proprietary tanker endorsements) becomes load-bearing.
Most brokers either decline the class outright or write it on dry van forms that exclude the pollution and hazmat exposures at the moment of claim. The good news: a specific panel of carriers actively writes tankers and hazmat with the right forms. We know which ones and what they require.
“MCS-90 is a financial responsibility filing, not a coverage form. Real pollution liability is a separate endorsement — we confirm both before bind.”
Coverage you’ll typically need
What goes on a hazmat / petroleum policy.
Hazmat policies need elevated limits, hazmat-aware MCS-90 endorsements, and pollution liability — all coordinated.
01Auto LiabilityFMCSA minimums are $1M for most hazmat, $5M for certain hazardous materials and bulk fuel. The MCS-90 endorsement is required at the higher hazmat limits.
02Physical DamageCoverage on the tractor and tanker trailer. Tankers (especially stainless and aluminum) carry high values — stated-value scheduling is standard.
03Motor Truck CargoPetroleum and chemical cargo limits sized to load value. Fuel haulers typically carry $250K+ to match common load values at current fuel prices.
04Pollution Liability / MCS-90ACovers cleanup and third-party pollution claims from spills, leaks, and overturns. Federal MCS-90A is a minimum financial-responsibility filing; real pollution coverage requires separate endorsement (CA-9948 or proprietary).
05General LiabilityPremises and operations including loading at racks and terminals.
06Excess / UmbrellaMajor refiner and chemical-shipper contracts often require $5M–$10M total liability. Excess sits over primary auto.
Why hazmat is the most regulated class
What gets hazmat operations declined.
Hazmat decline reasons cluster around prior pollution events, driver hazmat endorsement compliance, and equipment age.
Prior pollution / spill claims
Even closed pollution claims tighten the market for 5+ years. Underwriters treat them as severity-class events.
Driver hazmat endorsement compliance
Drivers must hold valid HazMat endorsement (CDL-H) with TSA background check. Gaps in documentation block underwriting.
New ventures under 12 months
Most hazmat markets want 12–24 months. A small panel writes new authority hazmat at rated-up pricing.
Tanker age over 10 years
Older tankers face physical damage surcharges or limits. Maintenance documentation matters.
Cargo tank inspection (CTI) compliance
Cargo tank operators must comply with FMCSR Part 180 inspection schedules. Lapsed CT inspections block placement.
Mixed hazmat classes
Some carriers write Class 3 flammable liquids but won’t touch Class 8 corrosives or Class 1 explosives. Mix matters.
What drives your premium
Pricing factors for hazmat / petroleum.
Hazmat premiums are the highest in trucking. The variables that move them most are driver experience, equipment, and hazmat class mix.
▼CDL with hazmat + 5 yearsTenured hazmat-endorsed drivers significantly reduce auto liability rates. Underwriters weight experience heavily.
▼Modern tanker fleetNewer tankers with rollover stability and modern overfill protection earn meaningful credits.
▼Spill response plan / contractorDocumented emergency response plans and pre-arranged spill contractors reduce pollution claim severity and earn credits.
▼Telematics / dashcamForward-facing cams and tanker rollover sensors earn solid credits on hazmat programs.
▲Class 1 / 2 / 6 / 7 hazmatExplosives, gases, toxics, and radioactives narrow the market sharply and price up.
▲Long-haul radiusHazmat long-haul rates higher than regional because of exposure duration.
▲Prior spill / pollution claimsPollution loss history is the single largest premium-up driver. Even closed claims affect rates for years.
▲Tanker age over 10 yearsOlder equipment face physical damage surcharges, exclusions, or stated-value caps.
Quote in 24–48 hours
What you’ll need to send to get a real quote.
Hazmat submissions need a few additional items beyond standard trucking — most around driver endorsements, equipment, and hazmat classes.
—DOT Number (we pull SAFER + L&I)
—Currently-effective dec page including MCS-90 and pollution endorsements
—Loss runs (3 to 5 years, current within 60 days)
—Driver list with CDL #, hazmat endorsement status, and DOB
—MVRs (we can pull if you authorize)
—Schedule of tractors and tankers (year, make, model, VIN, stated value, last CTI date)
—Hazmat class mix (UN/NA numbers, typical load profile)
—Spill / emergency response plan if available
Federal compliance
FMCSA, PHMSA, and state hazmat rules.
Hazmat trucking is regulated by FMCSA, PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration), and individual state DOTs. The framework adds compliance items beyond standard for-hire trucking.
FMCSA financial responsibility. $1,000,000 minimum auto liability for most hazmat; $5,000,000 for Division 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 explosives, certain Class 7 radioactives, Class 2 poison-by-inhalation, and bulk liquid hazardous waste.
MCS-90 with hazmat endorsement. Required at the higher minimum on auto liability. Separate from pollution liability — MCS-90 is a financial responsibility filing, not coverage.
HMR (Hazardous Materials Regulations). 49 CFR Parts 100–185 govern hazmat transport. Drivers must hold valid CDL with H endorsement and TSA background screening. Cargo tanks subject to PHMSA inspection requirements (49 CFR Part 180).
Common questions
HazMat & Petroleum insurance, answered.
Most hazmat operations get a real quote in 3–5 business days. Hazmat is a manually-underwritten class — carriers won’t auto-quote it. New ventures and accounts with pollution history can run 7–10 business days.
MCS-90 is a federal financial-responsibility endorsement — a public-protection guarantee, not real coverage in the carrier-to-insured sense. Real pollution liability (CA-9948 or proprietary) responds to cleanup and third-party pollution claims as primary coverage. You need both.
Yes, but narrowly. A small carrier panel writes new authority hazmat, typically at rated-up pricing and with experienced-driver requirements. Most carriers want 12–24 months under the same MC#.
Most carriers write Class 3 flammable liquids and Class 8 corrosives. Class 1 (explosives), Class 2.3 (poison-by-inhalation gases), Class 6.1 (poison liquids), and Class 7 (radioactives) narrow the market significantly. We’ll tell you what’s writeable.
Yes — federal law requires CDL with H endorsement and TSA background screening for any driver hauling placarded hazmat loads. Underwriters require copies of current endorsements on file.
Up materially over the last three years on both auto liability and pollution. Nuclear verdict environment and PFAS/forever-chemical claim development have driven pollution capacity tighter.
COIs for terminal access and shipper contracts are routine. We don’t perform PHMSA compliance audits — that’s typically a separate consultant — but we coordinate with whoever you use for hazmat compliance.
Get a quote