Truckers Pollution Liability
A spill at the fuel island shouldn't sink the company.
Truckers Pollution Liability covers the cleanup costs, third-party claims, and defense costs when a contaminant is released at a trucking operation — a diesel spill at the fuel island, a DEF or oil leak in the maintenance shop, or a chemical release during loading. Standard general liability carries an absolute pollution exclusion, so without this policy, the cleanup is on you.
What It Covers
Coverage That Fits Your Operation
Truckers Pollution Liability covers the cleanup costs, third-party claims, and defense costs when a contaminant is released at a trucking operation — a diesel spill at the fuel island, a DEF or oil leak in the maintenance shop, or a chemical release during loading. Standard general liability carries an absolute pollution exclusion, so without this policy, the cleanup is on you.
For motor carriers with their own fuel storage, maintenance shops, or chemical handling, pollution exposure is constant and a single incident can cost six figures. Truckers pollution coverage is the policy that fills the exclusion your GL won't.
Fuel & chemical spill cleanup
Costs to clean up diesel, oil, DEF, and chemical releases at your facility.
Third-party bodily injury
Injury claims from a contaminant release at your terminal.
Third-party property damage
Property damage from a release — including soil and groundwater.
On-site cleanup (first-party)
Cleanup of contamination on property you own or occupy.
Loading & fueling operations
Coverage for releases during fueling, loading, and maintenance.
Defense & investigation costs
Legal and remediation expenses — often the bulk of a pollution claim.
Why your GL policy will not cover a spill
Every modern general liability policy contains an absolute pollution exclusion. The moment diesel, oil, or a chemical is released at your facility, the GL carrier invokes the exclusion. A single reportable spill that triggers an environmental response can cost well into six figures — an uninsured loss for a carrier without pollution coverage. Truckers pollution liability is priced modestly against that catastrophic exposure.
How truckers pollution liability is priced
Pollution premium depends on the materials present (diesel fuel only is lowest; bulk chemicals and hazmat are higher), your fuel storage and handling, the size and location of the facility, and the limits carried. Many terminals add a $1M pollution policy for a few thousand dollars per year — a small cost against the exposure.
Common Endorsements & Add-Ons
- Above-ground & underground storage tanks. Coverage for releases from AST and UST fuel systems.
- First-party on-site cleanup. Cleans up contamination on your own property.
- MCS-90 (hazmat auto) coordination. Coordinates with the federal hazmat filing where applicable.
- Contractors pollution (project). Coverage for specific hauling or cleanup projects.
Pollution Liability FAQ
Pollution Liability — Your Questions
No. General liability carries an absolute pollution exclusion, so a fuel or chemical release is uninsured without a separate pollution policy. A single reportable spill can cost six figures in cleanup — truckers pollution liability is the coverage that fills the gap.
Often yes. Diesel fuel, oil, DEF, and maintenance-shop chemicals are enough to trigger a pollution claim and the GL exclusion. If you have a fuel island, fuel storage, or a maintenance shop, the exposure exists regardless of what freight you haul.
A $1M pollution policy for a typical terminal often runs a few thousand dollars per year, depending on materials, storage, facility size, and limits. Bulk-chemical and hazmat-adjacent operations cost more. We structure limits that match your real exposure.
Ready to Bind Truckers Pollution Liability?
Get a specialized trucking liability quote. We shop A-rated carriers and structure the right limits — usually within one business day.