1–9 Unit Commercial Truck Insurance Pricing: The Ultimate Guide
Commercial truck driving on highway for small fleet insurance pricing guide
If you own or operate a 1–9 unit trucking company, you’ve probably searched some version of:
How much does commercial truck insurance cost?
Why is my truck insurance so expensive?
Why do fleets pay less per truck than I do?
Is my insurance company overcharging me?
This guide answers those questions using real pricing data from Aronson Group’s insurance book not industry averages, not estimates, and not marketing fluff.
All insights below are based on:
WON deals (policies that bound)
LOST deals (quotes that did not bind)
Data normalized per truck, annualized, and grouped by fleet size, state, operation type, and years in business
Who Is Aronson Group?
Aronson Group is a commercial insurance agency that specializes exclusively in small trucking companies specifically 1–9 unit fleets.
While most insurance agencies focus on 10+ truck fleets, Aronson Group was built to serve the segment that makes up over 97% of DOT numbers on the road.
Key facts:
Insures 5,000+ trucking companies
Focused on owner-operators and small fleets
Access to exclusive trucking-only insurance markets
Quotes delivered in 24 hours or less
Our mission is simple: Give small trucking companies access to fair pricing and fast answers.
Commercial trucking insurance consultation for small fleet owners
How Much Does Commercial Truck Insurance Cost for 1–9 Unit Fleets?
Short answer: it depends on fleet size, state, operation type, years in business, and credit but patterns are very clear.
Average Annual Cost Per Truck (Based on Our Data)
| Fleet Size | Avg Cost Per Truck |
|---|---|
| 1 Truck | $13,000–$14,000 |
| 2–4 Trucks | $11,000–$12,000 |
| 5–9 Trucks | $12,000–$13,000 |
These are real bound premiums, not quotes.
Average annual commercial truck insurance cost by fleet size
Why Is Truck Insurance So Expensive for One-Truck Companies?
Because insurance companies penalize lack of scale.
From our data:
One-truck companies pay the highest cost per truck
New ventures (0–2 years) are hit hardest
Credit score can impact pricing 30–60%
One claim has nowhere to “spread out”
What We See in LOST Deals (1 Truck)
Avg quoted premium: ~$19,000 per truck
Median: ~$17,500
Extreme outliers much higher
One-truck deals usually don’t fail because the driver isn’t serious. They fail because the price is unworkable.
Are Owner-Operators Overpaying for Truck Insurance?
Yes, very often.
When one-truck companies bind with Aronson Group:
Premiums drop closer to $13K
Pricing stabilizes
Coverage improves
If you’re paying $15,000+ per year for one truck, there’s a strong chance you’re overpaying due to:
limited market access
being stuck with one carrier
new venture surcharges
poor policy structure
Why Do Fleets Pay Less Per Truck Than Owner-Operators?
Multiple commercial trucks showing fleet insurance pricing differences
Insurance carriers reward predictability and volume.
As soon as you add trucks:
Risk spreads out
Loss modeling improves
Underwriters relax pricing
What Our Data Shows
2–4 truck fleets pay $1,500–$2,500 less per truck than owner-operators
5–9 truck fleets gain leverage through structure, not just size
But here’s the problem: Many 2–4 truck fleets are still rated like single trucks.
Are 2–4 Truck Companies the Most Overcharged?
Yes, quietly.
This is the most mispriced segment we see.
WON Deals (2–4 Trucks)
~$11,000–$12,000 per truck
Fleet-style pricing when structured correctly
LOST Deals (2–4 Trucks)
Often already paying ~$9,000–$10,000 per truck
Didn’t switch because savings weren’t obvious
This tells us:
High-priced 2–4 truck fleets almost always switch
Low-priced ones need service + strategy, not just price
What Is the Best Time to Shop Truck Insurance?
Before renewal and especially around year two in business.
Years-in-Business Pricing Pattern
0–1 year: highest premiums
2 years: major pricing pivot
3+ years: stability improves fast
Many truckers miss this window and stay overpriced for years.
Does State Affect Truck Insurance Pricing?
Yes, but carrier access matters more.
Higher-Cost States (From Our Data)
Texas
Florida
Georgia
More Favorable States
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio
Much of the Midwest
Illinois stands out:
High volume
Extremely high close rates
Strong carrier participation
A driver in a “hard” state with the right carrier often beats a driver in an “easy” state with the wrong one.
Which Trucking Operations Are Hardest to Insure?
High-risk trucking operations affecting commercial insurance pricing
Bind More Easily
Dry van
Refrigerated
Standard flatbed
Intrastate operations
Face More Pricing Pressure
Hotshot (especially new ventures)
Logging
Livestock
Certain box truck operations
Hotshot operations showed near-zero bind rate in LOST data not because they’re bad drivers, but because underwriting models struggle to price them.
Why Do So Many Truckers Feel Ignored by Their Insurance Agent?
Because most agencies are not built for small fleets.
Common problems we hear:
Late renewals
One carrier option
No long-term plan
No explanation for increases
Large fleets get strategy. Small fleets usually get silence.
How Is Aronson Group Different?
We don’t treat 1–9 unit companies as “small accounts.”
We provide:
Multiple market access
Structured fleet placement (even for 1–2 trucks)
Clear education
Fast quoting (24 hours)
Long-term insurance strategy
Our job is not just to quote you it’s to make sure your insurance scales fairly as you grow.
How Do I Know If I’m Overpaying for Truck Insurance?
You’re likely overpaying if:
You pay $15,000+ per truck
You’ve grown past one truck but pricing didn’t improve
You’re approaching 2 years in business
You’ve never seen multiple carrier options
Your renewal always comes last minute
Final Answer: What Should 1–9 Unit Trucking Companies Do?
Highway at sunset representing long-term trucking insurance strategy
Stop guessing. Stop accepting “that’s just the market.”
Click the link below and compare your operation to real data. Quotes in 24 hours or less.