Business Insurance
Inland Marine and Equipment Insurance
What is inland marine / equipment?
Inland marine insurance covers business property that moves: tools on a truck, equipment at a job site, machinery in transit, and gear that works at customer locations. Standard property policies are built for property that stays at your address, which is exactly what mobile equipment does not do.
The name is a holdover from ocean shipping. The coverage is thoroughly modern.
Who needs it
Inland marine fits businesses whose property travels:
- Contractors with tools and equipment moving between job sites
- Landscapers with mowers, trailers, and handheld equipment
- Mobile businesses, from food trailers' equipment to mobile detailing rigs
- Photographers, AV companies, and anyone with portable high-value gear
- Businesses renting or borrowing equipment they are responsible for
What it commonly covers
Common inland marine coverages include:
- Contractors equipment, scheduled (listed individually) or blanket (small tools)
- Property in transit on your vehicles
- Installation floaters for materials at job sites before installation
- Leased and rented equipment in your care
- Theft from vehicles and job sites, a leading loss for trades
What it may not cover
Watch for:
- Wear, tear, and mechanical breakdown
- Unexplained disappearance on some forms
- Theft from unlocked or unattended vehicles may carry conditions
- Employee tools, unless specifically added
Coverage varies by policy. The details above are general; your policy's terms control.
When it's commonly required
- Equipment lenders and lessors require coverage on financed machines
- Some job site agreements require installation floaters
- Rental houses require proof of coverage before releasing equipment
How BrokerPro approaches it
The practical question is what you would actually lose if your truck or trailer was emptied overnight, which is the claim we see most. We build a schedule for big-ticket items, set a blanket limit for small tools, and make sure theft conditions match how your crew actually works.
If you finance or rent equipment, bring us the agreement and we will match the certificate to what it requires.
Common questions
Doesn't my commercial auto policy cover tools in my truck?
Generally no. Auto policies cover the vehicle, not cargo or tools inside it. Inland marine picks up tools and equipment in transit and at job sites. The two policies are designed to work together.
What's the difference between scheduled and blanket equipment coverage?
Scheduled coverage lists specific items with their values, right for expensive machines. Blanket coverage sets one limit for a pool of smaller tools without listing each one. Most contractors use both.
Is theft from my truck overnight covered?
Often yes, but forms differ on conditions, like requiring forced entry or a locked vehicle. This is one of the most common equipment claims, so we read the theft conditions carefully before recommending a policy.
Ready to look at inland marine / equipment options?
Send us the basics and we'll come back with practical choices and plain-English explanations. No runaround.