Fireworks.org – The World’s Fireworks Community › Forums › Transportation › What kind of insurance do you need when transporting fireworks commercially?
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I’ve been hauling fireworks for my display business for a few years now and I keep getting mixed answers on insurance requirements.
Like I know you need hazmat endorsements and all that, but what about the actual cargo insurance? My current trucking policy said they won’t cover fireworks at all since it’s classified as hazardous. Had to find a separate broker.
If you’re running a pyro business and transporting 1.3G or even large quantities of 1.4G, what kind of insurance do you carry? Is there a standard “fireworks float” type policy or do you just go with general hazmat cargo insurance?
Also curious what happens if you get into an accident. Does your regular auto insurance cover the truck itself even if the cargo isn’t covered?
Would appreciate any insight before I dump more money into another policy lol. This stuff adds up fast.
Great question Steve. I went through this exact thing when I started my own show company.
The short answer is: yes, you need separate hazmat cargo insurance. Standard commercial auto policies explicitly exclude hazmat. I use a broker who specializes in pyro insurance – there are a few out there. Expect to pay somewhere around $1500-3000/year depending on your volume.
Also worth noting: if you’re just hauling 1.4G consumer stuff the requirements are a little more relaxed vs 1.3G. But honestly the insurance cost difference isnt that big so I just got full coverage for both.
One thing nobody told me until I already had a policy – check if your coverage includes loading/unloading. Some policies only cover while the truck is moving and you’re SOL if something happens while you’re at a show site.
Adding on to what Ron said – the loading/unloading thing is CRUCIAL. I found that out the hard way after a claim got denied.
There’s a good thread in the Transportation section on here that goes into the different policy types. Look for the one about shipping ground freight – a few people broke down the insurance stuff pretty well.
Also check if your policy covers temporary storage. If you’re loading up the night before and storing the truck overnight, some policies don’t cover theft unless the vehicle is in a secured yard. Learned that one the expensive way too.
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