Food Truck Insurance in Massachusetts

What Is Food Truck Insurance?

Operating a food truck generally requires less investment than opening a restaurant does, but there still are substantial resources poured into these businesses. Those resources should be protected, and that’s where food truck insurance comes in. This insurance can help protect food trucks in Massachusetts from a range of potentially devastating risks.

Food truck insurance policies are specialized commercial insurance policies that have been specifically designed to meet the risk mitigation needs of food trucks and similar businesses. Most policies are written as package policies that include multiple coverages, and food truck owners can frequently adjust the coverages in a particular policy for their business’ unique situation.

What Businesses in Massachusetts Need Food Cart Insurance?

Food cart insurance is generally suitable for Massachusetts businesses that serve foods and/or beverages from a mobile cart, trailer or truck. Some examples of such businesses include:

Gourmet food trucks

Hamburger and hot dog cats

Ice cream bikes and trucks

Concessionaires who travel to festivals

Restaurants that have added a food truck

Business owners who aren’t sure whether this is the right insurance for their food-service company should speak with a specialized insurance agent. An agent who’s familiar with food cart insurance policies will be able to help determine whether this or another form of insurance is more appropriate.

What Coverages Do Food Cart Insurance Policies Provide?

Since businesses can frequently adjust their policy’s exact coverages, the protections included in food cart insurance policies often vary. Nonetheless, there are many coverages that policies offer as standard or optional protections. A few of the more common ones are:

General Liability Coverage, which might cover certain common accidents and defamation suits
Business Property Coverage, which might cover an owned truck and other equipment
Inland Marine Coverage, which might cover equipment when it’s being moved between locations
Product Liability Coverage, which might cover instances of widespread food-borne illness
Commercial Vehicle Coverage, which might cover an owned vehicle
Liquor Liability Coverage, which may be necessary if a truck serves alcohol

Do Food Cart Policies Provide Workers Compensation?

Many food trucks are required to have workers compensation, and it’s recommended for most others. State law generally requires trucks that have paid employees to carry workers comp for their employees in case those employees are injured or become ill on the job. Owner-operators who don’t have employees might not be under such a requirement, but they might still want the protection in case they’re personally injured while working. Some health insurance policies exclude work-related injuries.

An agent who assists with food cart policies can likely also help with workers compensation coverage. The coverage occasionally is purchased within a package policy, but it’s commonly procured as a separate policy that stands by itself.

How Much Do Food Truck Policies Cost?

Insurance companies look at many factors when setting premiums for food truck policies. Some or all of the following could affect how much a particular policy costs:

What type of cart, trailer or truck a business uses

What types of menu items a business offers

Where a business sets up operations and serves customers

How many customers a business serves annually

How many insurance claims a business has recently filed

Of course, the coverages and limits chosen also impact premiums.

How Can Food Trucks in Massachusetts Get Food Truck Insurance?

For help insuring a food truck that’s in Massachusetts, contact the independent insurance agents at Roger Butler Insurance. Our agents have helped set up food truck insurance for many food trucks and similar businesses in the state, and they have the expertise necessary to assist you in finding the right policy for yours.