Business-to-business transport sits at the sharp end of supply chains. You’re moving other people’s stock, components, machinery, medical devices, food, chemicals, or high-value electronics—often to tight deadlines and under contract terms that shift risk onto the carrier.
One incident can trigger multiple losses at once: damaged goods, missed delivery windows, contractual penalties, third-party injury, vehicle downtime, and reputational fallout. B2B logistics insurance is designed to keep those risks survivable.
This guide explains the core insurance covers used in UK B2B logistics, who needs what, where gaps typically appear, and how to buy the right protection without paying for the wrong thing.
B2B logistics is a broad umbrella. Insurance needs vary depending on what you do and what you contractually accept.
Common examples include:
Haulage and HGV operators (own-account and hire & reward)
Courier and same-day delivery firms
Freight forwarders and customs agents
Pallet networks and multi-drop operators
Warehouse operators and fulfilment centres
3PL/4PL providers managing end-to-end logistics
Specialist carriers (temperature-controlled, ADR, abnormal loads)
Plant and machinery movers
Medical device and pharmaceutical logistics providers
If you touch customers’ goods, operate vehicles on the road, store stock, or manage subcontractors, you’ll almost certainly need a combination of liability and cargo-related cover.
Goods in Transit covers loss or damage to goods while they are being carried.
Key points to understand:
Whose goods? Some policies cover goods you own; others cover customers’ goods you’re responsible for.
Basis of cover: “All risks” (wider) vs “named perils” (narrower).
Limits: Usually per vehicle, per consignment, and in the aggregate.
Territory: UK only, UK & EU, or worldwide (including sea/air).
Typical insured events include collision, overturning, theft, fire, and accidental damage during transit. Some policies can extend to loading/unloading, temporary storage, and cross-docking.
Common gaps:
Unattended vehicle theft conditions (locks, alarms, secure parking)
High-value items requiring tracker/immobiliser
Temperature deviation (needs a specific extension)
Theft from insecure premises
Packaging and “inherent vice” (goods that spoil/decay naturally)
This is where many B2B logistics businesses get caught out.
Carriers’ liability is not the same as Goods in Transit. It’s designed to cover your legal liability for loss or damage to goods, often under standard trading conditions.
In the UK, many hauliers trade under:
RHA Conditions of Carriage (domestic UK)
CMR Convention (international road carriage)
These frameworks can cap your liability (for example, CMR limits are based on weight). But if you sign contracts that override standard terms—agreeing to “full value” liability, liquidated damages, or strict delivery windows—you may have created exposures beyond what a basic carriers’ liability policy covers.
What to check:
Are you trading under RHA/CMR, or bespoke customer contracts?
Do you accept liability for consequential loss, penalties, or delay?
Do you subcontract and still remain responsible to the customer?
A good broker will ask for your contracts or at least your standard terms and major customer requirements.
Public liability covers injury to third parties and damage to third-party property arising from your business activities.
In logistics, PL claims can come from:
Forklift accidents during loading/unloading
Damage to customer premises (doors, bays, racking)
Spillage causing slips or vehicle damage
Damage caused by pallets, cages, tail lifts, and straps
PL is often required by customers and site operators before you can access depots.
If you employ staff in the UK (including many labour-only arrangements), Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
Logistics has elevated EL exposure due to:
Manual handling injuries
Vehicle-related incidents
Warehouse slips/trips
Repetitive strain injuries
Night shifts and fatigue-related accidents
Motor cover is the backbone for any operator using vehicles on the road.
Key considerations:
Own goods vs hire & reward use
Any driver vs named drivers
New drivers, young drivers, and driver training
Vehicle modifications, tail lifts, refrigeration units
Courtesy vehicles and temporary additions
Claims management and telematics
Motor insurance doesn’t automatically cover the cargo. That’s why GIT/cargo and liability covers matter.
If you store goods for others, you may need:
Warehousekeepers’ liability (legal liability for customers’ goods while in your care)
Stock insurance (for goods you own)
Warehousing risks include fire, flood, theft, sprinkler leakage, racking collapse, and handling damage.
Also consider:
Peak season stock levels (do your sums insured flex?)
High-value zones and secure cages
Temperature-controlled storage and equipment breakdown
Not every logistics business needs PI, but it’s increasingly relevant for:
Freight forwarders arranging transport and customs
3PL/4PL providers managing contracts and suppliers
Businesses providing compliance, routing, or documentation services
PI covers claims that your advice, admin, or professional service caused a financial loss—such as incorrect customs paperwork, misdeclared goods, or a missed booking that triggers contractual penalties.
Logistics is a prime cyber target: routing systems, customer portals, proof-of-delivery data, payment details, and operational tech.
Cyber cover can help with:
Ransomware and business interruption
Data breach response and notification costs
Liability claims and regulatory support
IT forensics and system restoration
If you rely on a transport management system (TMS), warehouse management system (WMS), or integrated customer API connections, cyber risk is operational risk.
BI covers lost gross profit and ongoing expenses following an insured event (often linked to property damage, such as a fire at your warehouse).
For B2B logistics, BI can be critical because:
Contracts may be lost quickly after downtime
Replacement vehicles and temporary warehousing cost money
Recovery can take months, not weeks
Extensions to consider:
Denial of access (e.g., police cordon)
Supplier/customer dependency
Equipment breakdown (for refrigeration or automated systems)
Insurance is full of conditions. In logistics, the most common pain points are:
Unattended vehicle theft clauses: time limits, locked doors, alarm set, secure compound, no overnight parking on roads.
Driver security procedures: keys never left in ignition, no leaving vehicles running, key control logs.
Temperature-controlled exclusions: spoilage often excluded unless specifically covered.
Delay and consequential loss: many policies exclude pure financial loss from late delivery.
Contractual liability: agreeing to broader liability than the law imposes can void cover unless declared.
Subcontractor use: you may need to ensure subcontractors carry equivalent insurance, and your policy may require written agreements.
High-value goods conditions: trackers, two-person crews, approved routes, secure parking.
The practical takeaway: the cheapest policy is often the one with the strictest conditions—conditions that are hardest to comply with in real life.
A sensible way to set limits is to work backwards from your real exposures:
Maximum value of a single load you carry (including peak season)
Maximum value of goods in your warehouse at any one time
Your largest customer contract requirements
Your worst-case third-party injury/property damage scenario
Your weekly gross profit and realistic recovery time after a major incident
If you’re in specialist sectors (medical devices, electronics, ADR, cold chain), limits and conditions matter even more.
Insurers price logistics based on frequency and severity of loss. Practical controls help.
High-impact steps include:
Driver training, licence checks, and clear disciplinary processes
Telematics and dashcams (with documented use)
Secure parking policy and approved rest stops
Key control procedures (especially for depots)
Load restraint training and documented checks
Warehouse fire protection: alarms, sprinklers, housekeeping, battery charging areas
Maintenance schedules for refrigeration and tail lifts
Subcontractor onboarding: proof of insurance, contract terms, service level expectations
Incident reporting and near-miss logging
Good documentation can make renewal smoother and reduce premium volatility.
To quote accurately, insurers typically want:
Business description: haulage, courier, warehousing, forwarding, 3PL
Turnover split by activity
Vehicle list, values, and usage (hire & reward vs own-account)
Driver details, claims history, and risk controls
Goods carried: types, max values, any hazardous/temperature-controlled
Security: parking, trackers, depot security, CCTV
Trading conditions: RHA/CMR/bespoke contracts
Subcontractor arrangements
Warehouse details: construction, fire protection, racking, security
Having this ready speeds up placement and reduces “assumptions” that can create gaps.
Every business is different, but a common structure looks like:
Motor fleet (hire & reward)
Employers’ liability (statutory)
Public liability
Carriers’ liability (RHA/CMR as applicable)
Goods in Transit (with theft conditions you can actually meet)
Warehousekeepers’ liability (if storing customers’ goods)
Cyber (if systems are critical)
Business interruption (if you have premises dependence)
The goal is not to buy “everything”. It’s to make sure the covers you do buy align with your contracts and daily operations.
No, but many customers require it contractually. More importantly, without it you may be unable to pay for a major loss and continue trading.
Goods in Transit typically covers the goods (subject to policy terms). Carriers’ Liability covers your legal liability for loss/damage under trading conditions like RHA or CMR. Many businesses need both.
Usually not. Motor insurance covers the vehicle and third-party road risks. Cargo needs separate cover.
Often yes, contractually. You may still owe the customer even if the subcontractor caused the loss. Make sure your policy and subcontractor agreements reflect this.
Pure delay and consequential loss are commonly excluded. Some specialist wordings may offer limited extensions, but you should assume delay is not covered unless clearly stated.
Many claims happen at this stage. Check whether your GIT/cargo policy includes loading/unloading and whether your PL covers on-site activities.
Yes, but insurers will often require enhanced security: trackers, secure parking, route planning, and strict unattended vehicle conditions.
You’ll likely need a temperature deviation/spoilage extension and evidence of maintenance, calibration, and alarm procedures.
B2B logistics insurance is about more than vehicles. It’s about the promises you make in contracts, the goods you handle, and the operational reality of moving freight day after day.
If you want a practical starting point, review your top 5 customer contracts, list your highest-value loads, and map those exposures to your insurance limits and policy conditions. That’s how you avoid the most expensive kind of “cheap cover”.
If you operate a UK logistics, haulage, courier, warehousing, or freight forwarding business, we can help you review your contracts and build a B2B logistics insurance package that fits how you actually work.
Speak to a specialist to discuss your risks and get a tailored quote.
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