Business Insurance  /  Inland Marine

Commercial Coverage

Inland Marine &
Tools & Equipment
Insurance.

Your truck is covered. Your liability is covered. But the tools and equipment that actually make your business run — the chainsaws, the mowers, the pumps, the meters, the gear in your trailer — those aren’t covered by either one. Inland marine is what covers them.

What Inland Marine Insurance Covers

Coverage that follows your equipment — wherever the work takes it.

Inland marine insurance — also called tools and equipment coverage — protects the physical assets your business uses to do its work. Tools, machinery, equipment, and specialized gear are covered against theft, damage, and loss whether they’re at your shop, in transit, or on a job site. The name “inland marine” is historical — it evolved from marine cargo coverage — but what it does for modern businesses is simple: it covers property that moves.

Commercial property insurance covers what’s at your fixed business location. Commercial auto covers your vehicles. General liability covers damage you cause to others. None of those cover your own tools and equipment while they’re being used or transported for work. That’s the gap inland marine fills — and for any business that depends on physical equipment to generate revenue, it’s a critical one.

“If your equipment was stolen from a job site or a trailer overnight, could you keep working tomorrow? Inland marine is what makes the answer yes — instead of no.”

Inland marine policies can be written as a blanket policy covering all equipment up to a set value, or as a scheduled policy listing specific items with individual values. Scheduled policies provide clearer coverage on high-value items — blanket policies are simpler to manage for businesses with a lot of smaller tools.

What inland marine / tools & equipment coverage pays for:

✓
Theft from job sites
Equipment stolen from an active job site, an unattended work area, or left on a client’s property overnight
✓
Theft from vehicles & trailers
Tools and equipment stolen out of your truck, van, or trailer — one of the most common claims for field-based businesses
✓
Damage in transit
Equipment damaged while being transported between your shop and job sites, or while being loaded or unloaded
✓
Accidental damage on the job
Equipment that’s dropped, broken, or damaged accidentally during normal use at a job site or work location
✓
Fire, vandalism & weather
Equipment damaged by fire, vandalism, or weather events while stored, in transit, or on a job site
✓
Equipment at your location
Tools and equipment stored at your shop or yard — coverage that bridges the gap when commercial property limits fall short

Why Your Other Policies Don’t Cover It

GL, commercial auto, and commercial property each leave your equipment exposed.

Most business owners assume their existing coverage handles their tools and equipment. It doesn’t — or it covers far less than they think. Here’s exactly where each policy falls short.

General Liability

GL covers damage you cause to other people’s property — not damage to your own. If your chainsaw is stolen from a job site or your drill is damaged in a fall, that’s your loss. GL won’t pay for it. GL is third-party coverage; inland marine is first-party coverage for your own assets.

Commercial Auto

Commercial auto covers your vehicle — the truck or van itself. It does not cover the contents inside it. Tools, equipment, and materials stored in your vehicle are not covered under commercial auto when they’re stolen or damaged. Your trailer may be covered as a scheduled vehicle, but the contents of the trailer are not.

Commercial Property

Commercial property covers assets at your fixed business location — your shop, office, or yard. Once your equipment leaves that location for a job site, it’s no longer covered by commercial property. The moment your tools are in the truck headed to the job, commercial property stops applying and nothing else picks up without inland marine.

Who Needs Inland Marine Coverage

Any business where equipment leaves the building to do the work.

If your business uses physical tools or equipment on job sites, in the field, or at client locations — and replacing that equipment would affect your ability to operate — inland marine coverage belongs in your program.

Landscaping & Lawn Care

Mowers, trimmers, blowers, irrigation equipment, trailers — theft from job sites and overnight trailer break-ins are among the most common claims in this industry.

Tree Service

Chainsaws, climbing gear, rigging hardware, stump grinders, and chippers are expensive and prime targets for theft. Equipment left on job sites or in trailers overnight is consistently at risk.

Contractors & Trades

Power tools, hand tools, laser levels, generators, compressors — contractors carry significant equipment value to every job site. Theft and damage are daily exposures.

Pool & Spa Contractors

Pumps, vacuums, test equipment, chemical dispensing systems, and service tools all qualify. Both builders on job sites and service techs on routes carry equipment that needs protection.

HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical

Specialized tools and diagnostic equipment for the mechanical trades can represent tens of thousands of dollars in value — often carried in vehicles left in neighborhoods overnight.

Cleaning & Janitorial

Commercial cleaning equipment — extractors, floor buffers, pressure washers — is valuable, portable, and frequently left in vehicles or at client locations between visits.

Photography & Media

Cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, and production gear are high-value, portable, and frequently transported between locations — a classic inland marine exposure.

Any Field-Based Business

If your team takes equipment to client locations, job sites, or project locations — and losing it would cost you money and time — inland marine is the coverage that protects it.

Real Scenarios.

What inland marine actually protects you from — and what it costs when you don’t have it.

These are the situations that happen regularly to field-based businesses. Without inland marine, every one of them is an out-of-pocket loss.

01
Your trailer is broken into overnight
You park your equipment trailer at a job site or at home and wake up to find the lock cut and thousands of dollars in tools missing. Your commercial auto covered the trailer itself — but not what was inside. Your GL covers damage to others — not your own property. Without inland marine, you’re replacing every stolen tool out of pocket before you can finish the job.

03
A piece of equipment is damaged in transit
A compressor or generator shifts during transport and is damaged before you arrive at the job site. Commercial auto covers the vehicle — not the cargo. Inland marine covers equipment damaged in transit, which is one of the most common loss events for contractors who haul heavy equipment regularly.

05
Equipment left at a job site is vandalized
You leave equipment staged at a multi-day job site and return in the morning to find it vandalized. It’s not at your business location, so commercial property doesn’t apply. Vandalism damage is still a covered cause of loss under inland marine and it still costs money to repair or replace.

02
A chainsaw is stolen from an active job site
Mid-job, while your crew is working in the backyard, someone walks off with a chainsaw from the front of the property. It happens in minutes. The chainsaw isn’t in a vehicle and it’s not at your shop — it’s on a client’s property being used for a job. Neither your auto policy nor your commercial property covers it. Inland marine does.

04
Specialized tools are dropped and destroyed
An expensive diagnostic tool, a specialized measuring device, or a high-end piece of trade equipment is dropped from height or hit during a job and destroyed. Accidental damage during work is a covered cause of loss under most inland marine policies — something that neither GL nor commercial property addresses.

06
You can’t work while waiting to replace stolen gear
The financial loss from a theft or equipment loss isn’t just the replacement cost — it’s also the jobs you can’t complete while you’re waiting to replace the equipment. Some inland marine policies include rental reimbursement or expediting expenses to help you get back to work faster.

Why Get Your Inland Marine Coverage Through McKnight

The right policy matches how your equipment actually moves through the world.

Inland marine isn’t one-size-fits-all. A landscaper hauling mowers and trimmers in a trailer has different coverage needs than an electrical contractor with a van full of specialized tools, or a pool service tech running a route of residential properties. The coverage structure — blanket vs. scheduled, the per-item limits, what causes of loss are included — needs to match your actual operation.

We look at what equipment you own, how much it’s worth, how it’s transported, and where it’s at risk. We also make sure the limits actually reflect replacement cost — not depreciated value. A policy that pays out $1,200 on a $3,500 chainsaw that’s two years old isn’t adequate coverage, it’s a gap dressed up as coverage.

For businesses with high-value individual items — specialty equipment, expensive diagnostic tools, or a specific piece of machinery — we make sure those are scheduled specifically so there’s no dispute about value at claim time. For businesses with lots of smaller tools, a blanket approach may be simpler and equally effective. We walk through both and recommend the right fit.

Coverage structured for your operation
Blanket or scheduled, we match the policy structure to how your equipment actually moves and where it’s at risk.

One account manager for your full program
Your inland marine sits alongside your GL, auto, and workers’ comp — one person sees the complete picture and closes the gaps.

100+ carriers
We shop the market for the right inland marine program for your industry, equipment type, and coverage needs.

Real answers when you call
817.277.6166, weekdays 8:30–5pm. Questions about coverage structure or a theft that just happened — we pick up.

FAQ

Inland marine & tools coverage questions we hear all the time.

What is inland marine insurance and why is it called that?
Inland marine insurance covers property that moves — tools, equipment, and goods in transit. The name comes from its origins in marine cargo insurance, which was adapted to cover goods transported over land as well as water. For modern businesses, inland marine simply means coverage that follows your equipment wherever it goes: job sites, client locations, in transit, in your vehicle, or at your yard. It fills the gap that commercial property (which covers fixed locations) and commercial auto (which covers vehicles, not their contents) leave behind.
Does my commercial auto policy cover tools stolen from my truck?
No — commercial auto covers the vehicle itself, not the contents inside it. If your truck is broken into and your tools are stolen, commercial auto pays for the broken window or damaged lock on the vehicle but does not cover the stolen tools. The contents of your vehicle require inland marine coverage. This is one of the most common coverage gaps we see in field-based business programs — business owners assume the auto policy covers everything in the truck, and find out it doesn’t when they file a claim.
Does commercial property cover my tools when they’re on a job site?
No — commercial property covers assets at your fixed business location. Once your equipment leaves your shop, yard, or office for a job site, commercial property no longer applies. Some commercial property policies include a limited off-premises extension, but the sublimits are typically very low and rarely reflect the actual value of equipment taken to a job site. Inland marine is the right coverage for equipment that moves off your property to do work.
What’s the difference between a blanket policy and a scheduled policy?
A blanket inland marine policy covers all your tools and equipment up to a total coverage limit — you don’t have to list every item individually. It’s simpler to manage and works well for businesses with lots of smaller tools. A scheduled policy lists specific items with individual stated values — better for high-value equipment where you want no ambiguity about what it’s worth at claim time. Many businesses use a combination: a blanket limit for general tools and scheduled coverage for their most valuable individual pieces. We walk through both options and recommend the structure that fits your operation.
Is accidental damage to my equipment covered — not just theft?
Most inland marine policies cover a broad range of causes of loss — including theft, vandalism, fire, weather damage, damage in transit, and accidental damage during use. Coverage for accidental damage varies by policy form, so it’s worth confirming when we set up your coverage. Some policies cover “all risk” causes of loss with specific exclusions listed; others cover only named perils. We make sure you understand exactly what triggers a covered claim before you sign.
How is the value of my equipment determined at claim time?
It depends on how your policy is written. Some policies pay actual cash value — the depreciated value of the equipment at the time of loss. A two-year-old chainsaw under ACV might pay out a fraction of what a new one costs. Replacement cost policies pay what it costs to replace the item with a new equivalent, regardless of age. For working equipment that’s essential to your operation, replacement cost is almost always worth the additional premium. We confirm how your equipment is valued when setting up your policy so there’s no surprise at claim time.
Does inland marine cover equipment I rent or borrow?
Coverage for rented or borrowed equipment varies by policy. Some inland marine policies include coverage for equipment you rent from a third party while it’s in your care — others require a separate endorsement or don’t cover it at all. If you regularly rent equipment for jobs, this is worth addressing specifically. Rental companies often sell their own damage waiver at the counter — but having it covered under your own policy is typically more cost-effective for businesses that rent frequently.
How much does inland marine / tools and equipment coverage cost?
Inland marine is typically one of the more affordable commercial coverages relative to the protection it provides. Premium is based on the total value of covered equipment, the types of equipment, your industry, and your claims history. A small landscaping company with $15,000 in equipment might pay a few hundred dollars per year. A contractor with $75,000 or more in tools and machinery will pay more, but the premium is still modest relative to the replacement cost exposure it covers. We get you an accurate quote based on what you actually own.

Get Started

Let’s make sure the equipment your business depends on is actually covered.

Call us or request a quote. We’ll review your equipment, identify the right coverage structure, and make sure your tools are protected wherever the work takes them.

McKnight Insurance Services  ·  Mansfield, TX  ·  Same-day certificates  ·  Weekdays 8:30am–5pm