Why is it called “inland marine” if it's not about water?
This is the question that brings most people to the page, so we answer it first. The coverage grew out of old marine cargo insurance — protection for goods being shipped over water. As trade moved off the docks and onto roads and rails, insurers extended that same idea “inland” to cover goods moving over land. The name stuck, but the modern meaning is simpler: inland marine is insurance for movable, transportable property. If your valuable stuff travels, this is the coverage built for it.
What it covers
What does inland marine actually cover?
At its core it covers the equipment and materials your business carries away from home base. One of the most common claims under it is theft from a work vehicle — tools taken out of a truck overnight — which is exactly the loss a building-bound property policy tends to leave out.
| Covered | Typical examples |
|---|---|
| Tools & equipment off-site | Power tools, generators on a jobsite |
| Property in transit | Equipment in your truck between jobs |
| Equipment at a temporary site | A lift or compressor staged on location |
| Others' property in your care | A rented machine you're responsible for |
| (Often) theft from the vehicle | A common claim for tradespeople |
Who needs inland marine / equipment coverage?
Anyone whose valuable property leaves the building. Contractors need it for the tools and equipment that ride between sites — it's a near-universal coverage for the trades. Auto repair shops need it for portable diagnostics and equipment that moves off the lot. Trucking operations need it for equipment beyond the cargo itself. Real estate investors' crews need it for the gear they haul to rehab jobs. The clean rule: if your valuable stuff LEAVES your building, a property policy probably won't cover it — inland marine will.
- → Contractors carry this as a core coverage: Contractors
- → Auto repair shops: Auto Repair Shops
- → Trucking: Trucking
The distinction
Inland marine vs. commercial property — what's the difference?
Commercial property covers things at a fixed location — your shop, office, or yard. Inland marine covers things that are movable or in transit. The two are built to fit together, but the gap between them is real: off-site tool theft and in-transit damage fall right in the middle, where a property-only policy stops and inland marine begins. Carrying one without the other leaves the moving half of your business exposed.
How much does it cost and how is it scheduled?
Cost depends on the value of your equipment, how it's used, and how it's covered. There are two common structures: scheduled coverage, where specific high-value items are listed individually with their own limits, and blanket coverage, which sets a single pool limit for unscheduled smaller tools. Many tradespeople use a mix — schedule the expensive machines, blanket the hand tools. We'll size it to what you actually carry, and your exact limits come from a quote.
FAQ
Inland marine / equipment insurance FAQs
- Is inland marine the same as tools and equipment insurance?
- In practice, yes — "tools and equipment" coverage for contractors is a form of inland marine. The category is broader, but for a tradesperson they usually mean the same protection for movable gear.
- Does my general liability cover my stolen tools?
- No. GL covers harm you cause others; it doesn't cover your own tools being stolen or damaged. That's inland marine.
- Are tools stolen from my truck covered?
- Typically yes under inland marine — but it depends on your policy terms, so confirm yours with us.
By Zachary J. Kramer, licensed insurance agent, 20+ years' experience, NPN 7570201, Baylor University BBA. Flatland Expeditions LLC, founded in 2022.