Quick answer
What you carry changes your goods in transit (GIT) cover as much as how much it is worth. High-value, easy-to-sell goods bring stricter security conditions. Perishables need deterioration cover. Fuels and chemicals raise pollution and spillage questions. Bulk and building materials are usually simpler to insure. Tell your broker every commodity you move, including occasional loads, so the policy matches the cargo you actually carry.
Cargo types at a glance
| Cargo type | Main risks | What insurers usually look at | Cover to ask about |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and palletised consumer goods | Theft, loading damage, shifting loads | Load securing, delivery procedures, routes | Loading and offloading cover |
| High-value goods (electronics, appliances, liquor, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals) | Hijacking and theft | Tracking, escorts or convoy rules, parking, driver vetting | Confirm the goods are not excluded or sub-limited |
| Perishables and refrigerated loads | Spoiling from delays or reefer failure | Reefer maintenance, temperature logs, fuel | Deterioration of stock, reefer breakdown |
| Bulk agricultural (grain, fertiliser, feed) | Accident, weather, contamination | Tarpaulins, routes, vehicle condition | Storm and water damage |
| Building materials and steel | Shifting loads, overturning | Securing, axle loads, driver experience | Accident and overturning, debris removal |
| Fuel and chemicals | Spills, fire, environmental clean-up | Hazardous goods compliance, driver training | Pollution and spillage cover |
| Containers from ports | Theft during waits, seal tampering | Seal checks, staging, collection times | Cover while stationary, container terms |
| Machinery on low-beds | Overturning, securing failures | Route surveys, abnormal load permits | Plant all risks for owned equipment |
High-value loads need a security plan
Electronics, liquor, cigarettes and similar goods are easy to resell, which makes them targets. SAPS recorded 327 truck hijackings from April to June 2026, and 219 of them were in Gauteng. Insurers covering these goods usually want tracking with a monitored control room, rules for stops and parking, and sometimes a lower limit or higher excess for theft. Some policies exclude items such as cash or cellphones unless agreed in advance.
Perishables: time is the risk
For refrigerated loads, a delay can do as much damage as a crash. Port and border waits keep reefers running for hours longer than planned. Standard GIT may not pay for spoiled goods unless you have deterioration of stock cover, and some wordings pay only if the cooling unit breaks down. Keep temperature logs and service records, because they support a claim.
Fuels and chemicals: think about the clean-up
A spill can cost more to clean up than the load is worth. Ask about pollution and spillage cover, and make sure drivers and vehicles meet hazardous goods rules. A breach of those rules can affect both the claim and your liability.
Mixed loads and occasional commodities
Many operators carry one main commodity and the odd load of something else. That odd load is where claims go wrong, because it may not have been declared. Keep a list of everything you carry during the year and review it with your broker at renewal.
Match the load limit to the cargo
Different cargo types often mean different load values. Set your load limit to the most valuable load you carry, not the average one. Our guide to choosing a GIT load limit shows how to work it out.
Frequently asked questions
Not automatically. Many policies exclude or restrict certain goods, such as cash, cellphones, cigarettes or livestock. Declare every commodity you carry.
Only if the policy includes deterioration of stock. Some wordings cover spoiling only when the cooling unit breaks down.
Ask for pollution and spillage cover, and make sure your drivers and vehicles comply with hazardous goods rules.
GIT can cover containers on the road leg. Check the terms for sealed containers and for trucks waiting in port queues.
Tell your broker before the trip. Undeclared commodities are a common reason for claim disputes.
Related reading
- Durban port delays and your GIT cover
- Why GIT claims get declined
- Comprehensive GIT insurance checklist
- Peak season GIT insurance checklist for Black Friday and the festive season
Sources
- Freight News: Truck hijacking decline masks under-reporting (RFA), 1 September 2026
This article is general information, not financial advice. Cover depends on underwriting and the policy wording. Cross-Cover Insurance Brokers is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 14628).