AIG vs Heffernan: Cargo and Transit Insurance

AIG markets ocean cargo to importers, exporters and manufacturers; Heffernan Insurance Brokers runs a marine cargo program for freight forwarders with in-house underwriting authority and a dedicated claims division.

Embarcadero Risk brings together source-based comparisons for businesses moving people and goods.Research updated 2026-09-30

AIG lists cargo risk consultations, engineering, and claims support. Heffernan describes a specialty cargo program with in-house underwriting authority, direct claim adjustment and payment authority, and tools for declarations and reporting.

What Are the Key Differences Between AIG and Heffernan Insurance Brokers Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Brokered Cargo and a Specialist Program

AIG lists importers, exporters, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors with cargo moving internationally. Heffernan’s specialty marine cargo program focuses on freight forwarders, customs brokers, import/export operators, and household-goods movers; it says the program has in-house underwriting authority. That is a more defined logistics audience than AIG’s broader shipper list, so ask Heffernan whether your organization fits the program and who carries the paper. [1] [4]

Claims Authority and Shipment Tools

AIG lists marine claims support and route or security consultations. Heffernan says its dedicated claims division can adjust and settle claims and issue payments directly, and it offers online declaration and claim-reporting tools. These program-specific functions may change day-to-day operations; confirm whether the tools and claims authority apply to your proposed cargo class and which claims remain with a carrier. [1] [4]

What Should You Confirm in AIG and Heffernan Insurance Brokers Cargo and Transit Insurance Quotes?

  • Ask Heffernan whether your logistics operation fits its specialty program and which underwriting entity and carrier will appear on the policy. [1] [4]
  • Ask how its direct claims authority applies to your cargo class and whether declaration tools support your shipment volume. [1] [4]
  • Ask AIG who handles claims under the quoted policy and what route-security services can be scheduled. [1] [4]

Coverage topics

AIG

  • role: AIG markets Ocean Cargo insurance and related global/captive solutions. The page does not name the issuing subsidiary for a particular buyer’s policy. Role in this product is limited to the description on the linked AIG source.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: AIG names importers, exporters, manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors with international transit exposures, including containerized general cargo, bulk/break-bulk and project cargo. Audience is the segment AIG names on the linked source; this is not an underwriting decision, quote or guarantee of availability.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: AIG describes protection for goods moved across land, sea or international borders and lists general cargo, bulk/break-bulk and project cargo. It also lists stock-throughput, captive/fronting and logistics package structures; those examples do not settle any buyer’s policy scope. AIG’s public product description is not the policy. Actual entitlement depends on the applicable issued form, endorsements and declarations.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: AIG lists route, conveyance, packaging and security consultations, marine loss-control engineering, and claims support. Its Marine Claims Promise is conditional on confirmed coverage and applies to specified expense categories and agreed loss estimates. The linked page describes company-reported support; specific account services and third-party arrangements must be confirmed.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The page advertises $50 million transit capacity and $50 million storage/warehouse capacity, with natural-catastrophe sublimits stated as $10 million per occurrence and annual aggregate. These are advertised capacity figures, not an individual quote or policy limit. This statement reports only what the linked public source discloses and does not substitute for a quote or issued policy.not-disclosedSource ↗

Heffernan Insurance Brokers

  • role: Heffernan runs a specialty marine cargo program for freight forwarders and logistics companies that it says carries in-house underwriting authority and a dedicated claims division with authority to adjust, settle and issue payments directly. That is a broader, program-administrator-style role than ordinary brokerage, and is specific to this cargo program rather than Heffernan's general business insurance brokerage. Marine Cargo page's 'What Sets Our Programs Apart' section. Does not establish that Heffernan is a licensed carrier or MGA for this program; the exact legal arrangement with its carrier partners was not disclosed.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Heffernan markets its cargo program to freight forwarders, customs brokers, import/export operators and household-goods movers, and describes a global client base of logistics companies, forwarders and brokers. Its separate transportation practice serves trucking and logistics, final-mile delivery, couriers, fuel haulers, towing and moving and storage businesses. Marine Cargo and Transportation page descriptions of target clients and subsectors.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • coverage: Heffernan's cargo program lists general merchandise logistics, household goods logistics, marine cargo legal liability, errors and omissions, surety bonds and special-projects coverage. Its transportation practice separately lists motor truck cargo and brokerage liability and contingent cargo among its exclusive and sponsored products for trucking and logistics clients. Marine Cargo 'Coverage Options' list and Transportation 'exclusive and sponsored products' list; exclusions and policy wording are not published.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • services: Heffernan describes interactive online tools for remote declaration issuance and claim reporting, plus sales-tracking tools, for its cargo program. Its transportation practice separately lists fleet safety and training, a benchmarking system, medical triage and first aid, and a workers' compensation mod-reduction plan, along with a DOT compliance platform. Marine Cargo 'Tools for Cargo Insurance' section and Transportation risk-management and safety-services lists.company-reportedSource ↗Source ↗
  • application: Existing cargo policyholders manage shipments and claims through an online portal login; new buyers reach the program through a Request a Quote or Request a Consultation contact route, or by calling the number listed for the cargo claims team. Marine Cargo page's portal sign-in and consultation-request sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: Heffernan says its cargo program has 'exclusive access to major insurance carriers' and that its transportation practice is 'appointed with top transportation carriers,' but neither page names a specific issuing insurer. Checked the Marine Cargo and Transportation pages on 2026-09-23. The issuing insurer would appear on the quote and declarations.not-disclosedSource ↗Source ↗

Source material

  1. 01
    Ocean Cargo Insurance

    AIG · Official AIG Ocean Cargo page, lines 242–285: target classes, cargo types, program structures, stated capacity, route consultation, claims promise and policy caveat. · accessed 2026-09-30

  2. 02
    Motor Truck Cargo Legal Liability Coverage

    American Association of Insurance Services, Inc.; hosted by National Unity · Coverage and Property Covered pp.1–2; Perils Excluded pp.6–7; Valuation p.8; How Much We Pay p.9; Transit definition p.13 · accessed 2026-09-16

  3. 03
    Commercial Insurance Guide

    California Department of Insurance · Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent · accessed 2026-09-16

  4. 04
    Marine Cargo

    Heffernan Insurance Brokers · Transportation Insurance Programs for Freight Forwarders and Logistics Companies; Specialty Programs list; Coverage Options; What Sets Our Programs Apart: in-house underwriting authority, exclusive access to major insurance carriers, dedicated claims division with authority to adjust, settle and issue payments; interactive online tools; contact · accessed 2026-09-23

  5. 05
    Transportation Insurance

    Heffernan Insurance Brokers · Transportation subsectors; exclusive and sponsored products including Motor Truck Cargo and Brokerage Liability and Contingent Cargo; risk management strategies; appointed with top transportation carriers; practice leader contacts · accessed 2026-09-23

  6. 06
    Shipping Options

    International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce · Export Shipping Basics; Tips on International Shipping from U.S.; Working with Freight Forwarders · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Special Documents

    International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce · Insurance Certificate bullet · accessed 2026-09-16

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