Aon vs Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance: Cargo and Transit Insurance

Aon, a cargo broker, lists general cargo, excess storage and project cargo; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance states a maximum line of up to $25 million, subject to risk profile.

Embarcadero Risk brings together source-based comparisons for businesses moving people and goods.Research updated 2026-10-01

A U.S. BHSI Ocean Marine Cargo guide marked US-12/22-A stated a maximum line up to $25 million subject to risk profile and listed worldwide coverage in primary or excess positions; this 2022 guide does not establish current availability. Aon lists cargo options across transit and storage.

What Are the Key Differences Between Aon and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Capacity and Cargo Form

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance’s U.S. Ocean Marine Cargo guide marked US-12/22-A stated a maximum line up to $25 million, subject to risk profile, and described worldwide coverage in primary or excess positions. The 2022 guide does not establish current capacity or availability. Aon lists General Cargo, Excess Storage, Stock Throughput, and Project Cargo/Marine Delay in Start-Up but does not publish a comparable limit in the reviewed record. The figure is a program maximum, not a promised limit; a buyer should confirm the available line, premium, and attachment point for its shipment values. [4] [2]

Placement and Exposure Fit

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance names target risks such as manufacturers and distributors of finished goods, machinery, food and beverage, bulk liquids, and containerized goods, while listing pharmaceuticals, project cargo, autos, and livestock as out of appetite. Aon describes businesses moving goods across industries and transport modes. For a specialized commodity or project shipment, verify BHSI’s stated appetite and ask Aon which markets will consider the same exposure. [4] [2]

What Should You Confirm in Aon and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Cargo and Transit Insurance Quotes?

  • What limit and premium can BHSI offer for this risk, and is the position primary or excess? [2] [4]
  • Is the commodity or project type within BHSI appetite, and which Aon markets will quote it? [2] [4]

Coverage topics

Aon

  • role: Aon states it offers cargo insurance solutions and describes its role as cargo broker. The page does not name the carrier that would insure a particular shipment or account. Aon’s official global product/capability page. The statement is limited to Aon’s marketing of brokerage or advisory services, not policy issuance.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Aon addresses businesses across industries that move raw materials, components, finished goods and appliances by road, rail, sea or air, domestically and internationally. Audience stated by Aon on its global capability page; this does not establish a specific applicant’s eligibility or placement availability by U.S. state.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Aon describes cargo insurance for physical loss or damage to goods during transportation and describes goods as protected during loading, unloading, storage and transit. Its listed options include General Cargo, Excess Storage, Stock Throughput and Project Cargo/Marine Delay in Start-Up. These are Aon’s product descriptions, not a guarantee that a buyer’s policy includes every category or peril. Aon’s broker-authored explanation of the insurance line. It does not establish an individual insured’s policy entitlement; the insurer’s form, endorsements and declarations control.company-reportedSource ↗
  • services: Aon describes cargo broking, risk consulting, claims management and a global network coordinating local expertise. These are brokerage and advisory services, not the insurer’s claim decision or a guarantee of recovery. Company-reported brokerage and advisory services. Account-specific service terms are not stated.company-reportedSource ↗
  • insurer: The reviewed page does not identify the insurer or the legal producing entity for a specific placement. Ask Aon to identify both for the quoted risk. Aon’s global product/capability page reviewed 2026-09-30; no buyer quote, binder or policy was reviewed. This does not establish that no insurer or producing entity is available.not-foundSource ↗
  • limits: The reviewed page does not state a standard buyer-specific limit, retention or deductible for this placement. Confirm amounts, sublimits and conditions in the quote and issued policy. Aon’s global product/capability page reviewed 2026-09-30; no buyer quote or policy form was reviewed.not-disclosedSource ↗

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

  • coverage: BHSI's marine program lists ocean cargo, project cargo and stock-throughput coverage. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine catalog; not inland transit or proof of the policy territory. Material limitation: Policy territory and transit definitions must be checked; catalog does not itself establish global scope.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The marine catalog names importers/exporters, freight/logistics operators and manufacturers among its target customers. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine target-account list only; not Inland Marine eligibility. Material limitation: Target customer examples do not define every acceptable cargo or shipment.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: BHSI’s marine catalog distinguishes ocean marine and inland marine, and separately lists stock-throughput as an option. US BHSI catalog. Material limitation: Confirm how Spot's shared cargo-transit key maps to these distinctions before coding coverage.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: BHSI’s Ocean Marine Cargo overview lists stock throughput, ocean/international transit, domestic transit, excess stock, logistics, and contingent cargo coverage as coverage types available. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine Cargo marketing overview marked US-12/22-A; the current marine catalog independently lists Ocean Cargo and Stock Throughputs under Ocean Marine. Material limitation: Not all types are necessarily combined or available for every insured. Domestic transit wording is not a basis to merge this line with the separately listed Inland Marine catalog. Verify current forms, exclusions, territory and issuer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The BHSI Ocean Marine Cargo guide states up to $25 million maximum line, subject to risk profile, a $15,000 minimum premium, worldwide coverage, and primary or excess positions. U.S. Ocean Marine Cargo/STP marketing guide marked US-12/22-A; $25 million capacity expressly depends on risk profile. Material limitation: The document is dated 2022-12 and says multinational policy ability would follow in 2025; do not treat its worldwide wording or current availability as confirmed. Capacity is not an insured limit, and minimum premium is not a quote. Reconfirm current appetite and issuer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The Ocean Marine Cargo guide describes target risks including manufacturers/distributors of finished goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverage, bulk liquids, containerized goods, and stock with balanced exposure; it lists pharmaceuticals, project cargo, autos, DOL, and livestock as out of appetite. BHSI Ocean Marine Cargo/STP appetite in U.S. marketing material marked US-12/22-A. Material limitation: This is historical appetite guidance, not a policy exclusion list or current acceptance commitment. The current BHSI Marine catalog separately lists Project Cargo as an Ocean Marine product while this 2022 guide lists it out of appetite; current product-specific meaning and appetite must be reconciled with underwriting. It does not establish Inland Marine eligibility.company-reportedSource ↗

Source material

  1. 01
    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

  2. 02
    Cargo Insurance

    Aon · Cargo insurance definition and transport scope, coverage examples including loading, unloading and storage, lines 123–175; broking, risk consulting, claims management and global cargo network services in ‘How Aon Can Help’; talk-to-team link at top. · accessed 2026-09-30

  3. 03
    Marine

    Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Inland and ocean marine product list, covered property classes and target businesses; lines 18-69 · accessed 2026-09-28

  4. 04
    Ocean Marine Cargo Overview

    Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Two-page U.S. marketing PDF marked US-12/22-A; product types lines 14-20; ocean marine cargo appetite, capacity and placement lines 43-57; out-of-appetite and target risk characteristics lines 58-72; terms disclaimer lines 103-114 · accessed 2026-09-28

  5. 05
    Commercial Insurance Guide

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

  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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