Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Heffernan: Cargo and Transit Insurance

Heffernan Insurance Brokers' marine cargo program targets freight forwarders and customs brokers and has in-house underwriting authority; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance's marine catalog names importers, exporters and manufacturers, with a $15,000 minimum premium.

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

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

Insurer program or program administrator

BHSI lists ocean cargo, project cargo and stock-throughput coverage within its marine program [2]. Heffernan describes a cargo program for freight forwarders and logistics companies with in-house underwriting authority and a claims division that can adjust and pay directly, though it does not name an issuing insurer [5] [6].

Limits and appetite

BHSI states up to $25 million maximum line, a $15,000 minimum premium, and primary or excess positions, and lists pharmaceuticals, project cargo, autos and livestock as out of appetite for the ocean cargo guide [3]. Heffernan's reviewed pages publish no comparable limit figures [5].

Who each is built for

BHSI names importers/exporters, logistics operators and manufacturers [2]. Heffernan targets freight forwarders, customs brokers, import/export operators and household-goods movers, with a separate transportation practice for trucking and couriers [5] [6].

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

  • Is your commodity inside BHSI's stated appetite? [3]
  • Which carrier issues the Heffernan cargo policy? [5]
  • Do online declaration and claim-reporting tools match how you ship? [5]

Coverage topics

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 ↗

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 ↗

BHSI's ocean cargo guide states a maximum line of up to $25 million; Heffernan's cargo program for freight forwarders carries its own underwriting authority and claims division.

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
    Marine

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

  3. 03
    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

  4. 04
    Commercial Insurance Guide

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

  5. 05
    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

  6. 06
    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

  7. 07
    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

  8. 08
    Special Documents

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

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