Family-owned trucking insurer in Greenville, SC writing auto liability, physical damage, cargo and general liability for small operators and fleets through general agents.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Canal Insurance Company is a Greenville, South Carolina insurance carrier (underwriter) that specializes in commercial auto and trucking. It was formed in 1939 and has been privately owned and led by the Timmons family for most of its history. Its site describes the company as dedicated to serving the transportation industry, and it splits its trucking business into two main programs: Express for operations with 1 to 10 power units and Fleet for 11 or more.
Canal sells through a select group of general agents rather than directly to truckers. It also offers several newer tools aimed at usage-based and more flexible pricing.
Compare with other Insurance providers: Sentry Insurance, Cottingham & Butler and Roanoke Insurance Group, or see all Insurance.
Services
The Express program page gives a detailed picture of what Canal writes for smaller operations. It lists auto liability up to $1 million with broadened pollution liability where available, physical damage and cargo with combined deductible options, truckers general liability, hired and non-owned auto, and trailer interchange including the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement (UIIA) with an additional insured endorsement.
Physical damage includes towing to the nearest repair facility and automatic gap coverage when the stated amount equals the loan amount. Optional enhanced physical damage forms cover mechanical breakdown, diminishing deductible, tarps, chains and binders, personal effects, electronic equipment and rental reimbursement. Canal also offers reefer breakdown with an optional temperature control enhancement and non-owned trailer physical damage.
On filings, the Express page lists MCF and MCS-90 filings with same-day processing.
Canal also promotes a set of tools: Canal TestDrive, Miles Per Canal (which the site says calculates monthly premiums automatically), and DRIVEN. It offers loss run requests, online loss reporting and a payment portal.
Who it is for
Canal Express is built for owner-operators and small fleets with up to 10 power units, while the Fleet program handles larger carriers. The company says it covers more than a billion miles per year. Freight brokers can look at Canal's freight and cargo product page, but carriers that operate trucks are its core market.
How working with them works
Truckers buy Canal coverage through a general agent. The Express page says quoting and binding happen in a web-based system used by a select group of general agents, with quick turnaround for small risks. Buyers can use the find-an-agent tool on Canal's site to locate one.
Once insured, customers can report losses, request loss runs and pay online. Canal does not publish premiums, and the Miles Per Canal program indicates some pricing can be tied to miles driven. Ask your agent which program fits your operation.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask your general agent which Canal program you are being quoted under, Express or Fleet, and get every coverage and limit in writing: auto liability, cargo, physical damage values and deductibles, general liability and hired and non-owned auto.
Request the cargo form. Ask what commodities are excluded, how theft and unattended vehicles are treated, and whether reefer breakdown is included or optional. If you pull intermodal containers, confirm the UIIA trailer interchange endorsement is on the policy.
Confirm federal and state filings. Ask whether Canal will file your BMC-91X proof of liability with FMCSA and any state filings, and confirm the MCS-90 endorsement. If you hold broker authority as well, you will need a BMC-84 bond and contingent coverage from another source.
If you are considering a mileage-based or usage-based program, ask how premiums are calculated, what data you must report, and what happens if your miles change.
Check Canal's current AM Best rating yourself on the AM Best website, since ratings can change. Ask how claims are reported after hours, who adjusts them, and how long physical damage claims typically take to settle.
Company background
Canal was formed in 1939 to insure autos financed by the First National Bank of Columbia, South Carolina. The bank sold the company in December 1942 to William R. Timmons, whose insurance agency was active in the 1930s. Canal expanded across the Southeast in the 1940s and 1950s and was licensed in 27 states by 1958.
Members of the Timmons family have led the company over the decades. Canal moved its headquarters to Stone Avenue in Greenville in 1992 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014. In 2021, Insurance Journal reported that Canal had added 85 employees over three years and planned to move to a larger building in downtown Greenville in 2022.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
