Motor truck cargo coverage is liability insurance that covers cargo up to a set monetary limit the trucker determines when he buys a policy. In addition to paying for the cost of the lost or damaged cargo itself, some policies also pay costs to remove debris or pollutants caused by the debris, if a load accidentally lands on a roadway or waterway. Federal and state governments require truckers to purchase primary liability insurance, which is basic insurance coverage that covers only injuries or damage to other people or property, when the trucker is at fault for an accident. The federal government does not require that truckers carry motor truck cargo insurance. But companies shipping their goods might require the trucker to have it.