Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Founder Shield: How Do They Compare for Cargo and Transit Insurance?

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Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield Transit & Transportation Insurance with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. ¹³Company-reported. About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line.

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Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield Transit & Transportation Insurance, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. ⁹Company-reported. General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements.

The marine catalog names importers/exporters, freight/logistics operators and manufacturers among its target customers. ⁵Company-reported. 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.

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. ⁶Company-reported. 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.

Founder Shield markets this coverage to shippers and carriers, logistics companies, manufacturers and distributors that ship products, and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. ¹²Company-reported. Transit & Transportation product page.

BHSI's marine program lists ocean cargo, project cargo and stock-throughput coverage. ⁵Company-reported. 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.

BHSI’s marine catalog distinguishes ocean marine and inland marine, and separately lists stock-throughput as an option. ⁵Company-reported. US BHSI catalog. Material limitation: Confirm how Spot's shared cargo-transit key maps to these distinctions before coding 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. ⁶Company-reported. 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.

Founder Shield describes the policy as covering cargo damage, loss or theft in transit, damage to company vehicles, and third-party liability from transportation operations, distinct from what a commercial auto policy alone would cover. ¹²Company-reported. Product page; the issued policy and declarations control actual coverage.

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. ⁶Company-reported. 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.

Founder Shield's page does not publish specific limit or deductible figures for this line; it says coverage limits should align with the value of the goods and vehicles being transported. ¹²Not publicly disclosed. Transit & Transportation product page, checked 2026-09-23.

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You request Founder Shield Transit & Transportation Insurance through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. ^13,9Company-reported. About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form.