What Is Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance?
BHSI provides commercial and specialty insurance in the U.S., with product-specific industry lists that include healthcare, energy and technology. Online quote and application submissions are nonbinding. 1,2,3,4
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance profile
Read the Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Cargo and Transit Insurance page
Markel Insurance: Specialty Business and Products
Markel Insurance is Markel Group's specialty and small-business insurance business, with offerings across packages, workers' compensation, cyber, professional and management liability, property, marine, and surety. Products use different insurers and distribution routes, so compare the issuer and terms shown on the specific quote. 7,8
What Is Cargo and Transit Insurance?
Cargo coverage fits a shipper protecting goods it owns or a carrier responsible for another party’s goods. The quote needs to match who bears the loss, the shipment route and storage stops. 10,11,12,13
What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Cargo and Transit Insurance?
Published limits against open questions
BHSI's Ocean Marine Cargo guide states up to $25 million maximum line, a $15,000 minimum premium and worldwide cover 6. Markel's overview does not set a universal limit or retention, so those numbers come only from a proposed form 9.
Where each draws its cargo boundary
BHSI's catalog lists ocean cargo, project cargo and stock throughput separately from inland marine 5. Markel's page pairs ocean cargo for U.S. shipments by land, air or sea with motor-truck cargo and contingent-cargo options 9.
Target customers
BHSI names importers and exporters, freight and logistics operators and manufacturers 5, while Markel describes transportation customers shipping or storing materials, with warehouse legal liability and railroad also named 9.
What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Cargo and Transit Insurance Quotes?
- Do your shipments sit within BHSI's described appetite, given the guide's excluded classes and its date-limited nature? 6
- What limit, retention and exclusions does Markel propose for your lanes? 9
- Do you need motor-truck or contingent cargo, which Markel names, or stock throughput, which BHSI names? 5
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Review Score
Review Score
No reviews found
The public ratings for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance are low but thin: Trustpilot shows 2.1 out of 5 from 9 reviews and BBB shows 1 out of 5 from 6. Both mix travel and commercial customers, so we don't count them in a score.[5][7]
Read Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance reviewsMarkel Insurance Review Score
Review Score
2 rated sources
There is little public customer feedback on Markel. Trustpilot shows 2.5 out of 5 from just 5 reviews, and BBB lists 12 complaints closed in the last three years.[4][3]
Read Markel Insurance reviewsBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance Cargo and Transit Compared
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance: Cargo and Transit Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | BHSI’s current Ocean Marine catalog lists Ocean Cargo, Stock Throughputs and Project Cargo, separately from Inland Marine; the detailed cargo appetite evidence is an older, date-limited guide. | Markel cargo transit (official overview) |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Confirm in your quote. | Markel describes offering cargo transit for the audience stated on the cited product page. 9Company-reported. cargo transit marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Who It’s For | 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. | Transportation customers shipping or storing materials; the source also names motor-truck cargo, contingent cargo, railroad, and warehouse legal liability. 9Company-reported. cargo transit marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Coverage Features | 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. | The cited product page describes ocean cargo for U.S. shipments by land, air, or sea, alongside motor-truck cargo and contingent-cargo options. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. 9Company-reported. cargo transit marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
| Limits and Retentions | 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. | The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. 9Not publicly disclosed. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | The page invites prospective customers or brokers to contact Markel or the named underwriting team. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. 9Company-reported. cargo transit marketed by markel; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement. |
Related Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Cargo and Transit Pages for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Markel Insurance
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Other Cargo and Transit Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Markel Insurance
Sources About Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance
- At A Glance. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; United States section, zero-based PDF pages 49–53 (viewer pages 50–54): product/industry lists on pages 49–50; U.S. disclosure/version footer on page 53 is 2026-8-03 A. The 2026-09-14 A footer is on preceding European page 48, not the U.S. section. Accessed 2026-09-29.
- About Us. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; About BHSI; company profile page re-opened through official site on 2026-09-28; company says it is part of National Indemnity group. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Terms of Service. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Important Information Concerning Use of this Web Site, paragraphs 2–4; nonbinding submissions, contracted-agent authority, state variation, product availability and policy-specific terms. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Public Disclosure — Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Singapore Branch. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Singapore branch public disclosure, Company Profile ¶¶ 1–2; direct page opened 2026-09-28. ¶ 1 identifies BHSIC as a Nebraska-domiciled direct P&C insurer; ¶ 2 states BHSIC is wholly owned by National Indemnity Company, itself wholly owned by Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Marine. Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance; Inland and ocean marine product list, covered property classes and target businesses; lines 18-69. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- 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.
Sources About Markel Insurance
- About us. Markel; Markel at a glance; description of Markel Insurance within Markel Group Inc. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Markel Group Inc. 2025 Form 10-K. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; filed by Markel Group Inc.; Cover page; Part I, Item 1 Business—Markel Insurance, U.S. Wholesale and Specialty, Programs and Solutions; Part II, Item 7/8 for group and segment risks. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Commercial Inland Marine Insurance. Markel; Ocean cargo; transportation; U.S. shipments by land, air, or sea; product page describes Markel's inland-marine offering. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Sources for the Cargo and Transit Insurance Guide
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.
- Special Documents. International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce; Insurance Certificate bullet. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- 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.





