Caleb Meriwether, Haven Insurance Partners, visits with Dan Reaves, host of ‘The Dan Reaves Show,’ today, and each Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., to discuss all things insurance.
Every year, families across the country ship specialty foods to loved ones for the holidays—heritage turkeys, pasture-raised pork, smoked hams, and other premium cuts that don’t come from the local grocery store. These items are expensive, temperature-sensitive, and often irreplaceable if lost or spoiled in transit. When you’re sending a special Thanksgiving turkey across state lines, proper insurance coverage can mean the difference between a holiday feast and a costly disappointment.
Below are the key insurance options available to protect the shipment of your Thanksgiving turkey and ensure it arrives safely, no matter how far it travels.
- Motor Truck Cargo Coverage
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance is commonly used by carriers, farmers, small food producers, and specialty butchers who ship meat products. It covers the turkey (or any food item) while it is being transported by a commercial vehicle.
Motor Truck Cargo policies typically cover:
- Theft of the shipment
• Damage caused by accident or vehicle overturn
• Physical loss of the turkey due to mishandling
• Fire, collision, and other basic causes of loss
However, without an added endorsement, these policies do not automatically cover spoilage. Anyone shipping a perishable turkey will need to add Perishable Cargo or Spoilage Coverage to ensure full protection.
- Perishable Cargo or Spoilage Coverage
This is the most important coverage for perishable Thanksgiving shipments. It ensures the turkey is protected if it becomes unsafe to eat because of temperature changes or other spoilage-related issues.
Spoilage endorsements can cover:
- Refrigeration or cooling unit breakdown
• Failure to maintain proper temperature during transit
• Delay caused by mechanical breakdown or power interruption
• Contamination or deterioration of the meat
For high-value specialty turkeys—such as heritage breeds, organic pasture-raised birds, or smoked or cured premium products—this coverage is essential. Spoilage losses are some of the most common in food shipping, and standard cargo insurance will not pay for them without this addition.
- Single-Shipment Inland Marine Coverage
If you are not a business and simply want to insure one special turkey being shipped to a family member, you can purchase a single-shipment inland marine policy. These short-term policies can insure almost any item that has value, including perishable food.
This option is well-suited for:
- Individuals shipping a rare or expensive turkey
• Small farms that ship only once or twice a year
• Hunters shipping processed meat home from a trip
• One-time holiday shipments
Coverage can include both physical loss (the turkey is damaged, stolen, or lost) and spoilage if temperature control fails.
Premiums are often inexpensive, generally ranging from $150 to $400 depending on the shipment’s value and distance.
- Carrier-Provided Declared Value Coverage
Major shipping companies such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS offer declared value coverage. This is not technically insurance and comes with significant limitations, especially for perishable food.
Declared value coverage may reimburse you if the turkey is lost or damaged, but in most cases it does not cover spoilage unless you purchase a specialized perishable-food rider—something that is not available on all routes.
This option is usually best for frozen turkeys shipped overnight with proper dry ice, insulated packaging, and strict timing, but it should not be relied upon as the sole protection for expensive or irreplaceable items.
- Special Considerations When Shipping Perishable Food
Regardless of the insurance option you choose, you must meet certain conditions for coverage to apply:
- Proper packaging is required, including insulation and appropriate cooling materials
• The turkey must be at a safe temperature at the time of shipment
• Transit times must meet the insurer’s standards for perishable goods
• Shippers must use reliable carriers capable of maintaining temperature control
Insurers may deny a claim if the turkey was improperly packed or if the shipment was delayed because of avoidable errors.
- Which Option Is Right for You?
- Shipping a specialty or high-value Thanksgiving turkey to family: choose a single-shipment inland marine policy with spoilage coverage.
• Shipping multiple turkeys as a farm or butcher: use motor truck cargo coverage with a spoilage endorsement.
• Shipping frozen birds via FedEx/UPS: consider declared value coverage, but understand the limitations.
• Shipping for commercial resale: a specialized food-cargo or perishable transit policy is best.
Shipping a premium Thanksgiving turkey is a meaningful gesture, and with the right planning and insurance in place, you can make sure it arrives safely and in perfect condition. If you need help selecting the right coverage for a holiday shipment or want a quote for a single-load policy, our agency can guide you through the options and ensure a smooth, well-protected delivery.
