Insurance
MCS-90: the endorsement behind your federal liability coverage
Updated
MCS-90 is the endorsement on a trucking policy for federal public liability, and passenger carriers use the MCS-90B. It's a separate document from both the BMC-91 or BMC-91X your insurer files with FMCSA as proof and the certificate you send brokers. For general freight hauled for hire across state lines in trucks of 10,001 pounds and up, the federal public liability minimum is $750,000.
At a glance
- MCS-90
- Public-liability endorsement on the policy
- MCS-90B
- Passenger carrier version
- Proof filed with FMCSA
- BMC-91 or BMC-91X, by your insurer
- General freight minimum
- $750,000 for trucks of 10,001 lb or more
- Cancellation notice
- BMC-35, ordinarily 30 days from FMCSA receipt
Check the filing on your record. Look up your MC in the status check to see which liability filing your insurer put on your FMCSA record and whether a cancellation is on file. Check your status
MCS-90, BMC-91X and your COI
These documents show your liability coverage, and each goes to a different place:
| Document | What it is | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| MCS-90 | The public-liability endorsement on your policy | Attached to the policy your insurer writes |
| MCS-90B | The same endorsement for passenger carriers | Passenger policies |
| BMC-91 or BMC-91X | The certificate that proves your public liability to FMCSA. The 91X can show full or aggregated coverage | Filed with FMCSA by your insurer |
| Certificate of insurance (COI) | Proof of coverage for brokers | Sent to each broker during setup |
Your authority depends on the BMC-91 or BMC-91X, which your insurer or another financial responsibility provider files. FMCSA won't grant authority until that filing is in effect, and a COI sent to a broker doesn't put anything on your FMCSA record.
The insurance filings page covers each form. Ready for Loads is not affiliated with FMCSA, and FMCSA lists the forms on its insurance filing requirements page (opens in a new tab).
The minimums the endorsement sits on
The MCS-90 is a public-liability endorsement. The federal public liability minimum depends on your operation:
| Operation | Federal public liability minimum |
|---|---|
| General freight, any truck of 10,001 lb or more | $750,000 |
| General freight, every truck under 10,001 lb | $300,000 |
| Other listed oil, waste and hazardous materials | $1 million |
| Listed high-risk hazardous materials | $5 million |
| Passenger carriers, 15 or fewer seats including the driver | $1.5 million |
| Passenger carriers, 16 or more seats | $5 million |
The hazmat rows depend on the commodity class, bulk and weight, so have your agent match your freight to the exact row before you bind.
Five brokers' own terms ask for $5 million in liability on hazmat loads: England Logistics, Flock Freight, Cornerstone, RLS and BNSF Logistics. Bridgeway asks for $5 million when hazmat rules require it.
The financial responsibility rules that took effect January 16, 2026 apply to brokers and freight forwarders, whose security is a $75,000 bond or trust on a BMC-84 or BMC-85. They don't raise the carrier liability minimum.
Brokers ask for more than the federal minimum
The federal minimum keeps your authority active. Broker freight usually takes $1 million or more: 20 of the 21 brokers publishing a liability minimum set theirs at that level or higher.
Ask for $1 million on every quote. The requirements page shows who asks for what.
Keep your coverage in force
If your insurer cancels the policy, it sends FMCSA a BMC-35 notice. The cancellation ordinarily takes effect 30 days after FMCSA receives the notice, unless a replacement filing comes in.
Treat the 30 days as warning time to replace the policy, since coverage that has already lapsed gets no grace period.
A revoked authority comes back only after insurance and your BOC-3 are on file again and you pay the $80 reinstatement request. The reinstatement guide walks through the request.
Check what your filing opens. The load-ready check compares the liability on your FMCSA record with each broker's published minimum. Load-ready check
Frequently asked questions
What is an MCS-90 endorsement?
MCS-90 is the endorsement on a trucking policy for federal public liability. Passenger carriers use the MCS-90B.
Is the MCS-90 the same as a BMC-91X?
No. The MCS-90 is attached to your policy, and the BMC-91 or BMC-91X is the certificate your insurer files with FMCSA to prove your public liability.
Does a certificate of insurance prove my coverage to FMCSA?
No. A COI sent to a broker doesn't put anything on your FMCSA record. Your authority depends on the BMC-91 or BMC-91X your insurer files.
What is the federal liability minimum for general freight?
It's $750,000 for any truck of 10,001 lb or more, and $300,000 when every truck is under 10,001 lb. Most brokers want more, and the requirements page shows their published minimums.