Insurance
FMCSA insurance requirements and what brokers ask for
Updated
FMCSA requires $750,000 in public liability for interstate for-hire carriers hauling general freight in trucks of 10,001 pounds or more, with no cargo minimum for general freight. Brokers set their own floor, and 20 of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own carrier pages ask for $1 million or more.
At a glance
- Federal liability minimum
- $750,000 for trucks of 10,001 lb or more
- Federal minimum, all-light fleet
- $300,000 (every truck under 10,001 lb)
- Federal cargo minimum, general freight
- None
- Brokers asking $1 million or more
- 20 of the 21 that publish a liability minimum on their own pages
- Brokers asking $100,000 cargo or more
- 21 of the 22 that publish a cargo minimum on their own pages
- Broker pages checked
- October 2026
Check your MC against these minimums. Enter your DOT or MC number to see which brokers' published minimums your filed coverage meets and what coverage would open the rest. Load-ready check
The federal minimums
The federal rule sets a floor for public liability, the coverage your insurer files with FMCSA. The amount depends on what you haul and how heavy your trucks are.
| What you haul | Federal minimum |
|---|---|
| General freight, any truck of 10,001 lb or more | $750,000 public liability |
| General freight, every truck in the fleet under 10,001 lb | $300,000 public liability |
| Listed high-risk hazardous materials | $5 million |
| Other listed oil, waste and hazardous materials | $1 million |
| Household goods cargo | $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence |
| General freight cargo | No federal minimum |
The hazmat rows turn on commerce type, commodity class, bulk and weight, so have your agent match your freight to the exact row in 49 CFR 387.9 before you bind.
Your insurer files proof of the liability coverage with FMCSA. You don't file it yourself, and FMCSA won't grant your authority until the required filings are in effect.
The insurance filings page covers the forms. Ready for Loads is not affiliated with FMCSA, and FMCSA's filing rules are on its insurance filing requirements page (opens in a new tab).
The new financial responsibility rules that took effect January 16, 2026 apply to brokers and freight forwarders. They don't change the carrier liability floor.
What brokers ask for
Brokers write their own minimums into carrier agreements and setup pages. As of October 2026, their own pages showed:
- Of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own pages, 20 ask for $1 million or more.
- Of the 22 that publish a cargo minimum, 21 ask for $100,000 or more.
- Of the 20 that publish both, 18 ask for both.
These are the exceptions and the higher asks:
| Broker or program | Liability | Cargo |
|---|---|---|
| J.B. Hunt | No set number. Cites the $750,000 federal requirement | Varies. More for specialized or high-value loads |
| JTS Freight | $750,000 | $100,000 |
| Ryan Transportation | $750,000 public liability | $100,000 |
| Trinity Logistics | $1 million | $50,000 |
| DSV | $1 million | $100,000, listed as preferred |
| CEVA Logistics | $1 million | $100,000 for open registration. $250,000 for its invitation-only program |
| Averitt | $1 million | $100,000. $250,000 for drayage |
| Bison Transport | $2 million | $250,000 |
Third-party setup lists report $1 million in liability for 10 more brokers, among them Coyote Logistics, GlobalTranz, ITS Logistics and Nolan Transportation Group. Check the broker's own packet before you rely on those.
Coverage some freight adds
Some freight and programs ask for more than liability and cargo.
| Coverage | Who asks for it on their own pages | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | 19 brokers and programs. Amazon Relay asks $1 million per occurrence and $2 million total | Setup |
| Workers' comp | 24 brokers and programs, most at the limits your state requires. Amazon Relay asks for it in every state where you operate | Setup, or once you hire |
| Reefer breakdown | TQL, Uber Freight, Werner, Flock Freight and Bridgeway | Reefer loads |
| Trailer interchange | J.B. Hunt, Bison Transport and Bridgeway. Amazon Relay folds $50,000 of trailer replacement coverage into auto liability | Pulling trailers you don't own |
| $5 million liability | England Logistics, Flock Freight, Cornerstone, RLS and BNSF Logistics. Bridgeway when hazmat rules require it | Hazmat loads |
| Insurer rating | Averitt wants an insurer rated A or better. Loadsmart and Logistics Plus want A- or better. Uber Freight wants A-VII or better | Setup |
Your occupational accident options depend on how each broker words its workers' comp rule.
Moving up from the federal minimum
A $750,000 filing meets the federal rule for general freight in trucks of 10,001 pounds or more. Of the 39 brokers counted above, only JTS Freight and Ryan Transportation publish a liability figure under $1 million, and J.B. Hunt cites the $750,000 federal requirement.
Ask your agent to quote $1 million in auto liability and $100,000 in cargo next to your current policy, so you can see what the step up costs. The quote comparison guide lays out the lines to check, and what owners report paying gives you a range to hold the quote against.
Keep the filing continuous
When an insurer cancels, it files a BMC-35 notice with FMCSA. The cancellation ordinarily takes effect 30 days after FMCSA receives that notice, unless a replacement filing comes in.
Your insurance filing and your BOC-3 both have to stay on file to keep your authority. Bind a renewal early and confirm the new filing posted before the old one ends. If authority is revoked, the reinstatement steps start with getting insurance back on file.
Check your filing before it lapses. The status check pulls the filing FMCSA holds for you and any cancellation notice on it, so you see a lapse coming. Check your status
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does FMCSA require for a trucking company?
FMCSA requires $750,000 in public liability for interstate for-hire general freight in trucks of 10,001 pounds or more, or $300,000 when every truck in the fleet is under 10,001 lb. Listed hazardous materials run $1 million or $5 million.
Does FMCSA require cargo insurance?
Only for household goods, which need $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence in cargo coverage. General freight has no federal cargo minimum.
Do any brokers accept $750,000 in liability?
A few do. Of the 21 brokers that publish a liability minimum on their own pages, only JTS Freight and Ryan Transportation publish a figure under $1 million, and J.B. Hunt cites the $750,000 federal requirement.
How much insurance do most brokers require?
Of the 20 brokers that publish both a liability and a cargo minimum on their own pages, 18 ask for at least $1 million and $100,000.