Primary liability
Commercial auto liability protects against covered third-party bodily injury and property damage claims. Required limits can depend on authority, commodity, vehicle, and operation.
Carrier requirements guide
Commercial Trucking Insurance Requirements
Understand the coverage, filings, and documents commonly reviewed when starting or operating a trucking company. Requirements vary by authority, cargo, vehicle, routes, contracts, and state.
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What insurance does a trucking company need?
There is no single policy that fits every motor carrier. A useful requirements review starts with how the business operates, what it hauls, whose authority it uses, and what contracts require.
Federal or state filings
Motor carriers may need insurance filings connected to operating authority. Review the applicable federal or state requirement rather than assuming every carrier has the same filing.
Cargo coverage
Motor truck cargo coverage may be required by a broker, shipper, contract, or commodity. Limits and exclusions should match what the carrier actually transports.
Physical damage
Collision and comprehensive coverage can be reviewed for owned, financed, or leased trucks and trailers. Vehicle value, deductibles, and lender requirements matter.
Additional business coverage
Depending on the operation, general liability, hired and non-owned auto, trailer interchange, occupational accident, or workers compensation may also need review.
Documents commonly needed for a quote
Preparing these details can make the review faster and helps avoid incomplete submissions:
- Driver list and motor vehicle records
- Vehicle year, VIN, value, and equipment schedule
- Cargo description and operating radius
- DOT/MC authority information
- Prior declarations page and loss runs
- Broker, shipper, or contract insurance requirements
Federal filing starting points
BMC-91X, BMC-34, BOC-3, and state filings are different topics. The applicable filing depends on the carrier and operation.
Requirements by trucking operation
Trucking insurance requirement questions
What are the minimum commercial truck insurance requirements?
Minimums vary by authority, commodity, vehicle, and applicable federal or state rules. Broker and shipper contracts may request limits above a legal minimum.
Does every trucking company need an FMCSA filing?
Not every operation has the same federal filing obligations. Interstate motor carriers should review their authority and commodity requirements with a qualified professional.
What insurance does a new authority need?
A new authority typically needs a coverage and filing review before operating. The exact requirements depend on the operation, cargo, vehicles, routes, and authority status.
Can requirements differ by state?
Yes. State and federal requirements can differ, especially for intrastate operations, permits, filings, and special commodities.