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How to check a carrier's insurance on file

For-hire carriers must keep proof of liability insurance on file with the FMCSA to hold operating authority. Search any carrier below to see its filings: the insurer, the type of coverage, the amount, the effective date, and any pending cancellation.

The filings you will see

BMC-91X (or BMC-91) is the liability filing, called BIPD for bodily injury and property damage; every for-hire carrier must have one. BMC-34 is cargo insurance, required for household-goods movers and often demanded by shippers for general freight. BMC-84 is the surety bond and BMC-85 the trust fund that brokers and freight forwarders must file in place of liability coverage, currently $75,000. Each filing shows the insurer, the coverage amount, and the effective date.

Required minimums

Liability minimums depend on what is hauled: $750,000 for general freight in vehicles over 10,001 pounds, $1,000,000 for oil and certain hazardous materials, and $5,000,000 for the most hazardous commodities and for passengers in larger vehicles. Many shippers and brokers require $1,000,000 regardless. Cargo coverage has no federal minimum for general freight, so the amount, if any, is set by the market and your contract.

Reading a pending cancellation

Insurers notify the FMCSA before a policy ends, and the cancellation date is published on the filing about 30 days in advance. A filing that is active today with a cancellation date in the next few weeks means the carrier is about to lose its authority unless replacement coverage is filed. dotsearch.us flags these filings on the carrier page. Treat a pending cancellation the same as no insurance for any load delivering after that date.

When there is no filing

A carrier with no liability filing on record either never held for-hire authority (private and exempt carriers are not required to file) or has had its authority revoked after a lapse. Check the operating authority status on the same page: if it is Not Authorized, the carrier cannot legally take regulated freight for hire regardless of what a certificate of insurance says. A certificate from the carrier is not a substitute for the FMCSA filing, which is the only record the agency relies on. See the carrier vetting checklist for the full review.

Frequently asked questions

How can I verify a trucking company's insurance?

Search the carrier on dotsearch.us and open its record. The insurance section lists the filings on record with the FMCSA, including insurer, coverage type, amount, effective date, and any pending cancellation.

What is a BMC-91X filing?

It is the form an insurer files with the FMCSA to certify a motor carrier's liability (bodily injury and property damage) coverage. It is required to hold for-hire operating authority.

Is a certificate of insurance from the carrier enough?

No. Certificates can be outdated or forged and are not what the FMCSA relies on. Verify the filing on record with the FMCSA, and confirm there is no pending cancellation.

How much cargo insurance should a carrier have?

There is no federal minimum for general freight. $100,000 is a common market expectation for truckload freight; high-value loads need more. Set the requirement in your contract and verify the filing.

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