New-authority truck insurance

Separate authority filings from coverage decisions

FMCSA requires the applicable financial-responsibility filing before granting authority. Its current table lists $750,000 in bodily-injury/property-damage liability for nonhazardous for-hire property carriers using vehicles with a GVWR of at least 10,001 pounds. Other operations have different requirements; confirm your category and state rules.

FMCSA lists no cargo filing requirement for that general-property category. Shipper or broker contracts may still require cargo coverage or higher liability limits. Household-goods operations have separate cargo filing requirements. A federal minimum does not define a complete insurance program.

Describe the work you actually plan to do

Write a short operating plan before requesting terms. Describe your freight, equipment, regular routes, longest trips, and where vehicles are kept overnight. Include planned seasonal work and any refrigerated, high-value, or hazardous loads. A specific description gives the insurance professional concrete situations to review against policy terms.

Discuss liability for injury or damage to others, physical damage for your own equipment, and cargo protection for freight. Ask about applicable deductibles, exclusions, and coverage for trailers you do not own. A cargo limit alone does not establish whether a particular commodity or loss is covered.

Prepare one consistent application file

FMCSA warns that mismatched business names and addresses can delay authority. Reconcile your business records before submitting information, and distinguish your business start date from each driver's experience. Prepare the following for a secure discussion with the insurance provider:

• Legal business name, address, USDOT and authority details, and intended start date.
• Vehicle and trailer VINs, year, make, model, values, and financing or lease information.
• Driver list, license information, CDL experience, and accurate accident and violation history.
• Existing coverage documents if any, operating plan, and proposed customer insurance requirements.

Confirm the handoff before dispatch

Ask who will submit each required filing and how you will verify its status. Record the policy effective date and time, covered operations, and any remaining conditions. Having a quote or an application is not confirmation that coverage is bound or authority is active.

Insurance also does not replace safety compliance. FMCSA monitors new entrants for an initial 18-month period. Keep a separate workstream for driver qualification, maintenance, operating records, and the new-entrant safety process so insurance paperwork does not crowd out operational preparation.

Questions before you request terms