Short answer
Under 49 CFR 387.9, a for-hire interstate carrier hauling non-hazardous property in a vehicle of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 in public liability. Oil and most hazardous materials require $1,000,000, and certain bulk or high-hazard materials require $5,000,000.
- For-hire fleets made up only of vehicles under 10,001 pounds hauling non-hazardous freight file at $300,000 under 49 CFR 387.303.
- FMCSA requires no cargo insurance for general freight. Only household goods carriers have a federal cargo minimum.
The federal schedule of limits
Table 1 to 49 CFR 387.9 sets the minimum public liability (bodily injury, property damage, and environmental restoration). FMCSA's filing chart and 49 CFR 387.303 add the $300,000 tier for light-vehicle fleets.
| Who | What they haul | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire, interstate, fleet of only vehicles under 10,001 lb | Non-hazardous property | $300,000 |
| For-hire, interstate, vehicle 10,001 lb or more | Non-hazardous property | $750,000 |
| For-hire and private, 10,001 lb or more (interstate any quantity; intrastate bulk only) | Oil, hazardous waste, and hazardous materials not in the $5M class | $1,000,000 |
| For-hire and private, 10,001 lb or more | Bulk hazardous substances in cargo tanks, portable tanks or hoppers; bulk Division 1.1-1.3 explosives; certain poison gases; highway route controlled radioactive material | $5,000,000 |
| For-hire and private, under 10,001 lb, interstate | Division 1.1-1.3 explosives, certain Zone A poisons, highway route controlled radioactive material | $5,000,000 |
How the minimum is proven
Two things show FMCSA and the public that you carry the minimum. Your insurer files a BMC-91X with FMCSA, and your policy carries the MCS-90 endorsement. FMCSA will not grant operating authority until the filing is in effect, and once authority is granted, you have to keep insurance and your BOC-3 on file to avoid revocation proceedings.
How a trucking liability tower stacks
What the federal minimum does not cover
- Cargo. FMCSA's filing chart lists $0 cargo for property carriers. Only household goods carriers must carry cargo security ($5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence under 387.303(c)). Brokers set your cargo limit by contract. See how much cargo insurance brokers require.
- Your own equipment. Physical damage on your tractor and trailer is a separate coverage. See truck physical damage insurance.
- Contract requirements. Most broker-carrier agreements ask for more than $750,000. See why brokers require $1 million.
- Texas intrastate work. Texas has its own minimums and filing. See Texas intrastate truck insurance requirements.
A note on private carriers
Row (1) of the 387.9 table applies to for-hire carriers. A private carrier hauling its own non-hazardous goods is not in that row, but private carriers are named in the hazmat rows and still face state insurance laws, customer contracts, and lawsuits. "No federal minimum" is not the same as "no insurance needed." If you run trucks for your own business, our truck liability insurance page covers how limits are usually chosen.
Rule changes
The 387.9 table was last amended in July 2026 (91 FR 45660). The amounts in the table above are the current eCFR text as of this page’s date. Check the eCFR link below before relying on any figure for a filing.
Common questions
Is the $750,000 minimum enough?
It meets the federal rule. It rarely meets broker and shipper contracts, and a serious crash can exceed it. Most carriers buy at least $1,000,000 primary.
Does a hotshot under 10,001 lb really only need $300,000?
For a for-hire fleet made up only of vehicles under 10,001 lb hauling non-hazardous freight, the federal filing minimum is $300,000. Many hotshot pickup and trailer combinations are rated at 10,001 lb or more, so check how your units are rated.
Is the minimum per truck or per accident?
It is a per-accident limit for public liability, not a per-truck amount.
Sources
- 49 CFR 387.9, Financial responsibility, minimum levels (eCFR). Schedule of limits: $750,000, $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 rows; amendment history.
- 49 CFR 387.303, Minimum limits (eCFR). $300,000 for fleets of vehicles under 10,001 lb; household goods cargo amounts.
- FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements. Filing chart showing $0 cargo for general property carriers; authority not granted until insurance is on file.
This page explains insurance, not law. Have your attorney review indemnity and contract language; our job is making the insurance match it.