A new MC number. Here's the insurance roadmap.

1Before your authority is active

• Decide what you'll haul and where. General freight, hazardous materials, household goods, and your radius all change the filings you need and the price.
• Line up insurance early. FMCSA won't make your authority active until your insurance company files proof of liability coverage and your process agent files a BOC 3.
• Know the federal floor. Most for hire carriers hauling general freight in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more must carry at least $750,000 of liability. Higher minimums apply to some oil and hazardous materials loads.
• Register the rest. Unified Carrier Registration, your MCS 150, and your state requirements, like IRP plates and IFTA.

2What brokers actually ask for

• Auto liability of $1,000,000 is common in broker carrier packets, above the federal floor.
• Motor truck cargo, often $100,000, with the broker listed as certificate holder.
• Read the packet for exclusions. Unattended truck, theft, reefer breakdown, and commodity lists. A cargo policy that leaves out what you haul won't help when a load is lost.

3What underwriters want to see

• Driver experience. Years of verifiable CDL experience. Many markets look for two or more years for a new authority.
• Motor vehicle records for every driver.
• An equipment list with years, VINs, and values.
• Your operation: radius, commodities, garaging address, and who you'll haul for.
• A written safety program. Even a short one shows you manage risk.

4The first 18 months

• You're a new entrant. FMCSA monitors new carriers for 18 months, with a safety audit inside the first 12. Keep your driver and maintenance files ready.
• Clean inspections build your record. Roadside inspections with no violations are what underwriters price on at renewal.
• Keep your MCS 150 current. Update it every two years, or sooner when something changes.
• Never let a filing lapse. A cancelled liability filing can take your authority out of service. Insurance companies must give FMCSA 30 days notice before cancelling, so act on any notice right away.

A general guide. Check current rules at fmcsa.dot.gov before you file.