What it does
FMCSA will not grant or keep in force operating authority for a for-hire motor carrier until a surety bond, certificate of insurance or other security has been filed with and accepted by the agency (49 CFR 387.301). The certificate of insurance for public liability is Form BMC-91: "Form BMC 91 certificates of insurance will be filed with the FMCSA for the full security limits" required by 49 CFR 387.303 (49 CFR 387.313). Certificates are filed with FMCSA electronically, and cancellation notices are submitted by the insurance company or other party on the prescribed form.
Required limits
- For-hire property carriers with fleets of only vehicles under 10,001 pounds GVWR: $300,000.
- Vehicles of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more: $750,000 for general freight, higher for hazardous materials.
- Passenger carriers: $1,500,000 or $5,000,000 depending on seating capacity.
Key rules
- The certificate must name the carrier exactly as on its authority application, and it stays in effect continuously until cancelled with 30 days' notice on Form BMC-35 or replaced by a new filing.
- Where the security is provided by more than one insurer (aggregation), each insurer files a BMC-91X instead.
Selling notes
New authority applicants cannot get active authority until the BMC-91 or BMC-91X is on file. Confirm the insurer is willing and able to make federal filings before quoting a new venture trucker, and time the filing so authority activates when the carrier needs to run.
