Motor truck cargo insurance: what the law requires
Checked against official sources · Last reviewed October 6, 2026
FMCSA doesn't require cargo insurance for general freight: its filing chart lists the cargo requirement as $0. Household goods movers are the exception. Not being required to insure freight doesn't remove liability for it, though: federal law (49 U.S.C. 14706) makes the carrier that issues the receipt or bill of lading, and the delivering carrier, liable for actual loss or injury to the property. [1][3]
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What FMCSA requires
FMCSA's insurance filing chart shows the requirements by carrier type.
| Carrier type | Liability (BIPD) | Cargo | Filing forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous, 10,001+ lb GVWR | $750,000 | $0 | BMC-91, BMC-91X or BMC-82 |
| For-hire property carrier, non-hazardous, fleet of only vehicles under 10,001 lb GVWR | $300,000 | $0 | BMC-91, BMC-91X or BMC-82 |
| For-hire household goods carrier, 10,001+ lb GVWR | $750,000 | $5,000 | BMC-91, BMC-91X or BMC-82, and BMC-34 or BMC-83 |
Household goods carriers
Movers of household goods with operating authority must carry cargo coverage of at least:
- $5,000 for loss of or damage to household goods on any one vehicle
- $10,000 for loss or damage occurring at any one time and place
Proof is filed on Form BMC-34 (insurance) or BMC-83 (surety bond), in addition to the liability filing. [1][2][5]
Your liability for freight under federal law
Under 49 U.S.C. 14706, a carrier under FMCSA jurisdiction must issue a receipt or bill of lading for property it receives. That carrier, and any other such carrier that delivers the property, are liable to the person entitled to recover under the receipt or bill of lading. The liability is for the actual loss or injury to the property caused by the receiving carrier, the delivering carrier, or another carrier over whose line or route the property is transported. [3]
The MCS-90 doesn't cover the load
The MCS-90 endorsement that backs your federally required liability coverage doesn't apply to property you transport as cargo, or to injuries to your own employees on the job. See truck insurance types. [4]
Common questions
Is cargo insurance required by law?
Not for general freight. FMCSA lists the cargo requirement as $0 for for-hire property carriers. Household goods carriers must carry $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence. [1][2]
Does the MCS-90 endorsement pay for damaged freight?
No. It expressly excludes property transported as cargo. [4]
Sources (5)
- FMCSA - Insurance Filing Requirements (page last updated March 26, 2026) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- 49 CFR 387.303T - Security for the protection of the public: Minimum limits (eCFR) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- 49 U.S.C. 14706 - Liability of carriers under receipts and bills of lading (govinfo) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- FMCSA Form MCS-90 Endorsement (Rev 7/6/2024, OMB 2126-0008) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- 49 CFR 387.313T - Forms and procedures (eCFR) (accessed Oct 6, 2026)