Redoubt Insurance
A leased owner-operator is getting their own authority

New authority trucking insurance

A primary auto liability policy from an insurer willing to file proof of it with FMCSA under your new docket number, because FMCSA will not grant the authority until that filing is on record. For a for-hire interstate carrier of general freight (nonhazardous property) in trucks rated 10,001 pounds GVWR or more, the federal floor is $750,000. The rest of the policy is set by the people you work with: TQL, for one, requires $1 million of auto liability and $100,000 of cargo. One80's program, for one, takes new ventures and requires two years of CDL experience for every driver.

What does semi truck insurance for a new authority include?

Up to five coverages; FMCSA's chart sets a dollar figure for liability and $0 for cargo on general freight. Progressive's owner-operator page says that if you are "running your business independently," you need liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo and motor truck general liability. Its semi truck page adds trailer interchange, which "provides physical damage protection (essentially collision and comprehensive coverage) for a trailer you don't own."

The rest comes from contracts, lenders and the freight. For a reefer, Progressive warns that spoilage from temperature swings "isn't covered by all motor truck cargo insurance policies," and TQL wants reefer breakdown on the certificate. A new reefer authority's package is usually liability to activate the MC, physical damage for the truck, and cargo with reefer breakdown for the brokers.

Who asks for each coverage on a new authority
CoverageWho asks for itWhat their document says
Primary auto liabilityFMCSA; some brokers, such as TQL, ask for moreFMCSA: $750,000 for for-hire interstate general freight (nonhazardous property) at 10,001 lb GVWR and up; TQL: $1 million
Motor truck cargoBrokers such as TQLFMCSA chart: $0 for general freight; TQL: $100,000
Physical damageYour lender or lessorProgressive: usually required for trucks with an outstanding loan or lease
Trailer interchangeThe trailer's ownerProgressive: often required by clients who own the trailers
Non-trucking liabilityLeased-on owner-operatorsProgressive: for driving the truck for personal reasons, not for work

Sources: 11, 17, 3, 4, 6, 16, 12, 18

Why is insurance harder to get for a new authority?

One80, a wholesaler and program manager, publishes what its domestic trucking program takes: it says "New Ventures considered," sets a "2 year CDL minimum required for all drivers," and asks any operation in business less than three years for a New Venture profile showing the owner's experience over the past two years in a relevant industry.

Progressive's cost page puts the difference between leasing on and running your own authority this way: "Owner operators with their own USDOT authority take on full responsibility for accidents, violations, and cargo claims." Progressive lists "USDOT authority" first among six cost factors, with coverage options, vehicle type, cargo, operating radius and driving history.

Some markets do not compete for new ventures at all. Before you wait on a quote, ask whether the market behind it takes new authorities.

Sources: 7, 8, 15, 14

Can you buy the insurance before your MC authority is active?

Yes, and you have to: FMCSA "will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA," and it is your insurer that makes that filing, once FMCSA has assigned your docket number.

For general freight, the filing FMCSA waits for is the liability: its chart sets $0 of cargo. The other coverages answer to other people. Progressive says physical damage is usually required on a truck with a loan or lease, and TQL requires $100,000 of cargo before you haul for it. Have the whole package quoted together, so the cargo and physical damage are in place by the first load.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 16, 6

Does your leased-on insurance carry over to your own authority?

The liability does not. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1) requires the lease to spell out "the legal obligation of the authorized carrier to maintain insurance coverage for the protection of the public," so while you are leased on, that coverage is the carrier's, not yours. Progressive describes the leased side the same way: you "may be covered by your motor carrier's primary liability insurance while under dispatch," with non-trucking liability, which it describes as protection when driving "for personal reasons, not for work," to fill the gaps.

On your own authority, the primary liability has to be a policy in your own name. Line up its start date with the end of the lease, so the truck is never between the carrier's liability and your own.

Cargo changes hands too. Progressive says that when you lease onto a motor carrier, "the company often assumes much of this risk," meaning the accidents, violations and cargo claims that an owner with its own authority carries in full.

Sources: 5, 13, 12, 15

Should a new authority carry $750,000 or $1 million in liability?

Carry the higher of what FMCSA requires and what your brokers' written requirements say. The federal schedule in 49 CFR 387.9 sets $750,000 for "For-hire (In interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Property (nonhazardous)" and has no separate line for a new authority. Brokers can set their own floor on top of it: TQL lists a "Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance" among the things it requires before you haul for it.

Have both limits quoted on the same submission, so the difference is a number you can weigh against the freight the higher limit opens. Check the ceiling too: One80's program lists "Auto Liability with up to $1M limits," so a contract asking for more than $1 million is beyond that program.

Sources: 4, 6, 10

What do insurers ask a new authority for?

One80's program, for one, asks for proof of driving experience: its submission list asks for "Motor Vehicle Reports for all drivers valued within the last 90 days (Minimum 2 full yrs experience required)," its own signed supplemental application, and, for an operation under three years old, the New Venture profile. Progressive's semi truck page starts a quote with "the vehicle's make and model, a list of drivers, and operating radius."

The FMCSA record can be read too. FMCSA's notice on Motus, its new registration system, planned to open it to all regulated entities in the second quarter of 2026, and a market can check the vehicle count on a submission against that registration data. If the power units and drivers on your registration do not match the insurance application, fix one or the other before the submission goes out.

Sources: 9, 7, 19, 20

Once my MC authority is granted, what insurance requirements do I check before the first load?

A newly granted authority must keep proof of insurance on file with FMCSA, and the policy behind it should match the trucks, drivers and freight the carrier runs. FMCSA's filing page, updated March 26, 2026, requires that proof and the process-agent designation "to avoid revocation proceedings," and 49 CFR 385.308(a)(6), in eCFR as of October 8, 2026, lets FMCSA put a new entrant running without its Part 387 coverage into an expedited safety audit. Before the first dispatch, check each line below and have the insurer correct, in writing, any that differs:

  • The filing: FMCSA's May 2026 Motus job aid says "Granted authorities will display insurance and process agent details"; compare the insurance details shown there with your declarations page.
  • The name: 49 CFR 387.313T(c) requires the filing in "the full and correct name" of the authority holder.
  • The counts: 49 CFR 390.19T(b) has the MCS-150 filed before operations begin and every 24 months; its power units and drivers equal the trucks and drivers the insurer rated.
  • The radius and freight: the 150 air-mile radius in 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1) is an hours-of-service exemption, not an insurance rule; Progressive's motor carrier page lists operating radius and cargo among its cost factors, so the policy's radius and commodities match the loads you book.
  • The brokers: send each broker or load board its packet once its written minimums, cargo and reefer breakdown included, match the declarations page.

Sources: 21, 24, 22, 25, 27, 29, 14, 6

My MC authority was reinstated. What insurance should I check before I run again?

A reinstated MC authority rests on what FMCSA's reinstatement FAQ, last updated May 20, 2023, lists: minimum financial responsibility and a BOC-3 on file, and an active USDOT number.

Two federal rules apply to the records behind it. If a new insurer filed, 49 CFR 387.313T(e), in eCFR as of October 8, 2026, ends the retiring insurer's filing liability on the replacement's effective date. Under 49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4), a missed biennial MCS-150 update can deactivate the USDOT number the FAQ requires to be active.

Before the first load, compare the insurance details Motus displays for the authority, the power units and drivers on the MCS-150, and the new declarations page, counting trucks and drivers added or dropped since the cancellation. Then send the insurer the reinstatement date, the cancellation notice and its reason, the last declarations page and three years of loss runs, and send each broker you haul for a new certificate with the new policy number and dates.

Sources: 23, 26, 28, 22

What to send

What to send for a new authority quote

Send it in one message: before you file the authority application, once it is granted, or after a reinstatement.

  1. 1.Your USDOT number, and the MC docket number once FMCSA assigns it
  2. 2.The legal business name and address exactly as they appear on the FMCSA application
  3. 3.Each driver's name, date of birth, CDL number and class, and years of CDL experience
  4. 4.A motor vehicle report for each driver from the last 90 days, if you have one
  5. 5.Each truck's year, make, model, body type, VIN and value, and each trailer's, with who owns it
  6. 6.What you will haul, the highest value on one load, where, and how far from home
  7. 7.The lender or lessor's name and address if the truck is financed or leased
  8. 8.Every broker or shipper insurance requirement you already have in writing
  9. 9.Your history: years driving, years leased on, and the carrier you were leased to
  10. 10.The date the filing and the coverage have to start
  11. 11.The card for the first payment, in the business's or the owner's own name
  12. 12.After a reinstatement: the reinstatement date, the cancellation notice and its reason, the last declarations page or prior coverage dates, and three years of loss runs
Frequently asked questions

Does a new authority need cargo insurance?

Not under federal rules for general freight: FMCSA's filing chart lists $0 of cargo for for-hire property carriers other than household goods movers. Brokers and shippers require it in their own contracts, and TQL's carrier requirements list a $100,000 cargo minimum.

Can I add a second truck during my first year?

Ask before you bind. Some markets will not let a new authority add trucks within its first year of operating. Whether a policy can grow mid-term is a question for the specific market, and the answer belongs in the quote.

Can Redoubt file my authority with FMCSA?

No. Redoubt is an insurance agency, not a government office. The authority application is yours to file with FMCSA, and the insurance filing comes from the insurer that writes your liability.

Sources

Where these answers come from

Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms, rules and carrier pages change; read the current version before acting.

  1. 1. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, overview
    “FMCSA will not grant operating authority registration until the registrant has in effect the minimum levels of financial responsibility on file with FMCSA.”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Read in a browser; The page was last updated March 26, 2026.
  2. 2. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, who should file proof of insurance with FMCSA and when
    “New entities registering with the Agency for the first time should be prepared to contact their financial responsibility provider to request filing of the required forms immediately after obtaining their designated docket number.”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Read in a browser; the sentence sits in a collapsed panel of the page.
  3. 3. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, chart, Motor Carrier of Property row for for-hire non-hazardous carriers at 10,001 pounds and up
    “For-Hire Property Carriers (Non-Hazardous) GVWR ≥ 10,001 pounds $750,000 $0 $0 BMC-91, or BMC-91X, or BMC-82”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Cells of a table: entity type, vehicle type, BIPD, cargo, surety bond or trust fund, applicable forms. The household goods row is the only property row with a cargo figure ($5,000).
  4. 4. 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits, row 1, eCFR
    “For-hire (In interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds) Property (nonhazardous) $750,000”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01. Rows 2 to 4 of the same table set $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 for hazardous materials.
  5. 5. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1), lease and interchange of vehicles, insurance, eCFR
    “The lease shall clearly specify the legal obligation of the authorized carrier to maintain insurance coverage for the protection of the public pursuant to FMCSA regulations under 49 U.S.C. 13906.”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-01.
  6. 6. TQL, Frequently Asked Questions for Carriers, what do I need to start hauling for TQL
    “To haul for TQL we require: Valid MC or US DOT number Minimum $1 million auto liability insurance Minimum $100,000 cargo insurance policy Reefer Breakdown on insurance certificate (if applicable)”
    tql.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A list on the page; line breaks between items collapsed. A broker's own requirement, not a federal one.
  7. 7. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), submission requirements
    “If In Business for any amount of time less than 3yrs total, completed New Venture profile in addition to the Supp. If New Venture, experience of the owner for the past 2 years in a relevant industry (this should be outlined within the New Venture profile)”
    one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A program manager's statement about its own program. The PDF sets "profile" with an fi ligature.
  8. 8. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), highlighted features
    “New Ventures considered. 2 year CDL minimum required for all drivers.”
    one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Two consecutive items of a bulleted list; the bullet markers are dropped.
  9. 9. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), submission requirements, driver records
    “Motor Vehicle Reports for all drivers valued within the last 90 days (Minimum 2 full yrs experience required)”
    one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026
  10. 10. One80 Intermediaries, Domestic Trucking Program sheet (V062026), available coverages
    “Auto Liability with up to $1M limits Physical Damage coverage Workers’ Compensation”
    one80.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Three list items; line breaks collapsed.
  11. 11. Progressive Commercial, Owner Operator Insurance, owner operators with their own authority
    “If you're running your business independently, you'll need to purchase owner operator insurance coverage, including:”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The list that follows names liability, physical damage, motor truck cargo and motor truck general liability. A carrier describing its own product.
  12. 12. Progressive Commercial, Owner Operator Insurance, leased owner operator coverages, non-trucking liability
    “Protects you when you're driving your truck for personal reasons, not for work.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The description that follows the "Non-trucking liability" label in Progressive's list.
  13. 13. Progressive Commercial, Motor Carrier Insurance, for-hire truck liability insurance
    “If you're one of these for-hire owner operators, you may be covered by your motor carrier's primary liability insurance while under dispatch. But you may still need to get non-trucking liability insurance to prevent gaps when you're not using your truck for work.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. "These" refers to the permanently leased independent contractors named in the sentence before.
  14. 14. Progressive Commercial, Motor Carrier Insurance, how much does motor carrier insurance cost
    “Your motor carrier insurance cost will vary, depending on numerous factors, including: USDOT authority Coverage options Vehicle type Cargo Operating radius Driving history”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The factors are a list on the page; line breaks collapsed.
  15. 15. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, USDOT authority
    “Owner operators with their own USDOT authority take on full responsibility for accidents, violations, and cargo claims. When you lease onto a motor carrier, the company often assumes much of this risk.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026
  16. 16. Progressive Commercial, Commercial Truck Insurance Cost, adjust your coverages and limits
    “For example, physical damage coverage is usually required for trucks with an outstanding loan or lease.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Progressive's statement; the lender's or lessor's own contract is what sets the requirement for a given truck.
  17. 17. Progressive Commercial, Semi Truck and Trailer Insurance, trailer interchange
    “Trailer interchange coverage provides physical damage protection (essentially collision and comprehensive coverage) for a trailer you don't own. This coverage is often required by clients who own the trailers.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026
  18. 18. Progressive Commercial, Semi Truck and Trailer Insurance, motor truck cargo for refrigerated tractor trailers
    “Loss of cargo due to spoilage from temperature fluctuations isn't covered by all motor truck cargo insurance policies.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026
  19. 19. Progressive Commercial, Semi Truck and Trailer Insurance, how to get insurance for a tractor trailer
    “Collect relevant information, such as the vehicle's make and model, a list of drivers, and operating radius.”
    progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026
  20. 20. Federal Register, Availability of Motus, FMCSA's New Registration System, April 29, 2026, abstract
    “In Phase II, planned for the second quarter of 2026, Motus will become available to all regulated entities.”
    federalregister.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. The quote states availability, not a switch-over date; the same abstract says FMCSA will sunset the URS for new USDOT Number and operating authority applications.
  21. 21. FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements, overview, after the authority is granted
    “Once operating authority is granted, entities are required to maintain proof of insurance and designation of agents for process on file with FMCSA to avoid revocation proceedings.”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. The page was last updated March 26, 2026.
  22. 22. FMCSA, Navigating Your Company Account in Motus (job aid, May 2026), Operating Authority Registration(s)
    “If an application is pending, you can see the specific reason why (such as waiting for insurance or process agent filings). Granted authorities will display insurance and process agent details.”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 12, 2026
  23. 23. FMCSA, FAQ, How do I reinstate my Operating Authority (MC/FF/MX number)?
    “Comply to with the minimum financial responsibility requirements and Designation of Process Agent (BOC-3 Form) on file with FMCSA. Please see our Insurance Filings Requirements for more information; and Motor Carriers Only: Have an active USDOT Number with up-to-date contact information on file.”
    fmcsa.dot.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Quoted as printed, FMCSA's "Comply to with" included. The FAQ was last updated May 20, 2023, before Motus; FMCSA's Move into Motus page now routes reinstatement through Motus.
  24. 24. 49 CFR 385.308(a)(6), expedited actions against new entrants, eCFR
    “(6) Operating a commercial motor vehicle without the levels of financial responsibility required under part 387 of this subchapter.”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08. The lead-in, 385.308(a), says a new entrant that commits one of the listed actions "may be subjected to an expedited safety audit or a compliance review".
  25. 25. 49 CFR 387.313T(c), name of insured, eCFR
    “Certificates of insurance and surety bonds shall be issued in the full and correct name of the individual, partnership, corporation or other person to whom the certificate, permit, or license is, or is to be, issued. In the case of a partnership, all partners shall be named.”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08. eCFR prints 387.313T as the text in force; the unsuffixed 387.313 is suspended.
  26. 26. 49 CFR 387.313T(e), termination by replacement, eCFR
    “the liability of the retiring insurer or surety under such certificates of insurance or surety bonds shall be considered as having terminated as of the effective date of the replacement certificate of insurance, surety bond or other security”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08. eCFR prints 387.313T as the text in force; the unsuffixed 387.313 is suspended.
  27. 27. 49 CFR 390.19T(b), MCS-150 filing schedule, eCFR
    “Each motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider must file the appropriate form under paragraph (a) of this section at the following times: (1) Before it begins operations; and (2) Every 24 months,”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08. eCFR prints 390.19T as the text in force; the unsuffixed 390.19 is suspended.
  28. 28. 49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4), missed biennial update, eCFR
    “A person that fails to complete biennial updates to the information pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section is subject to the penalties prescribed in 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B) or 49 U.S.C. 14901(a), as appropriate, and deactivation of its USDOT Number.”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08.
  29. 29. 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1), short-haul operations, 150 air-mile radius driver, eCFR
    “150 air-mile radius driver. A driver is exempt from the requirements of §§ 395.8 and 395.11 if: (i) The driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius (172.6 statute miles) of the normal work reporting location;”
    ecfr.gov, accessed October 12, 2026. Pulled from the eCFR versioner API as of 2026-10-08. 395.8 and 395.11 are the records-of-duty-status rules; the section sets no insurance radius.
The same moment

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Commercial auto insurance: every question, by the moment that blocks the businessThe hub: 69 pages, grouped by who is holding what.Lease on vs own authorityLeased on, the carrier's authority and liability policy carry the load. Under your own MC, you buy the policy and your insurer files it with FMCSA.New authority insurance costWhat new-authority truck insurance costs: what published averages cover, what moves a new MC's price, and the taxes, fees and payment plan in a quote.Owner-operator insuranceWhat an owner-operator carries leased on and under its own MC: the carrier's liability, non-trucking cover, physical damage and Utah's injury rule.

Elsewhere on the site

MC number insurance requirementsThe federal limits for each kind of authority, cargo and vehicle.FMCSA insurance filingBMC-91 and BMC-91X: what the insurer files, and when.Do you need cargo insurance?Why cargo is a broker's requirement for general freight, not a federal one.What is bobtail insurance?Bobtail and non-trucking liability for owner-operators still leased on.FMCSA Motus issuesWhen the registration record and the insurance application disagree.Reinstate MC authorityWhy an authority goes inactive, the $80 request in Motus, and the filing it waits for.How to update MCS-150 onlineFiling the MCS-150 before operations and every 24 months.Brokers that work with new authorityBroker setup requirements for a carrier in its first months.How to get an MC numberThe application steps and the filings FMCSA waits for, in the certificate of insurance guide.Commercial trucking insurancePrimary liability, cargo and physical damage for owner-operators and small fleets.
Talk to Redoubt

You are applying for, or have just been granted, your own authority

Text Redoubt your USDOT and MC numbers, each truck's and trailer's year, make, model, body type and value, every driver's name, date of birth, licence number and class, what you haul and the highest value on one load, any broker or lender requirements in writing, and the date cover has to start, plus, after a reinstatement, the reinstatement date, the cancellation notice, the last declarations page and three years of loss runs. We will tell you which markets write new authorities for an operation like yours and what each one needs before it will file.

Text us your setupCall 385-375-7655

This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the requirement in writing from whoever is asking control.

What a policy covers depends on the policy forms, the endorsements the carrier has issued, and the written requirement of whoever is asking for proof. Redoubt is an insurance agency, not a government office.