Carrier Insurance & Authority Lookup
Before you tender a load, confirm the carrier is actually authorized and insured. Enter a USDOT or MC number to see BIPD, cargo, and bond insurance on file, the amounts required versus filed, and common, contract, and broker authority status — straight from live FMCSA data.
Vet a Carrier in Seconds
- Insurance On File
- BIPD (liability), cargo, and bond coverage — the amount required versus the amount actually filed with the FMCSA.
- Authority Status
- Common, contract, and broker authority — each shown as Active, Inactive, Pending, or None — plus allowed-to-operate.
- Out-of-Service Flags
- See immediately if a carrier has been placed out of service and why, before you hand them freight.
Why Insurance & Authority Verification Matters
A carrier's USDOT registration is only half the picture. To legally haul freight for hire, a carrier must hold active operating authority and keep the required insurance on file with the FMCSA. If either lapses, the carrier is not authorized to operate — and any broker or shipper who tenders them a load inherits the risk.
The FMCSA requires for-hire carriers to maintain a minimum of $750,000 in BIPD liability coverage, with most freight carriers carrying $1,000,000 and hazmat carriers up to $5,000,000. Freight brokers and forwarders must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust (BMC-84/BMC-85). This tool surfaces exactly what each carrier or broker has on file against what they are required to carry.
What This Tool Shows You
BIPD Liability
The bodily-injury and property-damage coverage required versus the amount on file.
Cargo & Bond
Whether cargo insurance and the broker/forwarder surety bond are on file.
Authority Types
Common, contract, and broker authority status, plus allowed-to-operate.
Who Uses This?
- Freight brokers confirm a carrier is insured and authorized before every load — a lapsed policy is a deal-breaker.
- Shippers verify that contracted carriers meet their minimum insurance requirements.
- Carriers check their own FMCSA record to make sure their insurer's filing posted correctly.
- Factoring companies review authority and insurance before advancing on a carrier's invoices.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I check if a carrier has insurance on file?
- Enter the carrier's USDOT or MC number above. This tool pulls live FMCSA data to show whether the carrier has BIPD (liability), cargo, and bond/trust insurance on file, the amount required versus the amount actually filed, and whether their operating authority is active. It is the same insurance-on-file data the FMCSA uses to grant operating authority.
- What is BIPD insurance?
- BIPD stands for Bodily Injury and Property Damage liability insurance. The FMCSA requires for-hire motor carriers to carry a minimum of $750,000, though most freight carriers carry $1,000,000. Carriers hauling certain hazardous materials must carry up to $5,000,000. This tool shows both the minimum amount required for the carrier and the amount they actually have on file.
- What is the difference between common, contract, and broker authority?
- Common authority lets a carrier haul freight for the general public. Contract authority lets a carrier haul under long-term contracts with specific shippers. Broker authority lets a company arrange transportation provided by others without operating trucks itself. A company can hold one, two, or all three. Each status can be Active, Inactive, Pending, or None.
- Why does insurance matter when vetting a carrier?
- If you tender freight to a carrier whose insurance has lapsed or whose authority is inactive, you take on serious liability. A carrier without active insurance on file is not legally authorized to operate, and a cargo claim against an uninsured carrier can fall back on the broker or shipper. Checking insurance and authority status before every load is a basic risk-management step.
- Is this carrier insurance data live?
- Yes. The authority and insurance-on-file status is read from the FMCSA at the time of your search. Note that FMCSA records reflect the policies insurers have filed with the agency, not a real-time confirmation with the insurer. For a certificate of insurance (COI) naming you as certificate holder, always request one directly from the carrier.