Quick checklist
- Available FMCSA insurance-filing fields have been reviewed.
- The certificate, limits and effective dates match the load.
- A current certificate of insurance is confirmed with the agent.
Before you tender
An insurance filing and coverage for your load answer different questions
Match the carrier first. Then separate the public filing from the policy confirmation you need for this shipment.
01 / Public filing
What is on file with FMCSA?
In FMCSA’s property-carrier table, liability filings use BMC-91, BMC-91X or BMC-82. The household-goods row also lists cargo forms BMC-34 or BMC-83.
Read the filing type and carrier category together. A liability filing alone does not establish cargo coverage.
02 / Policy confirmation
Does the policy fit this shipment?
Ask the insurance agent to confirm the insured legal name, effective dates, cargo limit, commodity and relevant exclusions for your load.
An FMCSA filing is a screening input. It does not answer all of these shipment-specific questions.
Source: FMCSA — Insurance Filing Requirements, Motor Carrier of Property table. U.S. filing categories, consulted November 1, 2026. These are reference requirements, not carrier statistics or a live policy check.
Compare the applicable filing requirements →What FMCSA shows
FMCSA records may show reported BIPD, cargo or other insurance-filing fields and required amounts, depending on the carrier and record. A filing is not a real-time guarantee that a policy covers your load today.
Confirm the policy directly
Use the public filing as a screening input, then confirm the certificate, limits, commodities, exclusions and effective dates directly with the carrier's insurance agent before tendering.
Why monitoring matters
A reported filing field can change between checks. CarrierSentry re-checks selected FMCSA fields daily and emails when it detects a change, so you can verify the current record and policy directly.
Verify a carrier now
Run a free FMCSA lookup by USDOT, MC number or company name. Then put the carriers you book on watch for a daily re-check and an email when a monitored field change is detected.
Primary sources
Use this guide as an operating checklist, then confirm the current carrier record in official sources before acting.
Data sourced from public FMCSA/SAFER records. CarrierSentry is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. DOT or FMCSA. Verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before making business decisions.