The minimum hot shot trucking insurance for most for-hire interstate operators is $750,000 of public liability coverage. That figure is a federal floor, set in 49 CFR 387.9 for for-hire carriers hauling non-hazardous property in interstate commerce with a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds GVWR or more. Many brokers and load boards won't give you freight at that level, though. They ask for $1 million. Here's where each number comes from and what changes it.
What the Federal Rule Actually Says
49 CFR 387.7(a) says a motor carrier can't operate a motor vehicle until it has the minimum financial responsibility set out in 387.9. The schedule of limits in 387.9 includes these lines:
- for-hire, interstate or foreign commerce, GVWR 10,001 pounds or more, non-hazardous property: $750,000
- oil and the hazardous materials listed in 49 CFR 172.101 that aren't covered by the higher tier, GVWR 10,001 pounds or more: $1,000,000
- certain bulk hazardous materials, explosives and highway-route-controlled radioactive material: $5,000,000
"Public liability" is defined in 387.5 as liability for bodily injury or property damage, and it includes environmental restoration. The minimum covers harm you do to other people and their property. It does not cover your truck or the freight on your trailer.
Minimum Hot Shot Trucking Insurance Below 10,001 Pounds
Federal rules treat smaller vehicles differently. Under 49 CFR 387.3(c), the subpart that holds the $750,000 schedule doesn't apply to a vehicle with a GVWR under 10,001 pounds, unless it carries certain high-hazard materials. For-hire carriers with operating authority fall under a separate set of rules for filing proof of insurance. 49 CFR 387.303T(b)(1) sets $300,000 for a fleet made up only of vehicles under 10,001 pounds GVWR hauling non-hazardous property.
The phrase "only vehicles under 10,001 pounds" matters. Most hot shot setups are a heavy pickup pulling a loaded trailer, which is why the combination question comes up. For the purposes of Part 387, 49 CFR 387.305 treats "a truck and trailer when both together bear a single load" as one motor vehicle. Before you file at the lower figure, check how your exact power unit and trailer are treated. Confirm with FMCSA for your setup rather than guessing.
Why Brokers and Load Boards Ask for $1 Million
The $750,000 figure is what federal law requires before you operate. A broker's or shipper's figure comes from their contract. Many brokers and load boards ask carriers for $1 million of auto liability before they'll tender freight, but this isn't universal. Requirements differ from broker to broker, and some ask for more on certain freight.
In practice, the limit you carry decides which loads you can book. A carrier at the federal minimum may be fully legal and still be filtered out of the loads they want.
A hypothetical example: a new authority with a one-ton pickup and a 40-foot gooseneck buys $750,000 of liability to get started. On the first load board it tries, the equipment loads it wants are posted by brokers whose carrier packets require $1 million. The truck is legal to run, but it can't haul those loads. Raising the limit before signing up for that board would have saved a lost week.
How to Decide Between $750,000 and $1 Million
Consider:
- Who you plan to haul for. Read the carrier setup requirements of the brokers and shippers you want before you buy. Their packets list the liability limit they need on the certificate.
- What you haul. Hazardous materials move you to the $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 tiers in 387.9, regardless of what a broker wants.
- Where you run. The federal figures apply to interstate for-hire carriage. Intrastate work is governed by state rules, which vary.
- Your own exposure. The minimum is a floor, not a recommendation. A serious crash can produce claims above any limit. How much you carry beyond the minimum is a business decision to talk through with your agent.
The Filing and Endorsement Side
The insurance itself isn't the whole requirement. Under 49 CFR 387.7(d), the proof of financial responsibility you keep at your principal place of business is the Form MCS-90 endorsement from your insurer (or a surety bond, or FMCSA approval to self-insure). 49 CFR 387.15 says the endorsement must be issued in the exact name of the motor carrier. Under 387.7(b)(1), the coverage must stay in effect continuously until it's terminated, and cancellation takes 35 days' written notice. If the name on your authority and the name on your policy don't match, fix it before a broker notices.
For the coverage itself, see our Hot Shot Trucking Insurance page, or send your setup through the quote request form.
FAQ
What insurance is needed for hot shot trucking?
If you haul non-hazardous freight for hire across state lines with a vehicle rated 10,001 pounds GVWR or more, federal rules require at least $750,000 of public liability coverage (49 CFR 387.9). Cargo and physical damage aren't covered by that minimum. Contracts with brokers and shippers often require cargo coverage and a higher liability limit.
Is 50/100/50 good liability insurance for hot shot trucking?
No, not for interstate for-hire work. "50/100/50" is a split-limit notation, usually read as $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. That's far below the $750,000 federal minimum in 49 CFR 387.9 for for-hire interstate carriers of non-hazardous property in vehicles rated 10,001 pounds GVWR or more.
How much does $1 million of trucking liability cost?
We don't publish price ranges, because the premium depends on your vehicles, drivers, freight, radius, operating history and the insurer. The only reliable number is a quote built on your actual operation.
Do I need $1 million if I run my own authority?
Federal law doesn't require it for non-hazardous freight. The minimum is $750,000. Whether you need $1 million depends on the brokers and shippers you want to work with. Check their carrier requirements before you choose a limit.
Does the $750,000 minimum cover my cargo?
No. Public liability under 49 CFR 387.5 covers bodily injury, property damage and environmental restoration owed to others. Freight on your trailer is covered separately, by motor truck cargo insurance.
Is Your Hot Shot Trucking Insurance Classified Correctly?
Whether you're operating a non-CDL hot shot setup, an expedited delivery vehicle, or a CDL truck-and-trailer combination, our commercial trucking insurance specialists can review your operations and help identify appropriate coverage and classification options.
Call 844-967-5247 for a trucking insurance quote.
Sources
- 49 CFR 387.7(a), (b)(1) and (d): financial responsibility required, continuous coverage, 35 days' cancellation notice, Form MCS-90 as proof. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.9, Table 1, Schedule of Limits: $750,000 non-hazardous property (for-hire, interstate, GVWR 10,001 pounds or more); $1,000,000 and $5,000,000 hazardous tiers. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.5, definitions of "public liability" and "for-hire carriage". eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.3(c), exception for vehicles under 10,001 pounds GVWR. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.303T(b)(1), $300,000 for a fleet including only vehicles under 10,001 pounds GVWR, non-hazardous property. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.305, combination vehicles treated as one motor vehicle. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.
- 49 CFR 387.15, Form MCS-90 endorsement. eCFR, checked 2026-10-08.