Insurance filing landscape
Of 695,586 carriers indexed by Truck Graph, 967,983 have active insurance filings on record (BMC-91 for liability, BMC-91X for alternative compliance). The gap between total carriers and active filings reflects carriers with suspended or revoked authority, those that have gone inactive, and in some cases data timing between FMCSA systems. 22,771 insurance filings were recorded in the past 30 days — representing new policies, renewals, and reinstatements.
Minimum coverage requirements from federal regulations
FMCSA mandates minimum insurance under 49 CFR Part 387: $750,000 combined single limit for general freight (non-hazmat, non-household goods), $1,000,000 for household goods carriers, $1,000,000 for non-bulk hazmat requiring placards, and $5,000,000 for bulk hazmat, Class A/B explosives, and highway-route-controlled radioactive materials. These are federal minimums — many brokers and shippers require $1,000,000+ for general freight. Of the 967,983 active filings, coverage amounts range from minimum thresholds to multi-million dollar policies for large fleet carriers.
What insurance lapses mean
When a carrier's insurance is cancelled, the insurer notifies FMCSA with 30 days advance notice. If no replacement filing arrives within that window, authority is automatically suspended. The carrier cannot legally operate for hire under suspended authority. Truck Graph's insurance lapse feed monitors for these events across 967,983 filings. A recent lapse (visible as a gap in filing history) is a strong risk signal — it indicates either financial instability (couldn't afford premiums) or a safety issue (insurer refused to renew).
How to verify insurance in carrier vetting
When using Truck Graph's DOT Lookup: confirm the BMC-91 filing shows 'Active' status, check the effective date (very recent filings may indicate reinstatement after a lapse), verify coverage amount meets your cargo requirements (not just FMCSA minimums), and cross-reference with a direct certificate of insurance from the carrier's broker. Never rely solely on a COI provided by the carrier — these can be falsified. Truck Graph's data is synced from FMCSA's authoritative records every 4 hours.
Insurance as a carrier health indicator
Insurance status is a proxy for carrier financial stability. Carriers that maintain continuous coverage (no lapses, no gaps) demonstrate the cash flow and operational discipline needed for safe operations. Carriers with multiple lapses in their history often have other compliance issues. The 967,983 active filings in Truck Graph's database represent carriers that have at minimum cleared the financial bar of insurance procurement — but the history of that filing (how long, how continuous) tells a deeper story.
Source: FMCSA compliance records. 695,586 carriers, 5,250,000 inspections, 967,983 insurance filings analyzed. View methodology
External references: 49 CFR Part 387: Minimum Insurance · FMCSA: Insurance Requirements
Frequently asked questions
How many carriers have active insurance filings?
Truck Graph tracks 967,983 active insurance filings across 695,586 total indexed carriers. The difference includes carriers with suspended/revoked authority and those that have gone inactive.
How often does Truck Graph update insurance data?
Insurance filing status is synced from FMCSA records every 4 hours. When an insurer files a cancellation notice, it appears in our system within one sync cycle. The insurance lapse feed at /data/insurance-lapses monitors these events.
What does a very recent insurance filing date mean?
A filing date within the past 7-30 days may indicate: a brand new carrier (just got authority), a policy renewal (normal), or a reinstatement after a lapse (risk signal). Check the carrier's authority age and filing history to differentiate.
Is minimum insurance ($750K) enough?
Legally yes for general freight. Practically, many brokers require $1,000,000+. A $750,000 limit can be exhausted by a single serious accident. Of 967,983 active filings, larger carriers typically maintain well above minimums.
What happens if I ship with an uninsured carrier?
If the carrier causes an accident while uninsured, the broker who tendered the load faces potential liability exposure for failing to verify coverage. This is why insurance verification (checking against 967,983 filings in real time) should precede every load tender.