Getting your motor carrier authority is an accomplishment — but it's only the first step. The 90 days after activation are when most new carriers make costly insurance mistakes that follow them for years. We've helped hundreds of carriers through their first year of operations. Here's the checklist we walk every new client through. Before You Haul: The Mandatory Coverages The FMCSA won't activate your authority without proof of insurance filed via Form BMC-91 (for liability) and BMC-34 (for cargo, if required). These filings must come from your insurance company — you can't file them yourself. Minimum requirements: - $750,000 auto liability for general freight (Form BMC-91) - $1,000,000 for hazmat carriers - $5,000,000 for certain passenger carriers - $5,000 cargo insurance for household goods (Form BMC-34) Most brokers and shippers require $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo regardless of what the FMCSA mandates. Plan for these higher limits from day one. Week 1: Get Your Filings in Order Your insurance agent should file your BMC-91 electronically. This typically takes 1-3 business days to appear in SAFER. Until it shows, you cannot legally haul freight. Critical timing note: If your filing lapses for any reason — non-payment, policy cancellation, carrier switch — the FMCSA issues a revocation notice. You have 30 days to get new filings in place, or your authority is revoked. Reinstatement after revocation requires starting the entire application process over. Week 2-4: Build Your Coverage Stack Beyond the mandatory filings, here's what you need: Physical damage — If you have a loan or lease on your truck, your lender requires this. Even if you own the truck outright, consider the replacement cost. Can you afford to buy another truck tomorrow if yours is totaled? General liability — Covers you at shipper facilities, truck stops, and anywhere you're not driving. Many facilities require a certificate showing GL coverage before you can enter. Workers' compensation — Required in most states if you have any employees, including yourself in some jurisdictions. Even if your state exempts owner-operators, many shippers and brokers require it. Umbrella/excess — Provides additional limits above your primary liability. With nuclear verdicts exceeding $10 million regularly, a $1M umbrella is increasingly standard. Days 30-60: Establish Your Safety Record Your insurance premium in year two depends heavily on what happens in year one. Carriers with clean first-year records see renewal decreases of 15-30%. Carriers with accidents or violations see increases of 40-100% — if they can find coverage at all. What to focus on: - Install dashcams (front and driver-facing) immediately - Run MVRs on every driver before hiring - Establish a written safety program (even if you're the only driver) - Document all pre-trip and post-trip inspections - Respond to any DataQs or roadside inspection issues within 30 days Days 60-90: Review and Adjust By day 60, you should have enough operating history to review your coverage with your agent. Questions to ask: - Is my cargo limit appropriate for the freight I'm actually hauling? - Do I need hired/non-owned auto coverage for any rented equipment? - Am I properly covered for the states I'm operating in? - Are my driver files complete and compliant? Common First-Year Mistakes Buying minimum limits to save money — The premium difference between $750K and $1M liability is often $200-400/year. The coverage difference in a serious accident is $250,000. Not reading the cargo exclusions — Standard cargo policies exclude refrigerated goods, hazmat, electronics, and high-value items. If you haul any of these, you need endorsements or a specialized policy. Letting coverage lapse for even one day — A single day without coverage creates a filing gap that follows you for years. Every future insurer will ask about it, and many will decline to quote. Not shopping at renewal — Your first-year premium is almost always higher than what you'll pay in year two with a clean record. But you have to shop it — your current carrier won't automatically reduce your rate. How Trux Helps New Authorities We assign every new-authority client a dedicated account manager who walks them through the first 90 days step by step. We handle the filings, review your lease agreements, verify your coverage matches your operations, and check in monthly during your first year. Call us before you get your authority — the earlier we're involved, the smoother your launch.