New MC authority leads: quoting carriers that need a first policy

Why new authorities are leads

A trucking company that wants to haul for hire across state lines applies to FMCSA for operating authority. The authority isn't granted until two things are on file: an insurer's filing for the required BI&PD liability coverage, on a Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X, and a BOC-3 naming the carrier's process agents.

Until then, the carrier shows as pending with no insurance on file. It has an application in, a truck or a plan for one, and no policy. Few leads are warmer.

Finding them in FMCSA's data

FMCSA's daily Motus carrier file lists each carrier's authority status and the BI&PD amount it needs, and the Motus insurance file lists what's been filed. A carrier with pending authority and no BI&PD filing is a new authority lead. The company census adds the name, address, phone, email and truck count the carrier gave FMCSA.

Since the May 2026 move to Motus, there were claims that new authorities had dropped to zero. They hadn't: FMCSA kept granting thousands of new MC numbers. But the open data has gaps, so we only list a new authority once the census has a record for it, which is what gives you a name and a number to call.

Quoting a first policy

• Check the required limit. Most general freight carriers need $750,000 of BI&PD on file; oil and hazardous materials need more. BMC Radar shows the amount FMCSA requires for each lead.
• Expect a new-venture market. No loss history, often one truck and an owner-operator. Know which of your markets write new ventures before you call.
• Move fast. The carrier can't start hauling under its own authority until the filing is in, so it wants a policy this week.
• Set the anniversary. If you write it, the filing date becomes next year's X-date.

What the numbers look like

On the November 4, 2026 run, 79 new authorities with a census record had no BI&PD filing. None of them had a filing on record when we checked, and 10 showed an inactive USDOT number, which is normal for applicants waiting on insurance.

Questions

Can a new trucking company get its MC authority without insurance?

No. FMCSA grants for-hire operating authority only after an insurer files proof of the required BI&PD liability coverage (Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X) and the carrier designates process agents on a BOC-3.

Where do new authority leads come from?

FMCSA's public files on data.transportation.gov list carriers with pending authority and the insurance on file for each. A pending carrier with no BI&PD filing still needs its first policy.

Why do some new authority leads show an inactive USDOT number?

New applicants often sit inactive in the census until their insurance is filed and the authority is granted. On the November 4, 2026 run, 10 of 79 new authority leads showed an inactive USDOT.