Ohio Trucking Insurance Requirements for Motor Carriers start with Federal Requirements set by FMCSA.
FMCSA is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which oversees the Department of Transportation.
Commercial trucks hauling freight for hire across state lines must first register with FMCSA.
Commercial Trucks operating Intrastate in Ohio are also required to get a Federal DOT number.
Simple Steps to your Motor Carrier Authority courtesy of CIS.
What are Ohio’s Minimum Insurance Rules for Truckers Crossing State Lines?
Cargo Van and Sprinter Insurance $300,000 minimum liability
Hot Shot Insurance $750,000 minimum liability
Box Truck & Straight Truck Insurance $750,000 minimum liability
Larger Trucks hauling general freight $750,000 as well.
What Proof of Insurance Do Motor Carriers Need in Ohio?
Proof of minimum Commercial Auto Liability Insurance limits are required by both FMCSA and OHIO PUCO.
PUCO is the Public Utililities Commission which oversees transportation in Ohio.
When you purchase your new Ohio trucking insurance, proof of that policy is sent directly to FMCSA with a BMC-91X Filing.
An MCS-90 is just the endorsement to your policy which guarantees the insurance to FMCSA.
At the same time your insurance provider will also send your proof of insurance to Ohio PUCO as a Form E.
FMCSA approves your MC number, or Motor Carrier operating authority.
What IS Commercial Auto Liability Insurance for Truckers?
Commercial Auto Liability covers two main things: Bodily Injury and Property Damage to others.
If you’re driving and cause an accident that injures or, sadly, kills someone, Bodily Injury Liability steps in.
It helps cover their medical bills, rehab, long-term care, funeral costs, lost wages, and even pain and suffering.
Now, if you hit something—like another car, a building, or even someone’s pet—that’s where Property Damage Liability comes into play.
It helps pay for repairs or replacements of whatever was damaged.
For your truck insurance, Bodily Injury and Property Damage are usually bundled together under “CSL,” which stands for Combined Single Limits.
Just keep in mind that a liability claim will only pay up to the limit you’ve chosen on your policy.
For more details, check out Commercial Truck Liability Explained.
Does Liability Insurance Cover Your Truck?
No, the coverage you need to insure the truck itself is called Physical Damage Insurance.
Let’s break it down.
What is Physical Damage Insurance?
Physical Damage Insurance gives you two main types of coverage: Collision and Comprehensive (Comp).
- Collision Coverage: This kicks in if your truck is damaged in an accident. It covers repairs or replacement if your truck collides with another object, tips over, or rolls.
- Comprehensive Coverage: This protects your truck from non-collision damage—things like theft, falling trees, wind, hail, or even hitting an animal.
How is Physical Damage Insurance Valued?
Your insurance is based on either the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your truck or the Stated Amount (this includes everything permanently attached to the truck).
If you go with the Stated Amount, remember to include all those extras! Things like aftermarket parts, mounted equipment, and permanent modifications can all add value.
What Counts as Permanently Attached Equipment?
Here are some examples of what you might include:
- Custom paint, decals, or signage
- Bolted or mounted electronics
- Coupling devices like 5th wheel receivers
- Vacuuming equipment and other mounted tools
- Shelving, ladder racks, tarps, chains, and binders
Make sure you account for any accessories that are part of your permanent setup or help secure your load. It’s all about protecting everything that makes your truck uniquely yours!
Does Ohio or FMCSA require Physical Damage Insurance for Trucks?
Nope! OHIO PUCA & FMCSA only require Commercial Auto Liability Insurance to legally drive.
That said, Physical Damage Insurance is what protects your truck.
If you’re leasing or financing your truck, your lender or leasing company will probably require it to protect their investment.
What Other Insurance Coverage Does a New Ohio Trucker Need?
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance protects the freight you are hauling for your customer or broker.
Again, while FMCSA does not require you to carry a specific amount of cargo insurance, the generally accepted limit of coverage is $100,000 for General Freight.
Hot Shots are often asked by brokers and customers to carry up to $250,000 in motor truck cargo.
Commercial Truck Cargo Insurance Explained goes over everything you need to know about this critical coverage.
Be sure to remember these 2 affordable optional coverages for your truck insurance package:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Protection
This covers you and your passengers if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough—or any—insurance. It helps with medical bills, lost wages, and even pain and suffering from bodily injuries.
Medical Payments (MedPay) Protection
MedPay takes care of medical and funeral expenses for you and your passengers if you’re injured in a truck accident.
Why is Ohio Commercial Truck Insurance So Pricey for New Truckers?
Ohio actually has some of the best trucking insurance rates in the country, but for new truckers just starting out it can still feel like the biggest expense to tackle.
One of the reasons trucking insurance for new startups is so expensive is because of historically poor underwriting results which leads to a lack of insurance providers interested in entering the marketplace.
So be sure to run estimates on your truck insurance premiums with a Transportation Insurance Expert BEFORE you register for your DOT.
Heard about a New Trucking Insurance Company in Ohio?
Yes, GEICO is the new trucking insurance option everyone is talking about.
They have an exciting new program with affordable premiums and very flexible payment options for Ohio Truckers.
What Makes a Truck a Commercial Vehicle in Ohio?
Ohio Revised Code Section 4501.01 | Motor vehicles definitions:
(J) “Commercial car” or “truck” means any motor vehicle that has motor power and is designed and used for carrying merchandise or freight, or that is used as a commercial tractor.
PUCO adds “All carriers that operate vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) 10,001 lbs. or greater must have a US DOT number.”
That includes 1 ton Duallys with Trailers commonly used for Hot Shot trucking when the combination of both exceeds 10,001 lbs.
Hot Shot Truck insurance usually falls under the $750,000 limit requirement
[Related Story – What is the Definition of a Commercial Vehicle]
Does Ohio PUCO have any other Commercial Truck Requirements?
Once you have your DOT number and insurance in place, it’s time for PUCO.
PUCO will still need their own separate Ohio Motor Carrier Application.
Then be sure to remember your obligation to complete your UCR Filing.
Interstate Motor Carriers are required to submit annual fees to Unified Carrier Registration, or UCR.
Unified Carrier Registration supports funding for state highway motor carrier registration and safety programs.
The amount of your fee is based on how many trucks you have.
Up to 2 trucks is $37 each and 3-5 trucks is $111 each.
Note that UCR is clear that smaller units like HotShots, Cargo Vans and Sprinters are not necessarily exempt from this fee.
According to the UCR Handbook, page 30…
“Some motor carriers or freight forwarders may operate only vehicles that are not classified as commercial motor vehicles, typically because the vehicles are lighter or carry fewer passengers than vehicles included in the definition of the term commercial motor vehicle. Such a business must register for UCR because these entities have a federal MC number. Because the MC numbers are generated in the federal URS system, a USDOT number will also be issued, but it would ordinarily pay a UCR fee in the lowest bracket, because it operates no commercial motor vehicles.”
If these lightweight vehicles pull trailers in interstate commerce and the gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight is 10,001 or more, the entity will account for all of these commercial motor vehicles and pay the applicable fee.
Why Choose CIS for your Ohio Trucking Insurance?
Since 2002, CIS has served the family owned trucking operations in Ohio who Make America Move!
We shop with multiple insurance providers including GEICO and Progressive to find the most affordable new trucking insurance for you.
Our team? Five Transportation Insurance Experts who truly care about building real relationships and helping you succeed.
We know you by name and love hearing from you, whether you’re thinking about adding a new driver, questioning a funky Cert request, or just want to say “Hi.”
Check out our CIS 5-Star Google Reviews to see why so many Motor Carriers and Owner Operators go with CIS for their new trucking ventures!
Start your new Ohio Commercial Truck Insurance Quote, or just give us a call at (330) 864-1511.
We’d love to chat with you!
