What BIPD insurance covers
BIPD (bodily injury and property damage) liability covers injuries and damage the carrier causes to others while operating. It is not cargo insurance: it does not pay for the freight on the truck.
Federal minimums
49 CFR 387.9 sets the minimum levels for motor carriers of property:
| Carriage | What is carried | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire, interstate or foreign, 10,001 lb GVWR or more | Property (nonhazardous) | $750,000 |
| For-hire and private, 10,001 lb GVWR or more | Oil, and hazardous materials not listed below | $1,000,000 |
| For-hire and private | Certain hazardous materials in bulk, and highway route controlled quantities of Class 7 | $5,000,000 |
The regulation lists the exact hazardous-material categories; check it for a specific load.
How the filing works
The insurer files proof of coverage with FMCSA, usually on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X, against the carrier’s docket. FMCSA’s public insurance dataset shows the insurer, policy number, coverage amount and effective date. When a policy is cancelled the insurer files a cancellation; if no replacement filing arrives, FMCSA can suspend the carrier’s authority.
Reading it on a carrier record
- BIPD required is the minimum that applies to the authority type.
- BIPD on file is the amount filed by the insurer. It should be at least the requirement.
- Effective date and insurer tell you which policy the filing belongs to.
Every CarrierTrail carrier profile shows both amounts and the insurance filings, with the dataset date.
What the filing does not tell you
The filing proves liability coverage met the federal minimum on the record’s date. It does not show cargo coverage, exclusions, or whether the policy covers your specific load and equipment. Ask for a certificate of insurance and keep it with the carrier. CarrierTrail can store certificates with the carrier record: see certificate tracking.