Who needs it
FMCSA requires motor carriers of household goods operating interstate for hire, and household goods freight forwarders, to keep cargo liability coverage on file. General freight carriers do not have a federal cargo filing requirement.
Minimum amounts
Under 49 CFR 387.303, the federal minimum cargo coverage for household goods carriers is $5,000 for loss of or damage to household goods carried on any one motor vehicle and $10,000 for loss of or damage to or aggregate of losses occurring at any one time and place. These are floors; a single move can easily exceed them, so many movers carry more.
Who files
The insurer files the BMC-34 electronically after the policy binds. Like the liability filing, it must stay continuously in force for the authority to remain active.
Frequently asked questions
Does the BMC-34 replace my liability filing?
No. Movers need both the liability filing and the cargo filing.