What is an MCS-90 endorsement, and do I need one?
Commercial insurance broker
An MCS-90 is a federally required endorsement that guarantees certain motor carriers' auto policies will pay for public liability, including bodily injury, property damage, and environmental restoration, up to the federally required minimum, even when the policy otherwise wouldn't respond. It's tied to FMCSA's financial responsibility requirements.
Whether you need one depends on what you haul and how you operate. Generally, for-hire motor carriers operating in interstate commerce, and carriers transporting certain hazardous materials, are subject to these requirements. Many private carriers hauling their own non-hazardous goods are not. Ready-mix producers delivering their own product, aggregate haulers working for hire, and oilfield haulers moving crude can fall into very different categories.
One thing that often surprises owners: the MCS-90 protects the public, not the trucking company. If the insurer pays a claim under the MCS-90 that the policy itself wouldn't have covered, the insurer can generally seek reimbursement from the motor carrier. It's a safety net for injured parties, not extra coverage for you.
If you're unsure whether your operation needs an MCS-90, or whether your current filings are correct, review your operating authority and commodities with your broker and, where needed, a transportation attorney.