Staying inside Illinois? For-hire property carriers generally need a Public Carrier Certificate from the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), unless an exemption applies. Household goods movers fall under a separate ICC program.
Minimum liability on the ICC application (Form PCC-1): $750,000 for non-hazardous property in freight vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR, and $300,000 for non-hazardous property in lighter vehicles. Some hazmat requires $1,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Filings: your insurance company files the Form E. If you haul cargo worth more than $5,000, you also need cargo coverage proved with a Form H: $5,000 for commodities in dump-type vehicles, unprocessed farm goods, bulk milk and ordinary livestock, and $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence for other commodities. Otherwise you may file a Cargo Insurance Waiver Affidavit. Carriers operating solely in Illinois also need a cab card for each for-hire vehicle.
If you cross state lines, the federal rules apply. A for-hire carrier of general freight in interstate commerce with vehicles of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more needs at least $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9. The policy carries the MCS-90 endorsement, and your insurance company, not you, files the BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA. Hazmat limits run higher.
- Illinois lists a $750,000 minimum for intrastate for-hire freight in vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR.
- Dump-type vehicles carry a lower cargo requirement of $5,000 when cargo coverage applies.
- Intrastate-only carriers need a cab card for each for-hire vehicle; carriers required to buy UCR are exempt from buying them.
- About 25 percent of the nation's freight trains and 50 percent of its intermodal trains pass through metro Chicago, according to CMAP.
By truck
- Dump truck insurance in Illinois
- Dry van insurance in Illinois
- Flatbed insurance in Illinois
- Hot shot insurance in Illinois
- Box truck insurance in Illinois
Common questions
What is the difference between an Illinois PCC and an MC number?
The Public Carrier Certificate comes from the Illinois Commerce Commission and covers for-hire property moves inside Illinois. The MC number is federal authority from FMCSA for interstate work. Trips that start and end in Illinois are generally intrastate, though the ICC tells carriers who are unsure to consult an attorney.
Can I skip cargo insurance on an Illinois intrastate run?
The ICC application allows a Cargo Insurance Waiver Affidavit only if you will not haul cargo worth more than $5,000 in any vehicle. It is your job to notify each shipper in writing before you provide service. Shippers and brokers may still ask for cargo coverage.
Do I need an Illinois cab card if I also run interstate?
The ICC says carriers that must purchase Unified Carrier Registration are exempt from buying cab cards. Carriers operating solely in Illinois need one for each for-hire vehicle, and the ICC sets a yearly purchase deadline.
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Protec Consulting Group is a licensed insurance agency in Illinois.
Sources: Illinois Commerce Commission, Motor Carrier Property FAQ · Illinois Commerce Commission, Application for Public Carrier Certificate (Form PCC-1, rev. 10/27/2021) · Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Freight and Rail · 49 CFR 387.9, schedule of limits (Cornell LII) · 49 CFR 390.5, definition of interstate commerce (Cornell LII) · FMCSA, Insurance Filing Requirements · USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2020, Crushed Stone (2019 data) · Illinois Commerce Commission, Household Goods Applicant's Handbook · Illinois Commerce Commission docket transcript, South Kedzie viaduct · City of Chicago, Chicago Sustainable Industries (viaducts and truck route classes) · CDOT, Posted Viaduct Clearances · State of Illinois, Designated Truck Route List (IDOT) · IDOT, OPER 993 Special Vehicle Movement permit form · City of Chicago 311, Parking pickup trucks and commercial vehicles · USDA, 2022 Census of Agriculture Highlights: Illinois and Missouri. Reviewed: 2026-11-03.