TL;DR: Maryland requires no operating authority or insurance filing for general intrastate freight. The PSC's Transportation Division permits for-hire passenger carriers and bulk petroleum tankers, the tanker permit demanding a $1,000,000 combined single limit with the Commission as certificate holder, while interstate carriers file federally.
Is there operating authority for Maryland freight carriers?
For general freight, no. Maryland stands with the states that deregulated intrastate property carriage, so a dry van, flatbed, reefer, or dump operation running only inside Maryland needs registration, safety compliance, and insurance, but no certificate from any state agency and no state insurance filing. There is no Maryland equivalent of a Form E for ordinary freight, and no state docket number to print on the door. What remains regulated are two niches the Public Service Commission's Transportation Division still oversees: for-hire passenger carriage and bulk transportation of flammable and combustible liquids.
What does the PSC require from petroleum tankers?
Bulk petroleum and other flammable liquid haulers need a PSC permit under COMAR 20.95.03.11. The permit rides on a $1,000,000 combined single limit liability policy, evidenced by an original certificate of insurance naming the Commission as certificate holder and listing the covered vehicles, plus cargo insurance of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 aggregate. A surety bond can substitute for insurance, scaled from $1,000,000 for a single vehicle to $2,200,000 for fleets of 81 or more. Letting the certificate lapse invalidates the permit, so tanker operators should calendar renewals and confirm their insurer reissues the certificate before expiration.
What does the PSC require from passenger carriers?
For-hire passenger operations, from sedans to motorcoaches, apply through the Transportation Division with proof of automobile liability insurance, evidence of workers compensation or a signed exclusion, a filed rate sheet, and a vehicle list, and drivers of vehicles carrying 15 or fewer passengers hold PSC-issued for-hire licenses. Carriers serving the Washington metropolitan area may also need a WMATC certificate covering the District, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, and Northern Virginia.
| Operation | State authority | Insurance filing |
|---|---|---|
| General intrastate freight | None | None |
| Petroleum tankers | PSC permit | Certificate to PSC, $1,000,000 CSL |
| For-hire passenger | PSC permit and driver licenses | Certificate with application |
| Interstate freight | FMCSA registration | Insurer-filed BMC-91X or MCS-90 |
What filings do interstate Maryland carriers make?
Crossing state lines puts a carrier in the federal system: USDOT number, operating authority through the FMCSA registration process, a BOC-3 process agent designation, and insurance evidence filed directly by the insurer, the BMC-91 or BMC-91X for liability. The federal filing must post before authority activates, and a lapse triggers revocation proceedings, so the insurer's filing desk matters as much as the coverage itself. Unified Carrier Registration applies to interstate fleets as well, with fees set by bracket each year.
Why does the missing authority layer still matter?
Because verification shifted to the private market. Brokers and shippers in Maryland check federal filings, certificates, and safety scores before tendering freight, and port terminals enforce their own insurance standards through interchange agreements. A carrier with clean paperwork moves through onboarding in hours; one with gaps waits. The absence of a state gatekeeper means there is no state record proving you were insured on a given date, which makes your own certificate history and your insurer's responsiveness the evidence that closes disputes.
What should carriers do with this?
Classify your operation first: pure intrastate freight needs no authority anywhere, tanker and passenger work needs the PSC, and any interstate movement needs the FMCSA. Then align the insurance program to the strictest applicable layer, keep certificates current, and treat broker onboarding packets with the same care a regulator would demand, because in Maryland the market is the regulator for general freight, and it audits faster than any agency. Keep copies of every filed certificate and confirmation so you can reconstruct your coverage history on demand.
Real questions Maryland owner-operators and fleet managers ask
Does a Maryland intrastate freight carrier need any state permit?
No. General property carriage inside Maryland is deregulated, with no certificate, docket number, or state insurance filing. Only for-hire passenger carriers and bulk flammable liquid tankers still go through the Public Service Commission.
What insurance filing does a Maryland petroleum tanker permit need?
An original certificate of insurance naming the PSC as certificate holder, evidencing a $1,000,000 combined single limit policy plus cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 aggregate, or a fleet-scaled surety bond instead.
Is there a Maryland Form E filing for trucking?
No. Maryland has no Form E requirement for general freight because it imposes no intrastate operating authority. Interstate carriers evidence insurance federally through insurer-filed BMC-91X forms with the FMCSA.
Do Maryland passenger carriers face extra requirements?
Yes. PSC permits require proof of liability insurance, workers compensation evidence or exclusion, filed rate sheets, vehicle lists, and PSC driver licenses for vehicles carrying 15 or fewer passengers, plus WMATC authority for Washington-area service.
What happens if an interstate carrier's federal filing lapses?
The FMCSA begins revocation of operating authority, and brokers see the lapse in real time. The replacement filing must post before cancellation takes effect to avoid a gap, so coordinate any insurer change well ahead of renewal.
Can Morrow write trucking insurance in Maryland?
Not directly today. Morrow is the brand name of Afthonea Inc, licensed in Massachusetts, Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Texas. If your trucking company is based in Maryland, we can refer you to a licensed Maryland agent, and this guide still shows you exactly what to ask that agent for. Everything above comes from public Maryland and federal sources, not from us selling you a policy.
Related Maryland trucking guides
The other Maryland trucking questions, answered the same way.
- Trucking insurance in Maryland (start here)
- Trucking insurance requirements
- Minimum liability limits for trucks
- Cost of trucking insurance
- Business insurance in Maryland
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Limits, forms, and deadlines change, so verify current requirements with the Maryland Public Service Commission and the Maryland Insurance Administration before you rely on them. Morrow is a brand name of Afthonea Inc. Last updated: July 2026.