TL;DR: Texas intrastate carriers above 26,000 pounds need $500,000 CSL liability filed with TxDMV on Form E, with hazmat at $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 and household goods movers adding cargo coverage. Interstate carriers follow federal tiers with FMCSA filings instead. Workers comp is optional for private employers, and brokers add their own contract requirements on top.
What insurance does Texas legally require for truckers?
The answer splits by layer. Intrastate operations, everything inside Texas, follow TxDMV rules under 43 Texas Administrative Code chapter 218: liability at the state minimums filed by your insurer on Form E, plus cargo coverage if you move household goods. Interstate operations follow the federal scheme, 49 CFR part 387: liability at the federal tiers, BMC filings with FMCSA, and the MCS-90 endorsement. Nothing in either layer requires physical damage, general liability, or cargo for general freight; those come from lenders, shippers, and brokers, which is why the practical program is always bigger than the legal one.
What are the required liability amounts?
| Operation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Intrastate general freight, over 26,000 lbs | $500,000 CSL, filed on Form E |
| Intrastate oil, listed hazmat, petroleum fuels | $1,000,000 |
| Intrastate worst-class bulk hazmat | $5,000,000 |
| Intrastate household goods under 26,000 lbs | $300,000 liability plus cargo filing |
| Interstate general freight, 10,001 lbs and up | $750,000 federal minimum, $1,000,000 market standard |
| Interstate hazmat | $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 by commodity |
The numbers come from the TxDMV Motor Carrier Handbook and 43 TAC 218.16 on the state side and 49 CFR 387.9 on the federal side. Combined single limit, CSL, means one limit covers bodily injury and property damage together per occurrence.
Do I need cargo insurance in Texas?
Legally, only household goods movers file cargo coverage with TxDMV: $5,000 for a single shipper's goods on one vehicle and $10,000 aggregate for multiple shippers, filed on Forms H and I. General freight has no state or federal cargo filing, but the market requirement is universal: brokers demand $100,000 motor truck cargo on your certificate before tendering loads. Skip it and your authority is active while your trucks sit empty.
Is workers comp required for Texas trucking companies?
No, and Texas is the only state where that is true for private employers. Opting out makes you a non-subscriber: you must file DWC Form-005 with the Division of Workers' Compensation if you have five or more employees, post notices, and, critically, you lose the exclusive-remedy defense, meaning an injured driver can sue you and you cannot raise several traditional defenses. Many Texas fleets subscribe anyway for exactly that reason, and carriers using leased owner-operators typically require occupational accident coverage through the lease. Some shipper and government contracts require coverage regardless of the statute.
What do brokers and shippers require beyond the law?
The standard Texas broker packet looks like every other state's: $1,000,000 auto liability, $100,000 cargo, often $1,000,000 general liability, certificates naming the broker, and sometimes additional insured status. Ports and rail yards add their own limits for drayage. These contract numbers exceed the state minimums, which is why the legally required program and the bookable program are different sizes: a $500,000 intrastate policy satisfies TxDMV and fails nearly every load board posting.
What about PIP and uninsured motorist coverage in Texas?
Texas is an at-fault state, not no-fault. Insurers must provide personal injury protection, basic limit $2,500, in Texas auto policies unless the named insured rejects it in writing under Texas Insurance Code 1952.152, and uninsured motorist coverage works the same way: offered, rejectable only in writing. Fleets decide both deliberately, weighing workers comp or occupational accident coverage for drivers against the modest premium. A signed rejection form in your file beats a surprise at claim time in either direction.
Real questions Texas owner-operators and fleet managers ask
What insurance do I need to haul general freight within Texas?
A TxDMV Number with $500,000 CSL liability filed on Form E if your equipment exceeds 26,000 pounds, plus whatever your freight partners require, typically $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo. Under 26,000 pounds hauling general freight, TxDMV registration does not apply, but contracts still set the market floor.
Do Texas hotshot operators need TxDMV registration?
Only if a trigger applies: combination weight over 26,000 pounds, placardable hazmat, or household goods for hire. Many gooseneck hotshot combinations do exceed 26,000 pounds combined, which triggers registration and the $500,000 minimum. Weigh the actual combination before assuming exemption.
Is cargo insurance required by Texas law?
Only for household goods movers, at $5,000 per shipper and $10,000 aggregate, filed with TxDMV on Forms H and I. For general freight, cargo coverage is a contract requirement from brokers and shippers, almost always $100,000, not a legal filing.
What is DWC Form-005 and do I need to file it?
It is the notice Texas non-subscribers file with the Division of Workers' Compensation declaring they do not carry workers comp. Private employers with five or more employees who opt out must file it and post workplace notices. Subscribing employers file nothing of the sort.
Can I reject PIP on my Texas commercial auto policy?
Yes, but only in writing by the named insured under Texas Insurance Code 1952.152; verbal rejection does not count. Fleets with workers comp or occupational accident coverage for drivers often reject PIP deliberately. Keep the signed rejection with the policy file.
Why truckers work with Morrow
- We know the filings. Morrow is licensed in Texas and places every layer in this article, TxDMV Form E filings, FMCSA filings, cargo, and the optional workers comp decision.
- New authority is our normal. First-year carriers pay the most and get declined the most. We work with markets that actually want new ventures and we tell you what the first renewal takes.
- Certificates and filings, fast. Certificates of insurance the same business day for most carriers, and federal or state filings submitted electronically so your authority is not sitting in a queue.
- We quote the whole picture. Liability, cargo, physical damage, and the endorsements shippers and brokers actually check for, priced together so nothing is missing when a load is on the line.
- Real people when something goes wrong. A claim, a lapse notice, or a lost certificate gets a person, not a portal.
Related Texas trucking guides
The other Texas trucking questions, answered the same way.
- Trucking insurance in Texas (start here)
- Intrastate authority and filings
- Minimum liability limits for trucks
- Cost of trucking insurance
- Business insurance in Texas
- Federal minimum liability limits by commodity
- What is an MCS-90 endorsement?
- Federal minimum liability limits by commodity
- Trucking and transportation insurance overview
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Limits, forms, and deadlines change, so verify current requirements with TxDMV and the Texas Department of Insurance before you rely on them. Morrow is a brand name of Afthonea Inc. Last updated: July 2026.