Transportation — Trigger Brain

An MC number is granted where the carrier previously held intrastate authority only.

Details

Standard cover: Usually excluded
Needs: FMCSA Company Snapshot
Exposure: Federal minimums under 49 CFR 387 start at $750k and reach $5M by cargo. An intrastate policy does not meet them, and the filing is a condition of operating.
Window: Authority grants 20–30 days after application
Misfires: Some carriers register authority and never activate it. Check power units and the first inspection.

An MCS-150 update shows power units up 30% or more on the prior filing.

Details

Standard cover: Probable gap
Needs: FMCSA Company Snapshot
Exposure: Auto liability and physical damage are rated per unit. Units added mid-term are unscheduled until someone tells the carrier.
Window: MCS-150 is due biennially, so the change can be a year old
Misfires: The biennial cadence means this can be stale. Corroborate with inspection volume.

The hazmat flag turns on, or a placardable cargo class is added.

Details

Standard cover: Usually excluded
Needs: FMCSA Company Snapshot
Exposure: Hazmat carries a $5M federal minimum and an MCS-90 endorsement. A general freight policy carries neither.
Window: At authority grant, before the first load
Misfires: The flag covers non-placardable quantities too, which do not trigger the $5M minimum.

Any BASIC percentile crosses the intervention threshold.

Details

Standard cover: Probable gap
Needs: FMCSA Safety Measurement System
Exposure: Shippers drop carriers on these scores before an insurer reprices them, so the revenue hit lands first.
Window: Monthly recalculation
Misfires: Percentiles move on peer-group changes as well as on the carrier's own record.