What it does
The Motor Carrier Coverage Form is the ISO auto policy built for businesses that move property by auto, whether for hire or as a private carrier: the form defines a "motor carrier" as a person or organization providing transportation by auto in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise. For trailer interchange coverage, "trailer" also includes a container. It replaced the Truckers Coverage Form CA 00 12 (ISO's 2010 advisory notice CA P 005 is titled "Replacement of the Truckers Coverage Form with the Motor Carrier Coverage Form").
ISO's 2026 multistate forms revision (CA-2026-OFR26) introduces a 09 27 edition of this form, approved for policies effective on or after September 1, 2027 in states where it has been adopted; the prior edition remains in use until then and in states that have not adopted the revision.
ISO's 12 23 edition took effect December 1, 2023 in most states, replacing the 11 20 edition; the 10 13 edition remains in a few jurisdictions.
Who needs it
Trucking companies (general freight and specialized), owner-operator fleets, waste haulers, towing and courier fleets using trucks, and private carriers hauling their own goods who lease tractors with or without drivers.
Key provisions
- Symbols 61-71 and 79 mirror the business auto symbols (61 any auto, 67 specifically described, 68 hired autos, 71 non-owned autos, 79 mobile equipment subject to motor vehicle laws) and add two trailer interchange symbols: 69 for trailers the insured holds under a written trailer or equipment interchange agreement, and 70 for the insured's own trailers in someone else's possession under such an agreement.
- Who is an insured includes the owner or anyone the insured hires or borrows a trailer from while the trailer is connected to a covered power unit (or used exclusively in the insured's business) and, for a leased power unit, the lessor and its employees when the lease does not require the lessor to hold the insured harmless and the unit is used in the insured's business as a for-hire motor carrier.
- Other for-hire motor carriers and their employees are excluded from insured status when they meet their own insurance requirements or are not insured on a primary basis for hired autos, unless the named insured leased the auto to that carrier under a written lease holding it harmless. Rail, water or air carriers are not insureds for detached trailers being transported or loaded by them.
- Covered pollution cost or expense, supplementary payments and physical damage are structured like the business auto form; trailer interchange physical damage is triggered by the symbols above.
Quoting and selling notes
- Get the lease picture: owned versus leased power units, written leases with or without hold-harmless clauses, trip leases, and drivers supplied by lessors.
- Interstate for-hire carriers also need federal filings (BMC-91/91X) and the MCS-90 endorsement; intrastate carriers may need a state Form E. Owner-operators leased to a carrier usually buy non-trucking (bobtail) liability on CA 23 09.
- Alternatives: the business auto form with CA 23 30 Motor Carrier Endorsement is another ISO route for motor carriers.
