All motor carriers are responsible for having adequate financial assurance that they can cover potential costs associated with bodily injury, property damage, and environmental restoration due to discharge of toxic or environmentally harmful materials caused by their company.

A carrier can have insurance, surety bonds, or written authorization from FMCSA to be self-insured. The minimum amount is $750,000, but can range up to $5M based on seating capacity for passenger carriers, and gross vehicle weight and commodity transported for motor carriers.