Our federal authority
Big Apple Car Shipping operates as a property broker under authority granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates interstate trucking.
| Legal name | Big Apple Car Shipping |
|---|---|
| Authority type | Property broker (auto transport) |
| Surety bond | BMC-84 broker bond, $75,000 (the federal minimum required of every licensed broker) |
You can confirm any broker's standing at any time in the FMCSA's public licensing and insurance system (li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov) or the SAFER company snapshot (safer.fmcsa.dot.gov), which show authority status and whether a bond is on file. Our dispatchers will give you our authority details on request when you book. If a company's record shows authority as inactive, do not book with them.
What the broker bond does
The $75,000 surety bond protects the carriers we hire, guaranteeing they are paid for loads they haul for us. It is a condition of our license. It is not vehicle insurance; your car is covered by the carrier's cargo policy, described below.
How your vehicle is insured in transit
From the moment the driver signs the bill of lading at pickup until you sign at delivery, your vehicle is covered by the motor carrier's cargo insurance. Federal rules require every interstate carrier to maintain cargo and liability coverage, and we go further than the minimum:
- Before any carrier is assigned to your car we obtain and review their current certificate of insurance and confirm their authority is active with FMCSA.
- Open carriers in our network typically carry cargo limits of $100,000 to $250,000 per load; enclosed carriers typically carry $250,000 to $1,000,000. We match the carrier's limit to the value of what they are hauling.
- Carrier cargo coverage pays for damage caused by the carrier's negligence during loading, transport and unloading. There is no deductible charged to you for a covered carrier-caused claim.
- Not covered: personal items left in the vehicle, pre-existing damage noted on the bill of lading, mechanical failures unrelated to transport, and acts of God in most policies. Your own auto policy may provide additional coverage; ask your insurer.
If there is damage
- Inspect the car with the driver at delivery, before signing. Compare it to the pickup inspection on the bill of lading.
- Note any new damage on the bill of lading, specifically, before you sign. Take photos.
- Call your coordinator the same day. We will give you the carrier's insurance information and help you file the claim, and we stay involved until it is resolved.
Damage noted on the delivery bill of lading is the basis of every successful claim. Damage reported after a clean signature is very hard to recover, which is why we ask you not to sign in the dark or in the rain without a proper look.
Our own insurance
In addition to the federal bond, Big Apple Car Shipping carries general liability coverage for its brokerage operations. Certificates are available to commercial customers on request.
Questions about any of this are welcome; call (347) 970-7087 or see the contact page for your local office.