Starting a moving company in Pennsylvania? You're entering a heavily regulated industry. And for good reason—when you're handling people's belongings and operating large vehicles, there's a lot that can go wrong. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) doesn't mess around when it comes to insurance requirements. Whether you're running a two-person operation or managing a fleet, understanding these requirements isn't optional. It's the price of doing business legally.
Here's what catches most new moving company owners off guard: Pennsylvania's insurance requirements are significantly higher than standard commercial auto policies. That basic $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 coverage you might carry for a delivery van? It won't cut it. The state wants to make sure that if your truck damages someone's home or your crew gets injured on the job, there's enough coverage to actually handle the claim.
Pennsylvania PUC Licensing Requirements
Before you can legally operate a moving company in Pennsylvania, you need authority from the PUC. This isn't just a formality—the commission regulates approximately 7,500 motor carrier firms in the state for safety and insurance compliance. You'll need to submit the appropriate application forms and fees, and here's the catch: you can't get licensed until your insurance is in place and properly filed.
The PUC also controls what you can charge customers. Licensed movers can only charge fees that have been approved by the commission, so you can't just make up rates as you go. This protects consumers, but it also means you need to price your services carefully to cover your insurance costs while staying within approved fee structures.
Commercial Auto Liability Insurance
This is where things get expensive. Pennsylvania's baseline commercial auto requirement is $15,000 per person, $30,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $5,000 for property damage. But as a moving company regulated by the PUC, your requirements are much higher.
If you're operating vehicles with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less, you need at least $300,000 per accident in liability coverage. But most moving trucks exceed that weight limit. For vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR—which includes most box trucks and larger moving vans—you're looking at a minimum of $750,000 per accident.
Your insurance company will file the required forms electronically through Tyler Insurance Filings to satisfy PUC requirements. Don't try to handle this yourself—the filing needs to come directly from your insurer, and it needs to be done correctly. Form H is the binding proof of your cargo liability insurance, and similar forms exist for your auto liability coverage.
Cargo Liability Insurance
Pennsylvania requires moving companies to carry cargo liability insurance with a minimum of $5,000 per vehicle for loss or damage to customers' property. This protects your customers if their belongings are damaged or lost during the move. Here's what most movers don't realize: you automatically provide basic coverage of 60 cents per pound per article to your customers. So if you lose someone's 50-pound dresser, you're on the hook for $30 unless they purchased additional coverage.
The $5,000 minimum cargo insurance is there to back up your liability when that automatic coverage isn't enough. And trust me, it's usually not enough. A single piano or artwork can exceed that quickly. The good news? You can waive the cargo insurance requirement if you're exclusively transporting certain bulk commodities, operating dump trucks, or moving shipments valued under $500. But for household goods moving—the bread and butter of most moving companies—cargo insurance is mandatory.
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Pennsylvania has one of the strictest workers' compensation laws in the country. There is no minimum employee threshold. If you hire even one employee—full-time, part-time, or seasonal—you're required by law to carry workers' comp coverage. That means if you're a solo operator and you hire one person to help you on weekends, you need coverage.
Moving is physically demanding work. Your employees are lifting heavy objects, navigating stairs, and working in unfamiliar environments. Back injuries, strains, and accidents are common. As of January 2025, workers can receive up to $1,347 in weekly benefits if they're injured on the job. If you don't have coverage and someone gets hurt, you're personally liable for all medical costs and lost wages—and that's just the beginning.
The penalties for operating without workers' comp in Pennsylvania are severe. You're looking at fines up to $15,000 and potential felony charges for willful non-compliance. The state can issue stop-work orders that shut down your operations until you get coverage. And if an employee gets injured while you're uninsured, they can sue you directly—workers' comp is designed to protect both employees and employers, but you only get that protection if you're compliant.
General Liability Insurance
While not always legally required, general liability insurance is practically essential for moving companies in Pennsylvania. This coverage protects you when someone gets injured on your customer's property or when you accidentally damage the property itself. Think about it: you're sending crews into people's homes every day. Someone trips over your equipment. Your dolly scratches a hardwood floor. You knock a hole in the wall maneuvering a couch.
Most commercial contracts will require you to carry general liability coverage, often with minimum limits of $1 million per occurrence. Even if it's not required by the state, you'll have a hard time landing commercial accounts or working with property management companies without it. This is separate from your cargo coverage—general liability covers property damage and bodily injury that isn't related to the goods you're moving.
How to Get Started with Proper Coverage
Don't wait until you're ready to start accepting jobs to think about insurance. Get your coverage in place before you apply for your PUC license—you can't get licensed without it. Start by finding an insurance agent who specializes in commercial trucking or moving companies. They'll understand the PUC filing requirements and can make sure your policies are structured correctly.
Budget realistically. Insurance for a moving company isn't cheap, especially when you're starting out with limited operating history. Your commercial auto policy alone could run several thousand dollars annually, and workers' comp rates for moving companies tend to be high due to the physical nature of the work. But consider it the cost of operating legally and protecting your business from catastrophic losses.
Once you have your coverage, your insurance company will handle the electronic filings with the PUC through Tyler Insurance Filings. Keep copies of all your insurance certificates and PUC documentation in your trucks—you may need to provide proof of insurance during inspections or when bidding on commercial jobs. Review your coverage annually and update it as your fleet grows or your operations change.
