Regulators have warned Congress about the outdated 1985 insurance minimums, which now cover less than 1.5% of median 'nuclear' verdicts, leaving the trucking industry exposed. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) highlighted this 'insurance gap' in its 2026 report. Despite a decrease in active interstate freight carriers to 456,227 since 2022, the median 'nuclear' verdict for freight-related incidents has surged to $51 million, contrasting sharply with the unchanged federal minimum financial responsibility level of $750,000. If adjusted for inflation and medical cost increases, the minimum insurance requirement would be approximately $2.2 million and over $3.7 million, respectively. The consolidation of the motor carrier fleet has increased pressure on freight brokers and forwarders. The FMCSA has implemented a rule requiring brokers to prove their $75,000 security consists of readily available assets. However, challenges remain in assessing and potentially changing the minimum required insurance levels due to inaccessible data, as many lawsuits are settled confidentially and much insurance data is proprietary. The agency emphasizes the need for more granular data from the insurance industry to thoroughly assess motor carrier financial responsibility requirements.