I appreciate the answers... at least that points me in a direction.  I was goin in circles.  Does anyone know about some type of General Liability Insurance that covers the entire company?  I have heard it is like 5,000 per year, but I want to know if any of you have it.  I know the cargo and bobtail. I live in Texas, so if anyone would like to refer a good insurance agency, I'd be grateful for that too. 

Great West Casualty is awesome, would never go anywhere else....

Check with your state DOT if you want the exact answers.  Or, you can go to the FMCSA website, and you should be able to get your answers there.  FMCSA.dot.gov  The exemption for livestock and grain may be correct, but usually if you cross state lines, and are hauling "for hire", you are required to have an MC#.

We are experienced cattle haulers, we own a truck, but have always leased it on to other companies.  I have asked and received varied responses on what I need to get my own authority.  What all kind of insurance, etc. Also, do I need a MC number or DOT number?  All responses are very much appreciated.

livestocks is exempt from authority for interstate operations, HOWEVER INTRASTATE is different most states like wi ia il mn sd ne require you to have exempt for hire authority, not much extra but the permits are required! and you must have your VIN , EW, and USDOT number visible on each truck

As far as insurance is concerned I would suggest Hartford livestock insurance for your cargo. When it comes to MC numbers it is not necessary to have because livestock are considered a farm comodity and are under farm exemption. Don't not get authority on this comment Im just putting in my two cents.

i looked into it a little and they told me i needed authority, but it wasnt the same kind of authority as freight haulers need. i think they called it exempt authority or something like that.  then you could haul livestock and grain, but if you wanted to pull a skateboard, even to haul hay, you needed regular authority....  i would say just find a licensing place close to you and they can tell you exactly what you need to do and what you need for ins.

There is some grey area as to wether you need authority to haul livestock.  I have DOT, MC, & full authority.  If you do not have it the law will tend to stop you more often at scales and along the road.  You can get it all through a permitting agency for $750-$1000.(that's on the high end)

You can have Ooida do it for you for way less, or better yet, do it yourself for $300 total.  I have found that Ooida is very helpful, as well they would also be another good source of information for exactly what you need to be legal.  I have no reason to plug Ooida, but the $45 I spent on a membership is one of the best choices that I have made.  I would recommend them to any owner operator, especially someone that is unfamiliar with laws, regulations, etc.  Most people probably know this, but for those who don't, their website is www.ooida.com .  Their number is (800)444-5791

Thank you all so much for the input.  I am a member of OOIDA, they carry our insurance... but until I got online and started reading all of their benefits I really didn't know they were so very diverse.  Now, instead of paying my bill online, I am paying attention.  Thanks again. I will contact them Monday.

I am glad that someone has been buffaloed by ooida---------I was a memebr for years as well as my sons who also pull under my authority.we had a issue in Tx and called for help from the legal group and found it to be more expensive than the most expensive attorney found locally.I have priced all of their insurances and allways beat the price as well as benefits on both the truck and health.The final straw was when I pulled in to drop off another check for membership at Grainvalley Mo and they run me off to park elsewhere--------- so NO MORE

 ooida is geared towards being like another teamsters outfit, they can keep it i was a member for 5 yrs. and never got any satisfaction, with questions rather it be legal or authority issues. this is just my oppinion, but do know several other guys that have had the same feeling towards ooida.

I have full authority with both dot  & mc numbers for around 750.00 and I have had good luck with Northland Insurance.

does anyone know about pulling a gooseneck trailer waht authority doyou need?

You need the same stuff as the big trucks are required to have.  If you haul "for hire" across state lines you need an MC, and DOT#, as well as liability and cargo insurance.  The only thing that would be different from the big trucks is if your combined (truck and trailer together) gvw did not exceed 26,000 lbs., then you would not need apportioned plates and all the IFTA stuff.  You could also get away with not having a cdl if your combined gvw was not over 26k.  Your truck will have the GVW on the tag on the driver door jam, and your trailer should have the GVW stamped on the manufacturer tag.  You can add the two together to get your combined GVW.

To add to my above post, you should check yourself about needing an MC# based on your specific operation.  The info I gave is kind of  "in general" thinking.  Exempt commodites, as another poster mentioned above, are sort of a gray area, and I certaintly don't know all of those ins and outs. 

You do not need a MC number to haul exempt commodities or to cross state lines and I would avoid getting one as if you have a mc # the FMCSA has every thing about you on record who your drivers are who is qualified and all other info about insurance and such if you have a us dot number you are not required to post your insurance in every  state you run in and the feds are more strict with your MC #  and as far as what kind of trailer you pull it doesnt make any difference as long as it is a exempt commodity or hauling your own property you do not need a MC # to haul your own privet property

you do not need an mc# to haul livestock..

I GET MY INSURANCE THRU A FRIEND AND RUN FARM PLATES AND PUT FARM USE ONLY ON MY TRUCK SO I DONT EVEN NEED AUTHORITY. IF ANYONE ASKS TELL EM UR HAULING UR OWN CATTLE. ITS ALOT CHEAPER THAT WAY FRIEND. TRUST ME I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT. IVE BEEN DOIN THIS FOR A LONG TIME. THERE IS NO REASON TO GET AUTHORITY OR FIFTA OR IFTA OR WHATEVER IT IS.

call x dot in austin,tx they can tell u what u need. u dont need a mc# but u need tx dot   

^^^^^^^^^^^^THAT IS WRONG....I TOLD YA....JUST PUT    FOR FARM USE ONLY    ON UR TRUCK AND GO. Y SPEND THE MONEY?????

 Who wrote this?  Someone is playing around writing this kind of stuff.  Total BS.

OOIDA SUCKS,I would NOT waste your money and they dont insure cargo on livestock.Then they make you pay from there.