Form I (Cargo)

Definition

Form I is the FMCSA cargo-liability surety filing that brokers and freight forwarders may use under 49 CFR §387.307 in lieu of cargo insurance for situations where the carrier itself is the broker for a regulated commodity. Form I is rarely used in modern operations because most insurers offer broader cargo policies through endorsements like BMC-32. The form survives in regulation primarily as a legacy option for niche specialty operations. Carriers should not confuse Form I (cargo) with Form E (also cargo, used by certain bonded warehouse and forwarder operations) or Form H (a separate FMCSA financial-responsibility filing covering household-goods movers).