Need to Process Your FMCSA & DOT
CARB
ARTICLE
DISSOLUTION
Process Your FMCSA & DOT Compliance Needs
BOC-3
BOC / 3
What is BOC-3?
A BOC-3, or ‘Blanket of Coverage’, is a crucial document for those in the transportation industry. It provides proof that an individual or company has designated legal agents in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to receive legal documents on their behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Without a BOC-3 filing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will not authorize any operating authority.
Every motor carrier company or individual involved in the transport of property or passengers needs a designated agent, that is willing and is able to handle legal issues, for each state in which it is authorized to operate or traverse.
The company you choose to act as a designated agent matters! They should be available to receive legal documents on your behalf, and quickly yet accurately forward them to you. The wrong agent may be unavailable, overlook details or even forward documents to the wrong person which can result in punishment for you and your business. At the end of the day, you and your company are responsible if you don’t respond to a legal issue in a timely manner.
Get Your Operating Authority and Trucking Paperwork for You!
We provide everything startup carriers and established companies need to obtain, maintain or make changes to their existing authority
Operating Authority
MC Number / ICC Authority Services
- Apply for New Authority
- Reinstate Revoked Authority
- Name changes on existing Authority
- Address changes on existing Authority
- Ownership transfer of Authority
- Voluntary Revocation of Authority
- Request copies of MC Permit
Types of Operating Authority
1
If you’re a first-time applicant for MC authority and are intending to tackle the process on your own, be prepared for a world of confusion.
2
Existing trucking companies applying for additional authorities are eligible to use OP-series forms. New applicants will be required to use the Unified Registration System (URS). The type(s) of operating authority requested will determine the correct form to be submitted and level of insurance that is required. FMCSA does not refund application fees, therefore, be careful and select only the operating authority relevant to the specific transportation business you will be operating.
3
The FMSCA website has a dedicated page Types of Operating Authority to help guide you through this initial selection. Once completed, additional forms and fees need to be submitted. Multiple links throughout the Department of Transportation’s website steer you to the numerous pages of information you’ll need to manage as you complete all the required processes. A banner providing customer service contact information warns of long wait times, no doubt due to the complexity of the processes.
Unified Carrier Registration
Registration for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan depends on the number of trucks in your fleet. These fees help fund highway safety programs and initiatives. Any money made from these funds is directly distributed to the participating states. This is to help enforce laws, maintain roads, and generally make driving in these states as safe as possible.
The fees for the UCR are due every year. These fees are subject to change at any time, but luckily, if you pay and the price goes up the next month, you are not responsible for paying the difference. Drivers may not even notice the rate change until the following year when they pay their next annual UCR payment. Registration begins in the fall, but payment is not due until December 31st, the end of the year.
New drivers or new companies that open for business need to pay the UCR before their first interstate trip. It is important to never get caught crossing state or federal borderlines without a UCR certificate. Otherwise, drivers may be subject to fines, fees, and could have their vehicle impounded. Get your UCR today, and you’ll be able to travel freely across the United States and beyond!
What is UCR Registartion?
UCR Registration (Unified Carrier Registration) is a federally mandated program essential for motor carriers and businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
This program necessitates the registration and annual filing of fleets. Compliance with UCR is crucial for your commercial transportation business, as failure to register may result in the inability to operate or potential removal from the road.
Frequently Asked Questions UCR Registration (FAQ)
If caught driving across state lines without UCR, authorities can detain your vehicle, and you may face fines ranging from $50 to $2000 per day, or even potential jail time, depending on the states involved.
You still must submit your Unified Carrier Registration if your business crosses state or federal lines. Canadian-based businesses and drivers who reside in states that don’t participate in the UCR Agreement still need to follow the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005. Don’t get caught at the border without properly registering first. Drivers caught on the road without proper registration are subject to fines and can even have their vehicle impounded. We can help you find a state to register with and get yourself safely back on the road.
Private Motor Carriers of Passengers and All Motor Carriers operating solely within Hawaii, except those involved in moving household goods for individual shippers.
During the UCR registration process, you will typically need to provide information such as your company name, address, contact details, USDOT number (if applicable), fleet size, and other relevant information.
Yes. Even though you do not cross state lines, your parcels do. That makes you an Interstate carrier and you would be required to register at the 0-2 fleet size.
MCS-150 / Biennial Update
- Changed your business address
- Changed your company name
- Changed your operating authority
- Reapplication(after revocation of new entrant)
- Biennial(every 2 years) Update
- Notify FMCSA that the company is no longer operating
- Become a hazardous materials carrier
- Added to or reduced the number of vehicles in your fleet
- Make any other changes to your business
Frequently Asked Questions UCR Registration (FAQ)
The second to last number in your DOT Number determines what year your biennial update needs to be filed. If it’s odd, you’re required to file your MCS-150 in every odd-numbered calendar year.If it’s even, then you file in even-numbered calendar years.Nov
The FMCSA requires all interstate carriers to file a MCS-150 or MCS-150B, if a Safety permit is required, every 24 months based on the last two digits of the US DOT number.
USDOT number ending in: Must file by last day of:
1 – January
2 – February
3 – March
4 – April
5 – May
6 – June
7 – July
8 – August
9 – September
0 – October
If the status reads “Record Inactive” or “Inactive USDOT Number per 49 CFR 390.19(b)(4); Biennial update of MCS-150 data not completed” you will need to complete, sign and submit a new Motor Carrier Identification Report (Form MCS-150) to reactivate the USDOT Number.
The FMCSA uses the information you file in the report to calculate safety scores according to its safety measurement system, Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA).
MCS-150 Form / Biennial Update
When you file your MCS-150 report, the FMCSA then uses your business information to calculate a safety score through its Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program.
Registration CA-Number
A CA Number, also known as a California Number, is a number issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and is necessary for identifying yourself as a California-based commercial vehicle. It is also a required item for obtaining a California Motor Carrier Permit (MCP).
The state of California processes your CA Number order within 1-5 business days. Once you use it to apply for your MCP, the MCP is usually issued in 3-6 weeks. Proof of insurance and the fees must be mailed in with the application to the state of California. The state of California charges $250 for the non-expiring MCP. If you operate vehicles that require a CDL, you will also be required to enroll in the EPN – Employer Pull Notification program as part of the process for the MCP. All California-based carriers with a GVW over 10,000 lbs. are required to have a CA Number and MCP. Out-of-state carriers who operate in California are not required to get a CA Number or MCP
The California government demands that all commercial vehicles must have a CA Number. This applies as long as the GVW exceeds 10,000 pounds. The official name of the number is the California Motor Vehicle Permit Number. The CA Number must get displayed on vehicles using permanent lettering.
A CA number can be obtained from the California Highway Patrol (CHP). See this DMV website for instructions and a link to the CHP form. This website by the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) lists active motor carriers and their CA numbers.
Businesses can register for a CA number through the Canadian Competition Bureau. The CA# is similar to the RN# used in the United States to identify U.S. companies. For frequently asked questions regarding the CA# please visit the Competition Bureau’s page on the subject
Once we’ve filled out the application for your USDOT Number and MC Number, it takes a minimum of 21 days for your authority to become active. During that time, we can help you: Get proper insurance. Complete all drug and alcohol requirements.
A permit is required before vehicles can be put on the road. New carriers should apply before starting operations. Permits are staggered 12 months from the time of application rather than on a calendar year basis.
To obtain a permit the following need to be provided to DMV:
• A completed application form (DMV 706 MCP)
• Proof of financial responsibility (DMV 65 MCP)
• Proof of Workers’ Compensation insurance or signed exemption
• A valid Requestor Code issued by the Employer Pull Notice Program (EPN) if you employ drivers with a Commercial Class A, B, or C driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement. For forms or additional information on EPN, you may contact the EPN Unit at (916) 657-6346 or get more information about the Employer Pull Notice Program.
• A Carrier Identification number (CA#) issued by the CHP
• Payment of fees
Starting January 31, 2005, new federal regulations require a person who is applying for a California commercial driver license with an original Hazardous Materials (HazMat) endorsement to undergo a security threat assessment. The USA Patriot Act requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to complete a security threat assessment (background records check) before the Department of Motor Vehicles issues a HazMat endorsement.