What are BOC-3 services and why do trucking companies need them?
Once you choose your BOC-3 process agent, you must pay their fees and whatever else they require from you. Once you do so, they often file the form within a couple of business days. In certain instances — such as a name change, transfer of authority, or reinstatement of your motor carrier operating authority — your BOC-3 may need to be refiled. Another factor that affects the cost of process agents is their fee structure. For instance, maybe they’ll only have a one-time fee or they could charge one per additional document.
The Fundamentals of DOT Authority Analysis
Typically, an agent completes the BOC-3 filing for you, but https://www.forex-world.net/ we’ll talk more about that later. It is required to submit the BOC-3 form within 90 days from the date the Operating Authority application was published in the FMCSA Register. Failing to meet this deadline will lead to the dismissal of the Operating Authority application and forfeiture of the application fee.
A completed BOC-3 form should include information on all states for which agency designations are needed, and it’s imperative to keep a copy of the form at your registered business address at all times. When filling out this form, you will need to provide your personal information to the processing agency. You should refile your BOC-3 any time there is a name change, transfer of authority, or another change to the details you provided on your application. That means that if you operate in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, you’ll need a process agent in each of those states. At Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings, appointing and registering your BOC-3 agent costs you only $95, and we help guide you through every step with the help of our Live Agent services. Soshaul Logistics LLC and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice.
How to File Your BOC-3 Form: A Step-by-Step Guide
The FMCSA offers a search tool for Registered Blanket Companies that can be viewed here. BOC-3 filing cost varies from agent to agent, depending on what level of service you want them to provide you with. You may work with them only for your BOC-3 filing, or you may choose to purchase additional services from them to help make your life as a new business owner that much easier. With the complexity of FMCSA regulations, it’s a good idea to have the help of an expert – especially as you get your business started.
Correspondence with the FMCSA
No matter the size of your company, Foley has the hiring and compliance solutions to help you thrive. Unlock the power of your driver, safety, and compliance data to build a higher standard of risk mitigation. IntelligentHQ is a Business network and an expert source for finance, capital markets and intelligence for thousands of global business professionals, startups, and companies. To avoid the trouble, you can go for a single Blanket Process Agent who can cover all states without having you file for every state individually.
An SOP agent or process agent is essentially an individual or business organization appointed by your business who is authorized to receive legal documents on the principal’s behalf. A process agent must be physically located in each state in which you are authorized to operate and be available at that address during normal business hours. The purpose of BOC-3 filing is to allow the FMCSA to correspond with the business owner (through a process agent).
The BOC-3 works as your shield from all these suspensions and closures. It makes sure that you are aware of your legal standings, saving your time, money, and reputation. FMCSA.com is a privately owned website unaffiliated with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or any other government agency. A lot of data goes into a BOC-3 form, so we wanted to shed some light on what these blanks mean and how their presence will impact your business. The trucking industry is a 700 billion dollar industry and a crucial part of the American economy. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial to access telecommunications relay services.
What is a BOC-3 process agent (or FMCSA agent)?
- When completing the BOC-3 form, you fill it in using the names and addresses of anyone you authorize to receive legal documents on your behalf in the U.S.
- BOC-3 filing, or the Blanket of Coverage filing, is a requirement imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States.
- Our team of experts is well-versed in the regulations of BOC-3 filing, and we are here to help you navigate the process effortlessly.
- Appointing a blanket agent can help consolidate your company’s FMCSA obligations.
- Starting your own trucking company begins with filing official documents.
It serves as a designation of process agents who act as representatives in legal matters in every state of operation. BOC-3 is a must for all interstate freight carriers before starting their operations in the United States. Transportation companies must first choose and contract with a process agent in each applicable state. The processing agent, not the transportation company, must then file a form BOC-3 with the FMCSA and each state where the transportation company operates. Brokers and freight forwarders without commercial vehicles act as their own process agents and can file BOC-3 by mail. The BOC-3 filing is part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)-required process of starting a trucking company and getting active operating authority.
- It serves as a designation of process agents who act as representatives in legal matters in every state of operation.
- When applying for FMCSA certification, a key requirement for transportation companies is naming a service of process (SOP) agent.
- Free, expertly crafted resources to help you navigate complex federal regulations and hiring practices, right at your fingertips.
- By choosing our BOC-3 filing services, you can benefit from our expertise and experience in handling the necessary paperwork and documentation.
- Normally, operating authority documents are sent out within 3-4 business days after authority has been granted.
If you need your motor carrier authority, then you need to file a BOC-3, as it is part of getting your MC Number. BOC-3s are required for all motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Depending on where your beaxy exchange review company is operating, you may also need to have a processing agent in each state you regularly do business.
FMCSA Requirements for Getting Carrier Authority
Multi-state process agent companies may also provide services like DOT safety compliance and consultations. This is also the most cost-effective way to move forward, as you don’t have to waste time finding different BOC-3 agents and paying their various fees. Any new transportation company must file a BOC-3 before they can start operating within the United States, whether they plan to operate as a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder. Once the BOC-3 form has been filed electronically with the FMCSA (and any other requirements have been fulfilled), the Bonds and stocks difference FMCSA will issue authority.
Starting your own trucking company begins with filing official documents. Once your trucking company is operating you regularly need to renew those documents to stay compliant. We even include an Apex trusted partner we recommend for your BOC-3 filing needs. No, you cannot file your own BOC-3 Form if you operate an interstate business. The designation of a process agent is an essential requirement for obtaining the authority to operate from the FMCSA. The FMCSA uses a network of field offices, service centers, and state-level motor carrier division offices to answer questions, provide guidance, and enforce safety regulations.