BOC-3 Filing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Guide for Transportation Businesses

The BOC-3 form filing serves as a means for the public to be able to reach you if you are involved in court proceedings. A process agent is a representative whom court papers may be served in any proceeding brought against a motor carrier or freight forwarder. The agent will accept the served court papers, which in turn, forward them to you by certified mail.

1. Running a successful trucking business requires compliance with various regulations and legal requirements.
2. Once the FMCSA has received the document, they’ll mail your operating authority documents to you within 3-4 business days.
3. 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.
4. Regulation 49 CFR 366.1 does note that BOC-3 filing is required for private carriers but was suspended in 2017 when the URS implementation was suspended.
5. One signed copy of the BOC-3 form should be filed with each state in which a trucking company operates.

A BOC-3 process agent, also known as an FMCSA agent, is an individual or business appointed by you to receive legal documents on your behalf. This means that should you receive a summons, complaint, or another form of legal communication; they will receive that information first. If you are a motor carrier, only a BOC-3 designation of process agent can file for you, and it must be filed online. A BOC-3 form is a form you must fill in with the names and addresses of those authorized to receive legal documents on behalf of your business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. While filling in a physical BOC-3 form is possible, most filing is now done online.

Brokers and freight forwarders are required to appoint a process agent in each state in which they have an office and in which they write contracts. One signed copy of the BOC-3 form should be filed with each state in which a trucking company operates. That company should also have a copy of the BOC-3 at their primary office. Any tradeallcrypto changes to designated agents will require the filing of a new BOC-3 with the FMCSA and with the related states. In most cases, it’s going to be easiest for you to do this with a “Blanket Legal Entity,” which is essentially a company that can represent you in all 50 states, leaving you free to operate your business as you wish.

Document filing and compliance

Our team will help you submit your BOC3 form and establish process agents in all the appropriate states. Finally, look for additional services such as annual report filings to ensure that your filings are always accurate and on-time in the state where it’s due. When applying for FMCSA certification, a key requirement for transportation companies is naming a service of process (SOP) agent. At Vallon Consulting, we provide top-notch BOC-3 filing services to transportation businesses. 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. FreightWaves Ratings reference a list of approved sources for use of research to support editorial research and drafting.

However, motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders can also file this form on their own behalf. The BOC-3 Process Agent, or FMCSA agent, is a business or individual that you appoint to receive any legal documents on your behalf, such as legal summons or complaints. If you plan to operate your trucking business in more than one state, you must have a BOC-3 agent in every state that you plan to operate in. Many professional process agents charge an annual fee with additional charges for each document handled while others charge a one-time BOC-3 filing fee. Additional fees may also include address change fees and charges for expedited BOC-3 filing (often requested by companies looking to get their businesses up and running quickly).

Process Agent BOC-3 Filing Service

To help you get started, here is everything you need to know about BOC-3 filing.

The “BOC” stands for “blanket of coverage,” and filing this form essentially provides proof that you have a processes agent in each state that you plan to operate in. Fill out the BOC-3 form carefully, ensuring that all the information provided is accurate and up to date. You must provide details about your trucking company, such as the legal name, address, and contact information. Additionally, you must provide the names and addresses of your designated process agents for each state. The purpose of BOC-3 filing is to allow the FMCSA to correspond with the business owner (through a process agent). The process agent receives all legal documents on behalf of the trucking business and forwards them to the designated person.

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When filling out this form, you will need to provide your personal information to the processing agency. Look at each processing agency’s different tiers to determine which one is best suited for you. This website is not affiliated with the Unified Carrier Registration Plan. This website is operated by a private company that provides a private registration service for an additional fee.

Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Stay in compliance with DOT Regulations and avoid operating out of service, post-suspension, false https://forexhero.info/ records, or driving under the influence DOT Violation Fines…. Most commonly, the FMCSA will typically mail you the Operating Authority documents three to four days after receiving the completed BOC-3 form.

Once the BOC-3 form has been filed electronically with the FMCSA (and any other requirements have been fulfilled), the FMCSA will issue authority. Normally, operating authority documents are sent out within 3-4 business days after authority has been granted. If 10 or more business days have passed since the grant date, and you have not yet received the operating authority document, you can contact the FMCSA. You can also check whether your operating authority has been issued by visiting the FMCSA Licensing and Insurance website. To receive and keep this authority, these companies must file Form BOC-3 (Designation of Agents for Service of Process) with the FMCSA.

Steps to Maintaining Compliant Driver Files

It is likely they will receive a lot of phone calls from companies saying they specialize in BOC-3s and other permits. It is important to make sure an individual or company acting as a process agent is in fact authorized to file BOC-3 forms and can provide coverage in every state needed. To help alleviate this concern, first check the FMCSA list of registered process agents. 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.

Each person or company that is designated for a specific state must reside in that state. A carrier, broker or freight forwarder may designate themselves for the state in which they reside. It is important to note that a post office box is not acceptable as an agent’s address. For example, let’s say Kevin’s Trucking is a company based out of Kansas. One of their trucks is involved in an accident while hauling goods in Oklahoma.

To work with us, simply click here, provide us with the carrier’s legal name, MC number, and DOT number (as applicable), add your BOC-3 filing order to your cart, and check out. But if you are a freight forwarder or broker that does not own and operate CMVs (commercial vehicles) you can file your BOC-3 yourself with a physical paper copy. Starting a new trucking company and doing all the administrative tasks that come with it can be stressful, overwhelming, and difficult to figure out on your own.

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 short, yes, any new trucking or transportation company must complete and file this form if they want to operate in the United States. This applies whether you plan to operate as a freight forwarder, motor carrier, or broker. However, you can choose a blanket process agent that covers you in each state your business operates. It’s often much easier to have one person or company handle it than finding a different processing agent for each state.