Trucking Compliance Glossary

Also called: Designation of Process Agents Rule

49 CFR §366 is the federal regulation that requires every interstate motor carrier, broker and freight forwarder to designate process agents on Form BOC-3. Carriers designate an agent in each state they are authorized to serve or travel through, and brokers in each state where they have an office or write contracts (49 CFR 366.4T). The BOC-3 form implements this rule, codified in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 366.

See also: BOC-3, Process Agent, FMCSA

Source: 49 CFR Part 366

Also called: Minimum Levels of Financial Responsibility

49 CFR Part 387 is the federal regulation that sets minimum public-liability insurance amounts for motor carriers. Typical minimums are $750,000 for general freight, $1 million for oil-carrying tankers and $5 million for hazmat. Compliance is proven by the BMC-91 or BMC-91X filing on file with FMCSA.

See also: BMC-91, MC Authority

Also called: Operating Authority Letter · FMCSA Authority Letter

An authority letter is the PDF FMCSA issues confirming that a carrier or broker holds active operating authority. Factoring companies, brokers and shippers often ask for it before working with a new carrier. Carriers can get it at no charge from FMCSA’s Motus public search once their authority is active.

See also: MC Authority, Motus

Authority reinstatement is FMCSA’s restoration of a suspended or revoked operating authority once the missing filings, such as insurance or the BOC-3, are back on file. Causes of suspension or revocation include lapsed BMC-91 insurance, an orphaned BOC-3 designation (the listed process agent deregistered or went out of business) and unpaid civil penalties. Motor carriers also need an active USDOT number. A petition to reinstate revoked authority carries an $80 FMCSA fee (49 CFR 360.3T(f)(52)). In Motus it is requested from the authority record. In Motus data, 242 of the 467 dockets suspended for a BOC-3 reason were later reinstated.

BOC-3 after reinstatement →See also: Involuntary Suspension, Revocation, BMC-91, BOC-3

Source: 49 CFR 360.3T; FMCSA FAQ: reinstating authority

Also called: Blanket Company · Blanket Agent

A blanket process agent (also called a blanket company or blanket agent) is a company that has filed a list with FMCSA naming process agents in every state, so one BOC-3 designation covers all required states. FMCSA publishes the list of these companies (75 as of September 2026). In FMCSA’s Motus data, 99.44% of BOC-3 designations name a blanket agent that serves 20 or more dockets.

How to check FMCSA’s process agent list →See also: BOC-3, Process Agent, Self-designation

Source: 49 CFR 366.5T; FMCSA process agents list

Also called: Property Broker Surety Bond

A BMC-84 is the $75,000 surety bond that property brokers and household-goods brokers must have on file with FMCSA under 49 USC §13906. The bond protects motor carriers from broker non-payment. Premiums are credit-driven and typically run 1–4% of the face value a year for new brokers ($750–$3,000/year). The surety company files it with FMCSA on Form BMC-84.

See also: BMC-85, Property Broker, MC Authority

Also called: Trust Fund Agreement

A BMC-85 is a $75,000 cash trust fund, held by a financial institution, that a broker can file with FMCSA instead of the BMC-84 surety bond. It serves the same protective purpose as the bond with a different funding mechanism. Most brokers prefer the bond because it doesn’t lock up working capital.

See also: BMC-84, Property Broker

Also called: BMC-91X · Public Liability Insurance Filing

A BMC-91 is the FMCSA insurance filing that proves a motor carrier has the federal minimum public-liability coverage (typically $750,000, higher for hazmat or passenger carriers). The insurance company files it for the carrier as Form BMC-91 (single insurer) or BMC-91X (multi-insurer schedule). It is required before operating authority activates and must stay on file. It is often confused with the BOC-3, but they are two separate filings made by two different filers; there is no “Form BOC-91.”

BOC-3 vs BMC-91 →See also: BOC-3, MC Authority, SAFER, Authority Reinstatement

Also called: Designation of Process Agents · Form BOC-3

A BOC-3 (Designation of Process Agents) is the FMCSA form that names a process agent in every required state to accept court papers for a motor carrier, broker or freight forwarder. It is required under 49 CFR Part 366 before operating authority can activate. Without one, an MC or FF number is issued but shows “NOT AUTHORIZED” on SAFER and cannot legally be used. It has no expiration date; it stays on file until a new BOC-3 replaces it or the designation is canceled (49 CFR 366.6T).

Full guide: what a BOC-3 filing is →Full definition →See also: Process Agent, Blanket Process Agent, Designation (of Process Agent), BOC-3 Cancellation

Source: 49 CFR Part 366; FMCSA Form BOC-3 page

BOC-3 cancellation is the removal of a process-agent designation from an entity’s FMCSA record, usually because the blanket company tells FMCSA it no longer represents the entity. A designation can otherwise be canceled or changed only by filing a new BOC-3. If a designation becomes invalid, FMCSA may issue an Order to Show Cause, which gives the entity 30 days from service to file a new BOC-3 before a final suspension order.

How to cancel a BOC-3 →Switch process agents →See also: Order to Show Cause, Involuntary Suspension, Designation (of Process Agent)

Source: 49 CFR 366.6T; FMCSA policy MC-RS-2019-0002

Also called: Commercial Driver's License

A CDL (commercial driver’s license) is the state-issued license required to operate commercial motor vehicles in classes A, B or C. Federal minimum standards are set by 49 CFR Part 383, but the license itself is issued by the state where the driver is domiciled. Endorsements (H, N, P, S, T, X) certify additional qualifications such as hazmat or passenger transport.

See also: Hours of Service, Medical Examiner Certificate, CSA Score

Also called: Commercial Motor Vehicle

A CMV (commercial motor vehicle) is a vehicle used in interstate commerce that meets one of the weight, passenger or hazmat thresholds in 49 CFR 390.5T. The thresholds are 10,001 lb or more GVWR/GCWR (or actual weight); designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation, or more than 15 passengers not for compensation; or hazmat in placarded quantities. Federal rules such as CDL, HOS, ELD and the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse attach to CMVs. Brokers and freight forwarders without CMVs work under different rules, including the BOC-3 self-designation option.

See also: GVWR, Self-designation, Hours of Service

Source: 49 CFR 390.5T

A common carrier is a motor carrier authorized to haul freight for the general public under published tariffs. It is subject to FMCSA operating authority and the full BOC-3, insurance and UCR requirements. It differs from a contract carrier, which operates under negotiated agreements with a limited group of shippers.

See also: Contract Carrier, MC Authority, OP-1

A contract carrier is a motor carrier that hauls freight under contract for a specific shipper or limited group of shippers, rather than for the general public. It holds FMCSA contract-carrier authority and has the same BOC-3 and insurance requirements as a common carrier, but works under negotiated rates rather than published tariffs.

See also: Common Carrier, MC Authority

Also called: Compliance, Safety, Accountability · SMS

A CSA score is FMCSA’s carrier-safety measure, calculated from roadside inspection violations, crashes and other compliance data over a rolling 24-month window. Scores are organized into seven BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories). Brokers and shippers routinely check CSA scores before assigning loads, and high scores lead to FMCSA interventions.

See also: SAFER, New Entrant Safety Audit

Also called: Doing Business As · Trade Name

A DBA (doing business as) is a registered alternate name a company operates under, separate from its legal entity name. FMCSA records track both the legal name and any DBAs. A BOC-3 designation is keyed to the legal entity, so a DBA change typically doesn’t require a new BOC-3 unless the underlying LLC or corporation also changes.

See also: MC Authority, USDOT Number

Also called: Process Agent Designation

A designation is the naming of a process agent for a state on Form BOC-3. A carrier designates an agent for every state it is authorized in or travels through; a broker, for every state where it has an office or writes contracts. A designation can be changed only by filing a new one (see BOC-3).

How to change your process agent →See also: Process Agent, Blanket Process Agent, BOC-3 Cancellation

Source: 49 CFR 366.4T, 366.6T

A dismissal is FMCSA’s rejection of an operating-authority application, most often because insurance and the BOC-3 weren’t filed in time. The applicant can appeal, or file a new application ($300 per authority type) under the same USDOT number.

See also: Pending Authority, OP-1

Source: FMCSA FAQ: dismissed applications; 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(1)

A docket number is the MC, FF or MX number FMCSA assigns to an operating authority; see MC Number.

See also: MC Number

Also called: FMCSA Clearinghouse

The Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse is a federal database, launched by FMCSA in 2020, that records every drug- or alcohol-related test failure, refusal or return-to-duty status for CDL drivers. Carriers must query it before hiring a driver and every year for each driver. It is part of 49 CFR Part 382 compliance.

See also: CDL, CSA Score

Also called: Electronic Logging Device

An ELD (electronic logging device) is a federally mandated device that automatically records a driver’s on-duty, driving and off-duty time, replacing paper logs. It is required for most interstate CDL drivers under 49 CFR Part 395. The ELD must be on FMCSA’s registered-devices list; uncertified devices lead to out-of-service violations at roadside.

See also: Hours of Service, CDL

Also called: MC-FF · Freight Forwarder Authority

FF authority is FMCSA operating authority for freight forwarders, which consolidate, ship and take liability for freight without operating their own commercial motor vehicles. It requires the same BOC-3 process-agent designation as motor carriers and brokers, plus public-liability insurance under 49 CFR Part 387.

See also: Freight Forwarder, Form OP-1(FF), MC Number

Also called: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

FMCSA (the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is the U.S. Department of Transportation agency that regulates commercial motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders in interstate commerce. It issues operating authority (MC numbers), publishes the safety regulations in 49 CFR Parts 350–399, and operates the SAFER public-records system and the Motus registration system (motus.dot.gov).

See also: MC Authority, USDOT Number, Motus

Also called: Licensing & Insurance · L&I Public Records

The FMCSA L&I (Licensing & Insurance) System is FMCSA’s former system for operating authority, BOC-3 and insurance filings, and it now shows historical records only. FMCSA retired its registration and filing functions on May 14, 2026, when the Motus registration system replaced it, and new 8-digit MC numbers do not appear there. To check a current BOC-3, use FMCSA’s Motus public search at motus.dot.gov/public/search (no login needed): search the USDOT number (not the MC number) or the company’s legal name, open the operating authority, and look for the process agent (BOC-3) details.

See also: Motus, SAFER, FMCSA

Source: FMCSA: Move into Motus

The FMCSA Register is FMCSA’s official publication of registration actions, such as new authority applications, grants, dismissals and revocations. Publication of an application starts both the 10-day protest period and the 20-day deadline to file insurance and the BOC-3. It can be viewed through Motus.

See also: Protest Period, Pending Authority, OP-1

Source: 49 CFR 365.109T, 365.203T; FMCSA: Move into Motus

Also called: HVUT · Heavy Vehicle Use Tax

Form 2290 is the IRS return used to pay the federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) on commercial vehicles of 55,000 lbs or more gross weight that use public highways. It is an IRS tax, not an FMCSA filing. It is filed every year; the IRS returns a stamped Schedule 1 as proof of payment, which most states require before issuing license plates.

See also: IFTA, IRP

Also called: Freight Forwarder Application

Form OP-1(FF) is the FMCSA application a freight forwarder files to obtain FF operating authority, with a $300 filing fee (49 CFR 360.3T(f)(1)). Like the OP-1, it starts a 20-day window, running from publication of the application in the FMCSA Register (49 CFR 365.109T), for the BOC-3 and insurance to be filed.

See also: OP-1, FF Authority, Freight Forwarder

Source: FMCSA insurance filing requirements; 49 CFR Part 365

Also called: FF Authority · MC-FF

A freight forwarder is a company that assembles, consolidates and tenders freight to motor carriers for line-haul transport, often issuing its own bills of lading and taking carrier liability. It holds FMCSA freight-forwarder authority (an FF number) and has the same BOC-3 process-agent requirement as motor carriers and brokers.

See also: Property Broker, MC Number, BOC-3

Also called: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the maximum operating weight of a vehicle set by the manufacturer, including chassis, body, engine, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo. The 10,001-lb GVWR threshold separates non-CMV vehicles (state-only oversight) from CMVs (federal FMCSA oversight, with a BOC-3 required if the operation is interstate and for hire).

See also: CMV, MC Authority

Also called: Hazardous Materials · HM Carrier

Hazmat (hazardous materials) are materials regulated under 49 CFR Parts 100–185 because they pose a risk in transit, such as flammables, corrosives and radioactive material. Hazmat motor carriers have higher insurance minimums under 49 CFR Part 387 ($1M–$5M depending on commodity), and CDL drivers need an H endorsement. The BOC-3 requirement is the same for hazmat carriers.

See also: CDL, MC Authority, 49 CFR Part 387

Also called: Household Goods · HHG Carrier

An HHG (household goods) carrier is a motor carrier authorized to transport household goods, such as residential moves, for hire across state lines. HHG authority is a separate FMCSA classification from general-freight motor-carrier authority and brings additional consumer-protection rules. HHG carriers and HHG brokers both need a BOC-3 process-agent designation.

See also: Common Carrier, MC Authority, Property Broker

Also called: HOS

Hours of service (HOS) are the federal driving-time limits for commercial motor vehicle drivers under 49 CFR Part 395. Property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour window, after 10 consecutive off-duty hours; total on-duty time is capped at 60 hours in 7 days or 70 in 8. HOS is tracked with an ELD.

See also: ELD, CDL

Also called: Highway Use Tax · NY HUT · NM WDT · KY KYU

HUT (highway use tax) is a state-level, mileage-based tax on heavy commercial vehicles operating within certain states. New York (HUT), New Mexico (Weight Distance Tax), Kentucky (KYU) and Connecticut have separate HUT-style permits with their own registration and quarterly reporting. It is separate from the federal HVUT (Form 2290).

See also: Form 2290, IFTA

Also called: International Fuel Tax Agreement

IFTA (the International Fuel Tax Agreement) is a multi-state agreement that simplifies fuel-tax reporting for commercial vehicles operating across state lines. Carriers register with their base state, file a single quarterly return, and IFTA distributes the revenue to the states where the miles were driven. It applies to most interstate trucks of 26,001+ lbs or 3+ axles.

See also: IRP, Form 2290

Interstate commerce is commercial transportation that crosses state lines, or starts or ends in a different state from the carrier’s base of operations. It brings federal FMCSA oversight: USDOT registration, MC authority for for-hire carriers, a BOC-3 process-agent designation, BMC-91 insurance, and HOS and ELD compliance. Intrastate-only carriers work under state oversight without these federal filings.

See also: FMCSA, USDOT Number, MC Authority

An involuntary suspension is FMCSA’s deactivation of an operating authority because a required filing, usually insurance or a valid BOC-3, is no longer on file. The authority can’t be used until the filing is replaced and the authority is reinstated. In Motus data from Jun 27 to Sep 14, 2026, 90.98% of involuntary suspensions cited insurance only and 5.47% cited BOC-3 cancellation only.

See also: BOC-3 Cancellation, Authority Reinstatement, Order to Show Cause

Also called: International Registration Plan

IRP (the International Registration Plan) is a reciprocal agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces that lets a commercial vehicle use one apportioned license plate in multiple jurisdictions. Fees are split based on miles driven in each jurisdiction. It is the registration companion to IFTA on the fuel-tax side.

See also: IFTA, Form 2290

Also called: Licensing & Insurance Bureau

L&I is short for FMCSA Licensing & Insurance, the legacy system that recorded operating authority, insurance filings and BOC-3 designations. Since May 14, 2026 it shows historical records only; current records are in FMCSA’s Motus system, searchable free at motus.dot.gov/public/search. FMCSA’s list of registered blanket process-agent companies is at fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/process-agents.

See also: FMCSA L&I System, Motus

Source: FMCSA: Move into Motus

Login.gov is the federal sign-in service that Motus uses. Each Motus user signs in with a Login.gov account protected by multi-factor authentication and identity verification.

See also: Motus, USDOT PIN

Source: FMCSA Registration Modernization FAQs

Also called: Motor Carrier Authority

MC authority is the FMCSA operating authority, identified by an MC number, that grants permission to haul regulated freight for hire across state lines. It is distinct from the USDOT number, which identifies the company. FMCSA grants it after an OP-1 application once insurance (BMC-91) and the BOC-3 are on file, the protest period has passed and FMCSA has completed its review.

Read the full guide →See also: MC Number, OP-1, USDOT Number, BOC-3, BMC-91

Source: FMCSA insurance filing requirements

An MC number is the docket number FMCSA assigns to an operating authority (MC for motor carriers and brokers, FF for freight forwarders, MX for Mexico-domiciled carriers). It identifies the authority; the USDOT number identifies the company. FMCSA has proposed no longer issuing new MC numbers, but existing MC numbers aren’t being replaced. Search Motus by USDOT number or company name, not MC number.

MC number guide →See also: MC Authority, USDOT Number, Docket Number

Source: FMCSA Registration Modernization FAQs

Also called: Property Broker Authority · Motor Carrier Broker

MC-B is shorthand for FMCSA property-broker authority, held by companies that arrange transportation for compensation without taking possession of the freight. Brokers must post a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond (or BMC-85 trust fund) and must have a BOC-3 on file. Unlike motor carriers, a broker without trucks may file its own BOC-3 (FMCSA Form BOC-3 page). It differs from FF authority (freight forwarders, which take possession) and motor carrier authority (which hauls freight).

See also: Property Broker, BMC-84, MC Number

Source: FMCSA Form BOC-3 page

Also called: Biennial Update · Motor Carrier Identification Report

The MCS-150 is the biennial update FMCSA requires from every USDOT-registered carrier to keep its contact, address, fleet-size and operations data current. Failing to file the biennial update can lead to civil penalties and deactivation of the USDOT number (49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4)). The due month follows the last digit of the USDOT number; the next-to-last digit sets odd or even years.

See also: USDOT Number, MC Authority

Source: 49 CFR 390.19T

Also called: DOT Card · DOT Physical · NRCME

A medical examiner certificate is the card every CDL driver must carry after a physical exam by a provider on FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME). It is valid for up to 24 months and required under 49 CFR Part 391.

See also: CDL, Hours of Service

Motus is FMCSA’s online registration system at motus.dot.gov, which replaced the legacy URS, FMCSA Portal registration and L&I filing on May 14, 2026. Companies use it to apply for and manage USDOT numbers and operating authority. Anyone can use Motus public search, without signing in, to look up a registration record, including the BOC-3, by USDOT number or company name.

Filing in Motus, step by step →See also: Login.gov, USDOT PIN, FMCSA L&I System

Source: FMCSA Registration Modernization FAQs; FMCSA: Move into Motus

The new entrant safety audit is the safety audit FMCSA conducts on every newly issued motor carrier within 12 months of authority activation. It reviews recordkeeping, driver qualification files, drug and alcohol program compliance and HOS records. A failed audit suspends operating authority until corrective action is verified.

See also: MC Authority, CSA Score

Also called: OP-1 Application · Application for Motor Property Carrier

The OP-1 is the FMCSA application a motor carrier files to obtain operating authority, with a $300 filing fee per authority type (49 CFR 360.3T(f)(1)). The BOC-3 and insurance (BMC-91) must be on file within 20 days from publication of the application in the FMCSA Register (49 CFR 365.109T). The authority goes active once both are on file, the 10-day protest period has passed and FMCSA has finished its review; FMCSA controls that timing.

How to get operating authority →See also: Pending Authority, Protest Period, FMCSA Register, Dismissal

Source: FMCSA insurance filing requirements; 49 CFR Part 365; 49 CFR 360.3T

Operating authority is FMCSA’s federal permission to operate as a for-hire motor carrier, freight broker or freight forwarder in interstate commerce. It differs from the USDOT number: operating authority is the legal right to do the business, while the USDOT number is the company’s identifier in FMCSA’s system. Authority stays active only while a BOC-3 and the required insurance stay on file.

How to get operating authority →Do I need a BOC-3? →See also: MC Authority, OP-1, Authority Reinstatement

Source: FMCSA insurance filing requirements

An Order to Show Cause is an FMCSA notice that an entity must fix a registration problem or face suspension. For an invalid BOC-3 designation, the entity has 30 days from service to file a new BOC-3.

See also: BOC-3 Cancellation, Involuntary Suspension

Source: FMCSA policy MC-RS-2019-0002

Pending authority is the status of an operating-authority application FMCSA has received but not yet granted. The application is published in the FMCSA Register, a 10-day protest period runs, and FMCSA won’t grant the authority until the required insurance and a BOC-3 are on file.

After your MC number is issued →Check authority status →See also: Protest Period, FMCSA Register, Dismissal

Source: 49 CFR 365.203T; FMCSA insurance filing requirements

Also called: Pre-Intervention Phase Screening

PIPS (Pre-Intervention Phase Screening) is an FMCSA process that flags carriers with elevated CSA scores for warning letters and follow-up before formal interventions begin. It is the first stage of the SMS / CSA enforcement chain, which can move on to warning letters, focused investigations and, if problems aren’t corrected, revocation of authority.

See also: CSA Score, New Entrant Safety Audit

A private carrier is a company that transports its own goods in its own commercial motor vehicles, not for compensation. Private carriers don’t need MC operating authority (they aren’t for hire) or a BOC-3, but they still need a USDOT number and must follow the safety regulations. The BOC-3 requirement applies only to for-hire interstate carriers, brokers and freight forwarders.

See also: Common Carrier, USDOT Number

A process agent is a person or company authorized to accept service of process (lawsuits, subpoenas, court orders) for a motor carrier, broker or freight forwarder in a given state. Motor carriers designate an agent in each state they are authorized to serve and each state they travel through; brokers designate agents in each state where they have an office or write contracts (49 CFR 366.4T). The agent must live in or keep an office in that state, and a P.O. box isn’t accepted. Motor carriers must have a process agent file the BOC-3; brokers and freight forwarders without trucks may file their own. The BOC-3 form records those designations.

Full guide: what a BOC-3 process agent is →How to find your process agent →See also: BOC-3, Blanket Process Agent, Service of Process

Source: 49 CFR Part 366; FMCSA Form BOC-3 page

Also called: MC-B · Freight Broker

A property broker is a company that arranges transportation of property for compensation but does not take responsibility for the freight itself. It holds FMCSA property-broker authority (an MC number), must post a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85), and must have a BOC-3 on file. Unlike motor carriers, a broker without trucks may file its own BOC-3 (FMCSA Form BOC-3 page).

See also: BMC-84, BMC-85, MC-B, Self-designation

Source: FMCSA Form BOC-3 page

The protest period is the 10-day window after an authority application is published in the FMCSA Register during which anyone may file a protest against it. An unopposed application can be granted once it ends and the insurance and BOC-3 are on file.

See also: Pending Authority, FMCSA Register

Source: 49 CFR 365.203T, 365.115

Also called: Pre-employment Screening Program

PSP (the Pre-employment Screening Program) is an FMCSA program that lets motor carriers obtain a CDL driver’s 5-year crash and 3-year roadside-inspection history from FMCSA’s safety database. It is used as an input during driver hiring. Driver consent is required, and results are returned through the PSP website.

See also: CDL, CSA Score

Revocation is FMCSA’s cancellation of an operating-authority registration. Authority holders must keep insurance and a BOC-3 designation on file to avoid revocation proceedings. After revocation, the entity can petition for reinstatement (FMCSA fee $80) or reapply, depending on the case; Motus handles both.

Reactivating an MC →See also: Authority Reinstatement, Involuntary Suspension

Source: FMCSA insurance filing requirements; 49 CFR 360.3T(f)(52); FMCSA: Move into Motus

Also called: Safety and Fitness Electronic Records

SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) is FMCSA’s public carrier lookup at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, showing operating-authority status, USDOT registration, insurance on file and basic safety data. Brokers, shippers and load boards use it to confirm a carrier is “AUTHORIZED” before working with it. SAFER does not show BOC-3 status; check that in FMCSA’s Motus public search.

Where to check your BOC-3 →See also: FMCSA, Motus, USDOT Number

Also called: SMS · CSA SMS

The Safety Measurement System (SMS) is FMCSA’s method for scoring carrier safety across the BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories). SMS scores feed CSA percentile rankings and lead to interventions when thresholds are crossed. They are updated monthly from rolling 24-month inspection and crash data.

See also: CSA Score, New Entrant Safety Audit, PIPS

Self-designation means an entity names itself as process agent on its BOC-3. FMCSA allows it only for brokers and freight forwarders without trucks; motor carriers must use a process agent. In Motus data, 0.52% of designations name the entity itself.

Can I file my own BOC-3? →See also: Process Agent, Property Broker, Blanket Process Agent

Source: FMCSA Form BOC-3 page

Service of process is the formal legal delivery of court documents, such as lawsuits, subpoenas and court orders, to a defendant. For interstate motor carriers, federal rules require those documents to be delivered to a designated process agent in the state where the carrier operates, which is the reason the BOC-3 exists.

Full definition →See also: Process Agent, BOC-3

Also called: Single-Trip Permit · Temporary Operating Permit

A trip permit is a short-term state authorization that lets a carrier operate in or through that state without a full annual registration. Trip permits cover specific weights, routes or commodities and typically last 1–30 days. They are common for occasional operations outside an IRP fleet and are not a substitute for federal MC authority or a BOC-3.

See also: IRP, IFTA, HUT

Also called: Unified Carrier Registration

UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) is an annual registration and fee paid by every interstate motor carrier, freight broker, leasing company and freight forwarder under 49 USC §14504a. Fees are tiered by fleet size (six brackets, from 0–2 vehicles to 1,001+) and go to a multi-state board that funds state safety enforcement. UCR is a separate annual registration enforced by participating states; it isn’t part of FMCSA’s operating-authority grant.

See also: MC Authority, OP-1, MCS-150

A USDOT number is the unique identifier FMCSA assigns to each commercial motor vehicle operator subject to federal safety regulations. It is distinct from MC authority: for-hire carriers of regulated freight need both, but the USDOT number identifies the company and the MC number is the operating-authority grant. It must be displayed on every commercial motor vehicle in legible type.

Read the full guide →See also: MC Number, MCS-150, USDOT PIN

Also called: DOT PIN

A USDOT PIN was the personal identification number FMCSA issued to USDOT number holders for signing in to legacy FMCSA systems. Motus doesn’t use it: users sign in with Login.gov, with multi-factor authentication and identity verification, so no USDOT PIN is needed.

See also: Motus, Login.gov

Source: FMCSA Registration Modernization FAQs