If you hold FMCSA operating authority, a process agent was named on your behalf when your BOC-3 was filed — but plenty of carriers do not know who that agent is. Maybe a startup service set it up, maybe you bought the authority, or maybe your old provider started charging an annual fee and you want out. The good news: the answer is on file with FMCSA, and looking it up is free (for background on the role, see what a BOC-3 process agent is). If the agent turns out to be gone, or you'd rather use a different one, you can file a new BOC-3, which replaces the old designation.
Compliance terms in this guide
BOC-3 · Process Agent · FMCSA · SAFER
Where your process agent is recorded
When a BOC-3 is filed, FMCSA records the “blanket company”— the process-agent provider that designated agents in every state for you. That record lives in FMCSA's Motussystem, and the Motus public search is free and needs no login. (L&I only shows historical records since May 14, 2026, and SAFER doesn't show BOC-3 status.)
How to look up your BOC-3 process agent
- Open FMCSA's Motus public search at motus.dot.gov/public/search.
- Search by your USDOT number or company name (not your MC number).
- Open your operating authority, then the “Process Agent (BOC-3) Details” tab.
- The blanket company listed there is your process agent on file — that is who to contact to review, change, or cancel the designation.
Want to confirm the filing actually posted while you are there? Our guide on checking whether your BOC-3 is on file walks through the companion lookup.
What if nothing shows up?
A blank BOC-3 record means no active process-agent designation is on file. Under 49 CFR Part 366you must have one before your operating authority can activate, and a lapsed designation can lead FMCSA to revoke authority. The fix is simple: have a process agent file a BOC-3 for you — it can usually be on record the same business day. For BOC-3-specific questions, FMCSA's line is 1-800-832-5660.
How to change the agent on file
You do not formally “cancel” an old process agent to switch. Because only one BOC-3 can be on file at a time, having a new process agent file a fresh Form BOC-3 automatically replaces the previous designation. If you are leaving a provider that charges recurring fees, see how to change your process agent.
What is changing with Motus
FMCSA retired the L&I system's registration and filing functions on May 14, 2026, as part of its move to Motus, its new registration system. L&I now shows historical records only, and new 8-digit MC numbers don't appear there; current process-agent information is in the Motus public search.