AskFMCSA (2024)

A Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) is defined as any motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport property or passengers when the vehicle:

• • Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more
  • Is single or combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
  • Is designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for compensation; or more than 15 passengers if not receiving compensation for the transportation.
  • Any size vehicle that transports hazardous materials that require federal placarding

On the other hand, a non-Commercial Motor Vehicle would not meet the above criteria. For example, consider a vehicle where either the power unit alone or when combined with a trailer does not meet the minimum weight threshold of 10,001 pounds. For instance, a pickup truck with a GVWR of 7,000 pounds and a trailer with a GVWR of 2,000 pounds would not qualify as a CMV.

Visit the vehicle configuration page to learn more about the different types of CMVs

The entity’s physical address or PPOB is the designated central location where the company is engaged in business operations. Normally, this is where officials routinely report to work, and where safety records and/or business records are regularly maintained.

The entity must make safety records available for inspection at this location within 48 hours upon FMCSA’s request.

You cannot designate as your PPOB any location where your entity is not actively engaged in business operations. FMCSA will not accept a P.O. Box, a private mailbox, post office box centers that hold mail or packages for pickup, or other location with no legal or functional relationship to the applicant’s business including process agents.

If using a virtual office location, the entity must make safety records available for inspection at this location within 48 hours upon FMCSA’s request.

When submitting FMCSA Registration forms, all required fields must be complete and required supporting documentation must be attached. Incomplete applications are returned to the applicant and must be resubmitted, which delays the process.

Note: Each form is prefaced with detailed instructions to assist filling out the form.

7 reasons your MCS-150 may be incomplete and not processed:

• Sending expired forms
  Ensure you have the latest version. The expiration date is located at the top right of each page of the form. The current FMCSA Registration forms are here.

• Acceptable form of ID not submitted
  With exception of New Applications, a Driver’s License of the individual signing the form must be submitted (and must match a company officer listed on Line 30). An MCS-150 form to request updates cannot be processed until the proper Driver’s License is submitted and verified.

• Section 1 – Legal Business Name
  The name must match the company name on record unless you are requesting a Name Change. In that case, Articles of Incorporation or Amendment are required. If your company has Operating Authority, an Operating Authority Name Change request is required.

• Section 22 and 23 must correspond (Interstate + Authorized For-Hire)
  If Interstate and Authorized For-Hire are selected but the company does not currently have an Operating Authority, the form cannot be accepted. You must either apply for Operating Authority or make the appropriate selection on the MCS-150 and resubmit the form.

• Section 24 and 25 must correspond (Motor Vehicles, Driveaway/Towaway and Class 9/Carried/Non-Bulk)

If Motor Vehicles or Driveaway/Towaway is selected on line 24, Class 9, Carried, and Non-bulk must be checked on line 25 (for miscellaneous hazardous material like flammable liquids).

• Section 31 - Company Officer Signature (i.e., owner, president, partner)
  A signature is required and must match a company officer listed on line 30

• Section 31 - Filing Date

If you update your MCS-150 online, the system will be updated as of that date. If you send a paper MCS-150 on the same date or earlier, it cannot be processed. Ensure the date on your MCS-150 is greater than the last online update

An application for operating authority is Dismissed if the applicant fails to provide evidence of financial responsibility (proof of insurance) and a designation of process agent Form BOC-3 approximately 90 days from the date of filing of the application.

A dismissal is the equivalent of a rejection, and you have two options to proceed:

1. Submit an Appeal: If you have evidence that insurance was filed on time and the dismissal was made in error, you can choose to submit an appeal. Make sure to provide the necessary documentation to support your appeal.

2. File a New Application: You can file a new application for operating authority. You have the option to apply online or by sending the corresponding OP series form as applicable. Additionally, you will need to pay the appropriate fee of $300 per type of operating authority requested. Applications following a rejection/dismissal must be filed under the same USDOT and MC/FF numbers.

Important Note: Any subsequent applications following a rejection or dismissal cannot be filed via the Unified Registration System.

A process agent is a legal representative upon whom court papers may be served in any proceeding brought against a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder. Every motor carrier (of property or passengers) shall make a designation for each state in which it is authorized to operate and for each state traversed during such operations (usingFormBOC-3).Brokers are required to list process agents in each state in which they have an office and in which they write contracts. Many commercial firms will arrange process agents in any state for a fee.

Alist of process agentscan be found in the instruction packet accompanying an application or on our website.

For questions regarding transportation of hazardous materials, cylinders, scuba tanks, etc., please contact the The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

• Website:Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
• Toll-free Number:1-800-HMR-4922 (1-800-467-4922)
• Alternative Phone Number:202-366-4488.

For the PHMSA regional offices, the site is:Offices | PHMSA (dot.gov)

For Hazmat Regulations and Interpretations, the site is:Regulations and Compliance | PHMSA (dot.gov)

To access HAZMAT regulations and interpretations, please see49 CFR 171-185. (Note: This link is to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-cfr).

If the medical examiner’s certificate has expired, you must obtain a new one and provide it to your State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA). If you require a variance and it has expired, you must renew it with FMCSA. Your State may require retesting and additional fees to get back your CDL privileges. If allowed by your SDLA, you may also change your self-certification to an operating category that does not require a medical certificate.

More information can be found on the FMCSA medical program web site.

Once you have your USDOT number, you will be able to operate as a private motor carrier. You will not be able to operate as afor-hiremotor carrier until you have operating authority (an active MC number).For more information on operating authority,click here.

There is a $300 fee for each operating authority requested.

Yes, you will keep the same MC number if youchangeyourname. However, you will not receive a new certificate or permit, but you will receive a re-entitlement decision which should be attached to your original operating authority.

For information on how tochangethenameon your operating authority,click here.

There are situations where a legalnamechange, ownershipchangeor form of businesschangemay require a new USDOT number. For more information,click here.

First-timebrokerapplicants who don't already have a US DOT number or other operating authority must register online with the FMCSAvia the Unified Registration System(URS).

If you already have a US DOT number and/or other operating authority, you must apply by submitting the OP-1formto FMCSA until URS is fully implemented. Please note: on January 17, 2017, FMCSApublished a Federal Register noticesuspending the January 14 and April 14, 2017URS effectiveness dates.

For more information on registering as abroker,click here.

After the MC Number has been assigned, to complete the application process,brokersmust also take the following steps:

• Forbrokersof property: Proof of Insurance Coverage: a Surety Bond or Trust Fund Agreement(FormBMC-85)in the amount of $75,000
• Forbrokersof household goods: Proof of Insurance Coverage: a Surety Bond or Trust Fund Agreement (FormBMC-84) in the amount of $75,000
• FormBOC-3,Designation of Process AgentForm(brokersmay designate themselves as their own process agents in the State in which they are writing contracts)
• Application processing fee: $300 (non-refundable)
• Application processing time: Approximately 4-6 weeks

Note: Effective October 2013 all bonds forbrokersincreased to $75,000.00.

Your best option is to renew them prior to the expiration date. If yourcertificatedoes expire, you must have a newmedicalexamination and obtain a newmedicalcertificate. You must then provide the State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) the newmedicalexaminer’scertificate. You are also responsible for applying to FMCSA for a renewal of your variance perCFR§391.51(b)(8)

For a copy of themedicalexaminer’scertificate, seeMedicalExamination Report (MER) Form, MCSA-5875located inCFR§391.43(f)

You can find contact information for your state’s driver licensing agency on theUSA.govwebsite.

To search for amedicalexaminer, click here.

The Unified Registration System (URS) is a new electronic on-line registration system that will streamline and simplify the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) registration process and serve as a clearinghouse and depository of information on all entities regulated by the Agency, including motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, intermodal equipment providers (IEPs), hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) applicants/holders, and cargo tank manufacturing and repair facilities. TheURSwill combine multiple registration processes, information technology systems and forms into a single, electronic online registration process.

Note: The initial phase ofURSaffected only new registrants (Dec. 12, 2015). Later phaseswill affect all regulated entities.

For more information, please see theOctober 21, 2015 Federal Register Notice.

On January 17, 2017, FMCSApublished a Federal Register noticesuspending the January 14 and April 14, 2017URSeffectiveness dates.