Obtaining your operating authority requires filing all of the above and more, making this task a time-consuming nightmare for new transportation companies.
But nothing is more arduous than filing your own BOC-3.
The BOC-3, or blanket of coverage, is also required to obtain your interstate operating authority, and it is typically filed immediately after your MC# is issued.
Submitted to the FMCSA, the BOC-3 filing is used to designate process agents in each state your business operates in or through.
Each process agent serves as your legal representative in that state and accepts all legal documents or court papers that may be served to your business. The agent, in turn, sends those documents to you, and if the agent is a lawyer, they may advise you on how to proceed appropriately and according to laws in that state.
Here’s where it gets tricky! Should you decide to file the BOC-3 on your own, you must obtain the contact information and consent for an agent in each state you operate in. Moreover, the agent cannot be just anyone. For example, the agent must reside in the state for which s/he is designated. It’s also best that the agent be a lawyer for the reason stated above. For more information on who can serve as an agent, check the FMCSA regulation 49 CFR 366.
Alternatively, you can have a processing agent file your BOC-3 for you. But be cautious when choosing your processing service. The agent must be registered with the FMCSA as a BOC-3 blanket agent. This means they have already leased the services of an agent in all states, which is itself a difficult task that many agents have not completed. Moreover, many processing services will take 3-7 days to complete your BOC-3, which means your MC# will not be activated and you cannot operate.
But nothing is more arduous than filing your own BOC-3.
The BOC-3, or blanket of coverage, is also required to obtain your interstate operating authority, and it is typically filed immediately after your MC# is issued.
Submitted to the FMCSA, the BOC-3 filing is used to designate process agents in each state your business operates in or through.
Each process agent serves as your legal representative in that state and accepts all legal documents or court papers that may be served to your business. The agent, in turn, sends those documents to you, and if the agent is a lawyer, they may advise you on how to proceed appropriately and according to laws in that state.
Ways to File your BOC-3
Here’s where it gets tricky! Should you decide to file the BOC-3 on your own, you must obtain the contact information and consent for an agent in each state you operate in. Moreover, the agent cannot be just anyone. For example, the agent must reside in the state for which s/he is designated. It’s also best that the agent be a lawyer for the reason stated above. For more information on who can serve as an agent, check the FMCSA regulation 49 CFR 366.
Alternatively, you can have a processing agent file your BOC-3 for you. But be cautious when choosing your processing service. The agent must be registered with the FMCSA as a BOC-3 blanket agent. This means they have already leased the services of an agent in all states, which is itself a difficult task that many agents have not completed. Moreover, many processing services will take 3-7 days to complete your BOC-3, which means your MC# will not be activated and you cannot operate.
Change Happens
- Changes in designation can only be made by filing a new BOC-3 with the FMCSA. If you have an existing BOC-3, but would like to alter one of your designations.
- If any of your contact information changes, even slightly, you are legally obligated to notify your blanket agent. This is to ensure that any legal documents served to your business can be promptly delivered. Just give us a quick phone call if you need to update your contact info, and we’ll get you squared away immediately.
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