What You Need to Know to File Your BOC-3

All the hustle and bustle that goes along with with your year-end renewals and 4th quarter IFTA returns has finally come and gone, but what’s next? Well, based on our phone conversations, for many of you it seems that you’re looking to get your BOC-3 filings taken care of.

And if you are, you’ve probably figured out the hard way that BOC-3 is no joke. But luckily for you, that’s what we’re here for—so as usual, keep reading, and we’ll go in detail about what exactly BOC-3 filing is and how you can get yours done today!

BOC-3 Filing

BOC stands for blanket of coverage, and is typically filed after you receive your MC# in order to obtain your interstate operating authority. The filing is submitted to the FMCSA, and is used to designate process agents in your state to serve as your legal representative. This process agent can then accept court papers and legal documents on behalf of your business.

How do I file my BOC-3?

There are a couple of different options for this, but don’t worry, we’ll go over both.

Option one is you file it yourself. To do this, first, you’ll need the contact information for an agent in your state, as well as their consent. And keep in mind, the agent has to reside in the state in which they are designated, and it also is a big help if they are a lawyer. But do you really want to deal with all that? Of course not. So let's get on to option two.

The second option is to have a processing agent file for you, but you’ll need to exercise caution when choosing one. Because no matter who your agent is, they need to be registered with the FMCSA as a BOC-3 blanket agent. What is a BOC-3 blanket agent? Great question, and glad you asked. You become a BOC-3 blanket agent once you have already leased the services of an agent in every state—quite a tall task to complete.

Now you’re probably wondering, “How would I go about finding one of these agents to do it for me?” Well look no further, because we’re BOC-3 certified! And that blanket agent thing? Yeah, we’ve got that covered too. So give us a call at 803.386.0320 and we can get your BOC-3 registration done in five minutes or less. And if you need your MC# we do that too, so you can get both done at the same time! Yeah, we’re all about convenience here at TSNAmerica—let us make your life a little bit easier today.

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BOC-3: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re a trucker and you plan to operate in interstate commerce, you will be required to file a BOC-3. If you’re asking yourself what in the world a BOC-3 is, don’t fret. Stay tuned, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the BOC-3, and how you can get it filed today.

What is a BOC-3?

A BOC-3 is a federal form that designates legal agents upon which process may be served. It stands for “blanket of coverage,” and is often required before federal operating authorities can be granted within the United States.

A BOC-3 is typically filed after an MC# has been issued in order to obtain interstate operating authority. The BOC-3 form is submitted to the FMCSA, and is used to designate process agents in each state where your business operates.

Process service agencies are third-party companies capable of granting BOC-3 filings. All process agencies must employ or lease the services of individuals or entities in each state, and must be registered with the FMCSA in order to grant a BOC-3. Each process agent acts as your representative for that state, and accepts all legal documents or court papers that may be served to your business. The agent then forwards those documents to you, and can advise you on how to proceed according to the laws in your state.

How to File Your BOC-3:

To file your BOC-3, you can file it yourself or have a process agent file on your behalf with the FMCSA. The completed form must include all states for which agency designations are required. If you are having your form done by a process agent, that agent must be designated for each state in which the carrier, broker, or freight forwarder operates.

Once the form is finished, the original signed copy must be filed with the FMCSA, and a copy should be filed with each state where the operation is conducted. One copy must also be kept by the carrier, broker, or freight forwarder at its principal place of business. If for any reason you need to change your designation, you will need to file a new form BOC-3 with the FMCSA. When this is done, copies of the new form will only need to be sent to states affected by the change or new filing.

How We Can Help:

Filing your BOC-3 can be a little tricky, and you’re probably wondering, how am I supposed to find a processing agent? Well, we’ve got some good news for you; we are BOC-3 certified! Not only can we obtain your MC# for you, but we can take care of the BOC-3 at the same time. Or, if you already have your MC#, we can complete your BOC-3 form in less than five minutes! Don’t believe us? Well then give us a call at 803.386.0320, and start your stopwatch! If you have any questions about our services, you can call us or send us an email at support@tsnamerica.com.

We will also be hosting a webinar this week on how to file Form 2290 with us over the phone. To register for the webinar, click here and enter in your first and last name, along with your email address. The webinar will be taking place on Thursday July 23, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

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BOC-3 Filings: What You Need to Know Before You File Yourself

UCR, IFTA, IRP, MC#, DOT#–the list goes on and on!

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.

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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