When applying for operating authority, carriers must indicate whether they will be transporting household goods, general freight, passengers, or hazardous materials. The regulations for insurance, tariffs, etc. vary for different carrier types.
The Federal government has oversight responsibilities for interstate for-hire motor carriage of property and passengers under 49 CFR 365.
Online registration. Before beginning operations, a new entrant for-hire carrier must submit an online registration application MCSA-1 form to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), file proof of required insurance, and submit a Designation of Process Agents (BOC-3). The MCSA-1 also serves as the application for a USDOT (United States Department of Transportation) number. When all fees and documents have been received and found to be in order by the FMCSA, the USDOT number becomes active and authority to operate is granted. Existing carriers request new authority on the Form OP-1.
Unified Registration System. At a later date, to be determined by FMCSA, a $300 fee will also apply to obtain the “safety registration.” This new provision was part of the FMCSA’s Unified Registration System (URS-1) rule; however, the URS-1 rule has been delayed indefinitely by FMCSA.
For-hire motor carriers. A for-hire motor carrier of property is a person holding itself out to the general public to provide motor vehicle transportation for compensation over regular or irregular routes, or both. The term also includes for-hire motor contract carriers. Contract carriers enter into a contract with a shipper to provide services under specified rates and conditions.
Interstate for-hire motor carriers are issued a motor carrier or “MC” number. The MC number is issued with interstate operating authority and is necessary before conducting interstate for-hire motor carriage. The MC number is no longer displayed on the vehicle. According to 49 CFR 390.21, carriers must have or obtain and display on the vehicle a USDOT number and their legal company name before beginning operations.
Eventually, the FMCSA will no longer issue MC numbers. The USDOT number will be the carrier’s sole identifier. The effective date for this change will be determined by FMCSA at a later time.
UCR registration. For-hire carriers of passengers, private and for-hire carriers of property (including those operating as “exempt” carriers), freight forwarders, leasing companies and brokers are all subject to UCRA registration annually.
Carriers who are based in non-participating states, or who operate wholly in non-participating states are subject to UCRA registration. Canada and Mexico domiciled carriers operating in the United States are also subject to UCR.
The UCRA does not issue a paper credential to be carried in the vehicle. Proof of registration under the UCRA is available to roadside enforcement via FMCSA electronic information systems by accessing the carrier US DOT number.
UCRA registration does not replace or change the requirements for registration of vehicles under the International Registration Plan (IRP) or fuel use tax reporting under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).
Electronic registration and information is available online.
Also see Unified Carrier Registration.
Interstate and intrastate carriers. Interstate carriers also engaged in intrastate motor carriage must comply with any state requirements for initial application for intrastate authority and submit any necessary fees. Such carriers will not be subject to annual renewal of the intrastate authority as long as they are legally registered with the UCR. Intrastate carriers. Solely intrastate carriers (never crossing state lines, never engaging in interstate commerce) are not subject to the UCRA. A state may choose to include their intrastate only carriers within the UCRA, or the state may continue the intrastate registration process already in place.