For-hire carrier authority - Texas

Intrastate

Before beginning intrastate operations in Texas, commercial motor vehicle owners or operators and household goods carriers are required to register with the Texas DMV (TxDMV) and obtain a TxDMV Number Certificate. All intrastate carriers are required to have an active USDOT number before applying for or renewing their TX intrastate authority DMV Certificate. Carriers must have a Texas intrastate authority DMV Number Certificate in addition to their USDOT number.

Entities required to register with Texas for a TxDMV certificate of authority are:

• Vehicles (or combination of vehicles) with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating exceeding 26,000 pounds, that is designed or used for transportation of cargo in furtherance of any commercial enterprise.
• For-hire vehicle used to transport household goods, regardless of gross weight.
• Vehicles, including a bus, designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver.
• Vehicles used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the regulations issued under the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 USC §§5101-5128).
• Foreign commercial motor vehicles owned by a person or entity that is domiciled in or a citizen of a country other than the United States.

Application for authority can be completed online. Call (800) 299-1700 to begin the registration process over the phone and obtain a Unique Identifier Number (UIN). Once a UIN has been assigned, use the online Motor Carrier Credentialing System (MCCS) at https://apps.txdmv.gov/apps/mccs/motorcarrier/.

The following non-refundable fees and documents must be submitted with the application:

1. Application filing fee – Annual and biennial, $100.
2. Per vehicle fee – $10. Biennial per vehicle fee – $20.
3. Insurance fee for each Form E filing – $100.
4. Household goods cargo insurance Forms H and I filing fee – $100.
5. Complete application online at www.txdmv.gov. This is a two-step process. First, an eLINC account must be established. Then, once approved, the vehicles are added to the Motor Carrier Credentialing System (MCCS).
6. If the applicant is a sole proprietor, the applicant must provide the identification number from an unexpired driver’s license number issued by a state or territory of the United States.
7. If the applicant is an entity (corporation, general partnership, LLC, etc.), the applicant must include the entity’s Texas Comptroller’s Taxpayer Number or the entity’s Federal Employer Identification Number.

Household goods carriers are required to submit additional documentation, including but not limited to a copy of the tariff, lease information if the motor vehicle is not titled in the name of the household goods carrier, and documentation that the household goods carrier has procedures in place preventing registered sex offenders from providing moving services without supervision. Passenger carriers are also required to submit additional documentation, including but not limited to, a copy of the IRP registration or title (front and back) for each commercial vehicle or copy of the lease agreement if the vehicle is not titled in the motor carrier’s name.

Intrastate motor carriers will receive registration for or one or two years in duration. Intrastate household goods carriers may not obtain a seven-day or 90-day registration.

Once the carrier obtains a certificate of registration, the motor carrier must review its principal business address, mailing address, and email address in the department’s online system and must update the information if it is no longer correct.

Solely intrastate carriers are required to renew their Texas authority registration annually.

Certain carriers are not required to register for authority with the TxDMV:

• Farm vehicles with a gross weight, registered weight, and gross weight rating of less than 48,000 pounds;
• Cotton vehicles registered under Texas Transportation Code §504.505;
• Vehicles registered with the Texas Railroad Commission under Texas Natural Resources Code §113.131 and §116.072;
• Vehicles exempt from registration by the UCR Act of 2005;
• Vehicles used to transport liquor under a private carrier permit issued under Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 42; and
• Vehicles operated by a governmental entity.

Interstate and intrastate

All interstate carriers also operating intrastate must register with Texas and obtain a certificate for the intrastate operation.

Interstate operation requires registration with the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Agreement. Interstate motor carriers who are currently registered under the UCR and that also operate in Texas intrastate commerce are issued a non-expiring TX Registration certificate; annual renewal is not required for non-expiring registrations.

However, household goods (HHG) carriers, non-charter bus carriers, or waste or recyclable materials transporters operating interstate under UCR registration and intrastate in Texas are not eligible for non-expiring certificates; these types of carriers must renew their certificate of authority annually.

If the TxDMV issues a non-expiring certificate of registration, the motor carrier must notify TxDMV if the motor carrier is no longer registered under the UCR or if the carrier operates as a non-charter bus carrier, HHG carrier, or recyclable materials or waste carrier.

Interstate

Texas is a participating member of the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA). Online registration and fee payment is recommended and available to all carriers at the national UCRA website at www.ucr.in.gov/ucrHome.html.

Refer to Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA) for the current fee schedule.

Agency: Texas Department of Transportation; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).