For-hire carrier authority - California

Intrastate

Intrastate (operating in California only) household goods and passenger carriers are required to have an active CPUC permit issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), and display on the power unit the identification number (Cal T-number: the CPUC permit number) issued by the California PUC. The one-time company filing fee is $500. Yearly equipment list and proof of insurance is required.

All other intrastate property carriers are regulated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and must have a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) issued by the DMV.

As it pertains to MCP, a commercial motor vehicle is defined as:

• Any self-propelled vehicles listed in subdivisions (a), (b), (f), (g), and (k) of Section 34500 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC);
• Any motor truck of two or more axles that is more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicles weight rating (GVWR); or
• Any other motor vehicle used to transport property for compensation (for-hire).

• Vehicles operated by household goods carriers as defined in Section 5109 of the Public Utilities Code;
• Vehicles operated by a household goods carrier to transport used office, store, and institutional furniture and fixtures when operated under a permit issued by the Public Utilities Code;
• Pickup trucks with a GVWR of less than 11,500 pounds, and unladen weight of less than 8,001 pounds, and are equipped with open box type bed not exceeding nine feet in length, when operated in a non-commercial use;
• Two-axle daily rental trucks with gross vehicle weight rating less than 26,001 pounds when operated in a non-commercial use;
• Utility trailers, camp trailers, or trailer coaches; or
• Vehicles providing transportation of passengers only, a passenger stage corporation transporting baggage, and express upon a passenger vehicle incidental to the transportation of passengers.

To obtain a motor carrier permit (MCP), submit the following to the MCP Unit located at the DMV headquarters in Sacramento:

• An application for Motor Carrier Permit, completed and signed. The application must include a valid California Identification Number (CA#) issued by the CHP and your Employer Pull Notice requester code if you employ drivers with a commercial Class A, Class B, or Class C driver license with a hazardous materials endorsement;
• A check or money order for the fees that are due;
• Acceptable proof of liability insurance coverage at the required level; and
• Acceptable proof of Workers’ Compensation Insurance coverage, or if exempt from Workers’ Compensation, complete and sign the exemption on the MCP application form.

Upon application for an MCP, carriers are auto-enrolled in the Basic Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program. A Carrier Inspection Fee (CIF) applies to all carriers and is determined by the number of motor vehicles in the carrier’s fleet and is due in full. Interstate carriers with non-expiring permits will pay the CIF only upon initial application.

Permit terms are a 12-month period beginning with the first day of the month that the original application was received and ending on the last day of the following 12th month. The department also issues a seasonal permit to carriers who operate for-hire. Seasonal permits are valid for at least six months but not more than 11 months. Seasonal carriers will pay the CIF only once in their seasonal term (a seasonal carrier fee chart is available at http://tinyurl.com/CAseasonalfees).

CA number: Intrastate carriers (other than household good carriers) must obtain and display a California Identification (CA) number issued by the California Highway Patrol. In order to obtain a CA number, a motor carrier must first obtain a USDOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The motor carrier’s USDOT number must be provided as part of the CA number application process. California also requires interstate carriers that are BOTH delivering AND picking up loads in California to obtain a CA number from the California Highway Patrol. If the carrier displays a valid USDOT number, the CA number does not have to be displayed on the vehicle.

Fees are based on fleet size (power units only) as follows:

Insurance: Levels of liability insurance vary from $300,000 to $5,000,000 combined single limit depending on the type of vehicle and property being transported. Proof of insurance must be submitted on one of the following forms:

• Certificate of Insurance (MC 65 M)
• Certificate of Self Insurance (MC 131 M)

To apply for a Certificate of Self Insurance, a motor carrier must meet the following requirements:

• The motor carrier is comprised of 25 or more commercial vehicles registered in the motor carrier’s name.
• The required level of liability insurance does not exceed $750,000.
• There are no unsatisfied judgement(s) against the motor carrier name or the “Doing Business As” or trade names listed on the application for an MCP resulting from property damages and/or bodily injury (including death) caused by a motor vehicle accident.

Intrastate and interstate

California intrastate carriers also engaged in interstate motor carriage must comply with requirements for initial application for an MCP for the intrastate authority and submit any necessary fees. Interstate carriers are issued a non-expiring MCP.

Intrastate vehicles included in the UCR registration are not subject to annual renewal of the intrastate authority. A CA number is required.

Motor vehicle(s) used solely in intrastate operations and not included in the vehicle count under the UCR annual submission are subject to annual renewal of the MCP.

Interstate

California 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.

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