For-hire carrier authority - Pennsylvania

Intrastate

Common carriers of property (except household goods) operating intrastate in Pennsylvania must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) by filing an Application for Motor Common Carrier of Property, with a one-time filing fee of $100. The application must be filed and a certificate must be issued before intrastate operations may begin. Commercial vehicles of any weight are subject to authority requirements.

Household goods carriers must file with the PUC an Application for Motor Common Carrier or Motor Contract Carrier of Household Goods in Use along with a filing fee of $350 (payable by certified check or money order).

The state issues a certificate and a PUC number. Renewal is not required.

All common carriers regulated by the PUC are subject to an annual assessment based on the reported gross operating revenue from Pennsylvania transportation. The current assessment is less than 1 percent of reported intrastate revenue. Carriers are mailed a form each year to return to the Commission by March 31. From the information provided, an assessment is calculated and an invoice is mailed to the carrier. Payment must be made annually to the PUC by March 31; failure to pay this assessment will result in cancellation of operating authority. Vehicles registered under the Uniform Carrier Registration Act (UCRA) that are marked with a USDOT number may be exempt from this assessment, but must file the annual assessment report for the determination to be made.

Insurance: Operating intrastate must have $300,000 per accident for a vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle or gross combined weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less; $750,000 per accident for a vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle or gross combined weight rating over 10,000 pounds. Cargo insurance required in the amount of $5,000. Form E and Form H filing is required. Motor carriers of property and household goods must also have insurance coverage meeting the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility Law.

Interstate

Pennsylvania 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.

Agency: Public Utility Commission; (intrastate authority); see Regulatory Agencies for address(es). Department of Transportation (interstate authority); see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).