Private carrier authority - California

Intrastate

All carriers operating any commercial motor vehicle on the public highway are required to obtain a Motor Carrier Permit (MCP) from the Department of Motor Vehicles (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).

Commercial motor vehicle does not include:

• 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 an MCP, submit the following to the MCP Unit located at 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.

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.

Insurance: Levels of liability insurance vary from $300,000 to $5,000,000 combined single limit depending on the type of property transported.

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.

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 Motor Carrier Permit.

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.