BOC-3 / Process Agent Filing
Required before FMCSA will activate your operating authority.
The BOC-3 names a process agent in every state who can accept legal papers on behalf of your company. FMCSA will not activate motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder authority until a BOC-3 is on file, so it is one of the first filings every new authority needs.
We file your BOC-3 with blanket coverage in all 50 states and Washington DC, usually the same business day, and forward any papers served on your agent to you.
Who Needs a BOC-3?
- Motor carriers applying for MC operating authority
- Freight brokers
- Freight forwarders
- Carriers changing their legal name, ownership, or process agent
Private carriers and exempt carriers that do not need operating authority generally do not need a BOC-3.
Why the BOC-3 Matters
Your authority cannot go active without it. If your BOC-3 is cancelled later, for example because a process agent closes or stops covering you, FMCSA can suspend your authority until a new one is filed.
A process agent that actually forwards legal papers matters too. If your company is sued and the agent fails to pass it on, you could miss the deadline to respond. We use agents with physical addresses in every state.
Before You Start
- Your USDOT number
- Your MC, FF, or MX docket number
- Your legal business name and physical address, exactly as FMCSA has them
How BOC-3 Filing Works
- Enter your USDOT number. We pull your legal name and docket number from FMCSA.
- Confirm your details. They must match FMCSA exactly, and we check before filing.
- We file your BOC-3 electronically with blanket coverage.
- We confirm once it shows on your FMCSA record, usually within one to two business days.
What It Costs
Our BOC-3 filing is $79, with no government fee and no annual renewal charge from us. New carriers often bundle it into our new authority package.
Ready to Get Started?
BOC-3 Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs a BOC-3?
Every motor carrier, broker, and freight forwarder that applies for operating authority. It must be on file before FMCSA activates the authority.
Is the BOC-3 a yearly filing?
No. Once filed it stays on record until you change agents or your company details change.
Do I need a new BOC-3 if I change my name or address?
Usually yes. A legal name change, ownership change, or new process agent requires a new filing.
When should I file it?
Right after you apply for MC authority, so it is on file by the time the protest period ends.
My authority was suspended for a missing BOC-3. What now?
File a new BOC-3, then request reinstatement. See our authority reinstatement page.