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BOC-3 for Freight Brokers: Which States, Filing Your Own, and Keeping Broker Authority Active

Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated October 28, 2026

The short answer
  • Broker authority does not go active without a BOC-3 on file, the same as carrier authority.
  • A broker must designate a process agent in each state where it has offices or writes contracts (49 CFR 366.4T).
  • Unlike a motor carrier, a broker that runs no trucks may file its own BOC-3.
  • Broker authority also needs the $75,000 BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust. Losing either filing can suspend it.

Freight broker searches are climbing this fall, from "freight broker license requirements" to "becoming a freight broker." Most broker guides focus on the $75,000 bond and skip the BOC-3, but broker authority will not go active without one. Here is what brokers specifically need to know.

Brokers need a BOC-3 too

The BOC-3 names a process agent who can accept court papers for your business in each required state. FMCSA's process agent rules apply to brokers as well as motor carriers, and broker authority is not activated until a BOC-3 is on file. The full list of broker steps is in how to get a freight broker license.

Which states a broker has to cover

The rule is different for brokers. Under 49 CFR 366.4T, a broker designates an agent for each state where its offices are located or where contracts will be written. A motor carrier, by contrast, needs one for every state it operates in or drives through.

In practice, a broker writing contracts with shippers and carriers across the country quickly touches many states, and the BOC-3 must list all of them. That is why most brokers use a blanket agent that covers every state in one filing.

Can a broker file its own BOC-3?

Yes, and this is the main difference from carriers. FMCSA says only a process agent can file the BOC-3 for a motor carrier, but a broker or freight forwarder applicant without commercial motor vehicles can file on its own behalf. Filing your own still means naming a qualifying agent, who lives in or keeps an office in that state, for every state you need. A broker can name itself for the state where it is located, and needs agents for the rest.

The two filings that keep broker authority active

  1. The BOC-3
    Only one can be on file at a time. If your process agent company cancels it and nothing replaces it, your authority can be suspended. See why a BOC-3 gets cancelled.
  2. The $75,000 bond or trust fund
    The BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund. Since January 16, 2026, a claim that drops it below $75,000 can lead to suspension within 7 business days unless it is restored or resolved.

Brokers do not file truck liability insurance (the BMC-91) with FMCSA, since they do not haul. So for a broker, the BOC-3 and the bond are the two filings to watch. Check both on FMCSA's L&I public search.

Changing your broker BOC-3

A BOC-3 cannot be edited. A new legal name, new ownership, or a new process agent company means a new filing, which replaces the old one. File the new one before the old one is cancelled. Details in how to switch process agents.

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Our BOC-3 filing is $74.99 with blanket coverage in all 50 states and DC, for carriers and brokers. No government fee. Usually filed the same business day when you order by 4 PM Eastern.

Common questions

Do freight brokers need a BOC-3?

Yes. FMCSA requires a BOC-3 on file for brokers, the same as for motor carriers, before broker authority is activated.

Can a broker file its own BOC-3?

Yes, if it has no commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA says a broker or freight forwarder applicant without CMVs can file Form BOC-3 on its own behalf. It still has to name a qualifying agent in each required state.

Which states does a broker need a process agent in?

Under 49 CFR 366.4T, each state where the broker has offices or where contracts will be written. Many brokers book freight nationwide, which is why most use a blanket agent covering every state.

What if I am a broker and a carrier?

A carrier must designate agents for every state it operates in or passes through, and a motor carrier cannot file its own BOC-3. If you hold both authorities, a blanket BOC-3 filed by a process agent covers both needs.

Can my broker authority be suspended over the BOC-3?

Yes. A cancelled BOC-3 with no replacement can lead to a suspension, the same as for carriers. So can the $75,000 bond or trust fund being cancelled or drawn below $75,000.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.

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