Applying for your Motor Carrier Authority can be intimidating, stressful, and confusing considering the competing information available online about it. It is also difficult to keep track of all the steps you need to follow. Getting your authority also requires establishing a trucking company, commitment, USDOT Number, attention to detail, and providing all the necessary documents. Read on as Global Multi Services takes us through why every trucking company needs authority.

Meaning Of Motor Carrier Authority

Having your carrier authority means you have the government’s permission to haul freight as a trucking company and get paid for it. The authority is issued through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the form of a Motor Carrier Number. Having a Motor Carrier Permit gives you the ability to choose the type of load you want to carry and also figure out your schedules and routes. This means you have completer freedom on how you want to operate your trucking company.

There are different types of authority depending on the type of freight you want to start carrying and some commercial vehicles might require multiple authorities to cover different types of freight. Some states also require an interstate Authority if you want to carry freight within them. Therefore, you need to apply for a Motor Carrier Authority relevant to your business.

Benefits Of Motor Carrier Authority

It Is Profitable

When you work as a trucker or with an owner-operator for a long time, it’s natural to think of having your authority. The trucking industry is huge and filled with many career opportunities. It also gives you complete independence and also profitable if you’re running your business correctly.

It Gives You Total Control

Although having a Motor Carrier Permit comes with many responsibilities and work, however, it allows you to hire your truck drivers. Over time, you can increase your trucks and drivers. It also allows you to find and negotiate loads.

What You Need To Get A Motor Carrier Authority

Establish Your Business Entity

Having a trucking company is the same thing as becoming a business owner and you have to establish a structure just like every other business. What makes this difficult is that you have different ways to establish your business entity. It might be difficult to figure out the type of business entity to use. But don’t worry, you can contact  Global Multi Services to put you through the entire process.

Apply For Your Authority

Go to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website and fill all necessary forms for your application. They might ask for truck information such as your Vehicle Identification Number, license plate Information, truck weight, tax ID number, and many more.

After submitting your application to FMCSA, the organization gives a chance of ten working days for anyone to protest your authority. Once this ends, you will be asked to post proof of insurance and your BOC-3 form. Which assigns a business in all the fifty states who receive and forward legal documents on your behalf

After completing the Motor Carrier Identification Report Form and your Safety Certification Application, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will give you your USDOT Number. This is very important if you have a commercial vehicle operating interstate.  After reviewing your authority, the FMCSA will send you a letter if they approve your Motor Carrier Authority.

Every trucking company that operates with large commercial vehicles, or is paid to transport goods or property in their vehicle needs a motor carrier permit. This permit is evidence that they have met all the requirements to carry out commercial operations. A motor carrier authority is a permit given by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to commercial vehicles to transport goods on public roads. 

The permit contains all the motor carrier information such as expiring date, name, effective date, mailing address, and many more. Getting an MC Authority can be time-consuming and hectic considering the filling process and a bunch of documents to submit. With Global Multi Services, you don’t need to worry about all the registration processing. We will help you get your permit without lifting a finger. 

Who Is Eligible For An MC Authority?

The following people or vehicle are eligible for a motor carrier permit 

• If you offer courier services or an entity paid to transport goods or properties on the commercial road no matter the size, brand, weight of your vehicle. 
• If your vehicle has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of ten thousand pounds and above and its use either for private or commercial use. 
• If you have a vehicle or combinations of vehicles that are used for transporting hazardous materials. 
• If you are operating a truck, auxiliary dollies, trailer, logging dollies, semi-trailers, or their combination and they are more than 40ft in length when combined. 
• If you are operating a motor vehicle or a combination of trailers and a motor vehicle which operations require a commercial driver’s license. 

Who Is Not Eligible For An MC Authority?

The following people or vehicle are not eligible for motor carrier permits 

• Vehicles used for carrying passengers or household goods as defined in Section 1509 of the Public Utilities Code. This is because this vehicle operates under the authority of the Public Utilities Commission. 
• Household goods carrier vehicles used for transporting institutional furniture and fixtures, used office, stores, and others which are operating under the household goods carrier permit issued pursuant according to Section 5137 of the Public Utilities Commission. 
• If you operate pickup trucks whose GVWR is less than 11,500 pounds, equipped with a box-type bed that is not more than 9ft in length and has an unladen weight that is less than 8,001 pounds when it is operated in a noncommercial manner. 
• If you are operating a utility trailer, trailer coaches, or camp trailer. 
• If you have a vehicle that provides transportation for only passengers and their baggage. 
• If your vehicle is only for personal use but its GVWR is ten thousand pounds or less. 
• If your vehicle is exempt from vehicle registration fees.
• If you are operating Two-axle daily rental trucks with a GVWR that is less than 26,001 pounds when it is operated in a noncommercial manner. 
• If you are operating two-axle truck tractors or motor trucks whose GVWR is less than 26,001 pounds alone or used to tow a utility trailer, a fifth-wheel travel trailer, a camp, or a trailer used for transporting watercraft and has never operated commercially. 

How Can You Apply For A Motor carrier Authority?

You need to first apply for a motor carrier permit before you begin operating as a new carrier. This can be achieved by applying online or via mail. You can also contact Global Multi Services for help if you want a hassle-free process. Here are the documents you need to apply via email. 

• Your proof of insurance 
• Your worker’s compensation insurance proof
• A valid Requester Code issued by the Employer Pull Notice Programmer. This is mandatory if the driver you employ has Commercial Class A, B, or C driver’s license with hazardous materials. 
• Complete the PDF form application for Motor Carrier Permit. 
• Pay the Motor Carrier Permit application fee