Who is required to file
Any of the following, if applying for or maintaining interstate operating authority, must have a BOC-3 on file:
- Motor carriers, for-hire and private, operating under an MC number
- Freight brokers
- Freight forwarders
Private carriers that don't hold for-hire operating authority are not required to file. Brokers and freight forwarders may in some cases file their own BOC-3 if they have qualified agents in every state, but most use a professional blanket-agent service instead, since a single missing state voids the filing.
Why this filing exists
The BOC-3 gives courts, regulators, and other parties a reliable way to legally notify your company if it becomes involved in a lawsuit or regulatory proceeding, no matter which state the matter arises in. It establishes a nationwide point of contact so your company can be held accountable wherever it operates — this is the legal framework behind the requirement, not a formality.
Keeping a copy on file
The BOC-3 isn't a file-it-and-forget-it form. The regulation requires one copy to be retained by the carrier at its principal place of business — not just submitted to FMCSA and left there. It's worth keeping that copy somewhere it'll actually be found during an audit, alongside your other registration records.
Only one current, complete BOC-3 may be on file at any time. If your business address or structure changes, you don't amend the existing form — a new, complete BOC-3 replacing the old one is required.
Filing process
- We confirm your MC number and current authority status.
- Process agents are designated in all 50 states and D.C. on your behalf.
- The filing is submitted electronically to FMCSA, typically processed the same business day, activating this requirement toward your operating authority.
Keep your mailing address current with both FMCSA and your process agent service — legal documents are forwarded to the address on file, and a lapse here can result in a missed court notice and a default judgment against your company.