However, if you’re a broker or freight forwarder without commercial vehicles you can file the BOC-3 form yourself as a paper copy. In the case of motor carriers, only the process agent can file the BOC-3 and the filing must be made online. A BOC-3 filing is often required before a transportation or logistics company is granted authority to operate. What is a BOC-3 filing?Ī BOC-3 filing (“Designation of Agents for Service of Process”) is a federal filing in the United States that assigns a process agent to accept legal documents on behalf of a transportation or logistics company in each state in which the company is authorized to do business.

Service of process involves the delivery of documents-typically a summons or complaint-that provides notice that litigation has been initiated against the party named as the defendant and subsequent actions that must be taken. Once designated, the process agent is authorized to receive and forward service of process and other court or legal documents on behalf of your company in the state(s) in which the agent is designated. A process agent must be physically located in each state in which you are authorized to operate and be available at that address during normal business hours. If you operate a transportation company, you must designate a service of process agent, also known as an “FMCSA agent”, who resides in all states where you do business.Īn SOP agent or process agent is essentially an individual or business organization appointed by your business who is authorized to receive legal documents on the principal’s behalf. What is a BOC-3 process agent (or FMCSA agent)? This article explores what a BOC-3 filing is and how transportation companies, such as motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders who do business across state lines each day, can designate an SOP or process agent. To receive and keep this authority, these companies must file Form BOC-3 with the FMCSA. When applying for FMCSA certification, a key requirement for transportation companies is naming a service of process (SOP) agent.Īccording to federal law, the designation of a process agent is an essential requirement for obtaining the authority to operate from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)-the agency responsible for regulating the trucking industry in the United States.

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