BOC-3 Filing
What is a BOC-3?
The BOC-3 (Designation of Process Agents) names a person in each state who can accept legal papers for your company if it's ever involved in a legal proceeding there.
FMCSA requires it before your operating authority can go active. A blanket filing covers all 50 states and DC at once.
Who needs a BOC-3?
What does a process agent do?
A process agent is your company's official contact for legal documents in a given state. They:
- Accept legal papers served on your company
- Pass those documents to you right away
- Give you a legal point of contact in every state
Without a BOC-3 on file, FMCSA will not issue or activate your operating authority.
Frequently asked
BOC-3 FAQ
If you're applying for operating authority as a for-hire carrier, broker or freight forwarder, yes. FMCSA won't activate the authority without it.
Only in a state where you have a physical office. To cover every state you would need an agent in each one, which is why most carriers use a blanket filing.
We usually submit the BOC-3 within one business day. It normally appears in FMCSA's records soon after it's filed.
Yes. A BOC-3 stays on file unless you change process agents or your authority is revoked and reinstated.
Our BOC-3 filing is $99.00, or $85.00 when you add it to a USDOT or operating authority application. Both include blanket process agent coverage in all 50 states and DC.