BOC-3 Filing (Blanket Process Agent)
A BOC-3 is one of the small filings that quietly decides whether your operating authority activates. It names a process agent in every state where you operate, someone who can receive legal documents on your behalf. No BOC-3, no active authority. DGR Tech Rig LLC is officially listed by FMCSA as a BOC-3 blanket process-agent company, so we can file your BOC-3 across all 50 states, for $100, one time.
Reviewed by Adam Smith, Co-Founder.
Authority journey
MC authority filed
Filed
21-day federal protest period
File BOC-3 + insurance now
Authority active
Requires BOC-3 + insurance on file
MC authority filed
Filed
21-day federal protest period
File BOC-3 + insurance now
Authority active
Requires BOC-3 + insurance on file
What a BOC-3 is
The BOC-3 is the federal form that designates a process agent in each state: a person or company authorized to accept legal papers for you in that state. FMCSA requires it for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders before operating authority can be granted. A "blanket" process agent covers all 50 states in one filing, which is why most carriers use a blanket company instead of naming individual agents state by state. The BOC-3 is filed electronically; it is not a printed certificate FMCSA hands you, and you can verify it on your public FMCSA record.
Who needs a BOC-3, and when
- Anyone applying for operating authority (an MC number) needs a BOC-3 before it activates.
- Brokers and freight forwarders need one too.
- A private motor carrier that is not operating for hire generally does not need a BOC-3.
- You file it once during setup. It is generally a one-time filing. You only refile if you change process agents or another specific circumstance requires it.
Important: a BOC-3 is not an annual renewal. If anyone tells you to renew your BOC-3 every year as a matter of course, that is not how it normally works. (Your UCR, by contrast, is annual.)
How our BOC-3 filing works
Because we are an FMCSA-listed blanket process agent, your BOC-3 is direct, not outsourced:
- You confirm your carrier record from a quick USDOT lookup; no forms to fill out.
- We file your BOC-3 designating coverage across all 50 states.
- Your filing posts to your FMCSA record, where it can be verified.
- If your BOC-3 is part of getting your authority, we line it up with your MC application, and we coordinate so your insurer's proof of insurance lands, so activation is not held up.
$100, one time. BOC-3 is also included in every compliance package (as a filing when required, or verification your existing BOC-3 is on file).
BOC-3 as part of getting road-legal
A North Carolina power-only carrier first came to us just to buy a BOC-3. When we looked at her file, her self-filed USDOT and MC were full of errors, and because she had not established her MOTUS account yet, she was locked out of fixing them online. Claiming an existing USDOT on MOTUS needs a USDOT PIN, and getting that PIN was lagging during the MOTUS transition, so she was stuck waiting on a mailed letter. We moved her forward with paper filings and then an official FMCSA callback to verify her identity and unlock the record. A simple BOC-3 request turned into untangling the whole authority, which is exactly the kind of thing we catch.
BOC-3 filing FAQ
What is a BOC-3?
A federal filing that names a process agent in every state to receive legal documents for you. It is required before operating authority can activate.
How much does a BOC-3 cost?
$100, one time. It is also included in every compliance package.
Do I have to renew my BOC-3 every year?
No. It is generally a one-time filing. You refile only if you change process agents or a specific circumstance requires it.
Is the BOC-3 a certificate I print?
No. It is filed electronically and shows on your public FMCSA record, where it can be verified.
Can you file my BOC-3 today?
Yes. As an FMCSA-listed blanket process agent we file it directly. Government processing posts it to your record after.
Do I need anything else for my authority to activate?
MC authority activation requires the BOC-3 filing and the required insurance filing from your insurer. UCR is a separate annual registration and is not required for authority activation. We can handle the full setup so nothing is missed. (BOC-3 is generally not required for a private motor carrier not operating for hire.)
Need a BOC-3 to activate your authority? File it directly with an FMCSA-listed process agent.