BOC-3 Filing Explained: What It Is and Why You Need It

What Is a BOC-3?

A BOC-3 is a Designation of Process Agents form filed with the FMCSA. In plain English: it names a person or company in each state (and Washington D.C.) who is authorized to receive legal documents on your behalf.

Think of it like this — if someone needs to serve your trucking company with legal papers in a state where you don't have an office, the process agent is the person who accepts those papers for you.

Do I Really Need One?

Yes. If you're applying for any of the following, a BOC-3 is mandatory:

Motor carrier authority (MC number)
Broker authority
Freight forwarder authority

Your operating authority cannot be activated until your BOC-3 is on file with the FMCSA. It's not optional — it's a legal requirement under 49 CFR Part 366.

How Does It Work?

You have two options:

Individual agents: Name a specific person in each of the 50 states + D.C. (51 total). This is impractical for most carriers.
Blanket filing service: A company that has agents in all states files on your behalf with one form. This is what 99% of carriers do.

A blanket BOC-3 filing service handles everything — they have process agents already set up in every state, and they file the form electronically with the FMCSA. It takes minutes.

How Much Does a BOC-3 Cost?

Here's where the industry gets shady. The actual cost breakdown:

FMCSA filing fee: $0 (there is no government fee for the BOC-3 itself)
Blanket filing service: $30–$75 is the fair market rate

If someone is charging you $150+ for a BOC-3, they're overcharging. Period. It's an electronic form that takes a few minutes to process. Don't fall for "premium" BOC-3 services — a BOC-3 is a BOC-3.

How to File Your BOC-3

Choose a blanket filing service — Look for transparent pricing and fast turnaround. (Or let us handle it.)
Provide your information — Business name, USDOT number, MC/FF/broker number, and contact details.
They file electronically — The form is submitted to the FMCSA on your behalf.
Confirmation — You'll receive confirmation that your BOC-3 is on file. You can verify it on the FMCSA's SAFER system.

When Should I File?

File your BOC-3 as soon as you submit your OP-1 application (or even the same day). There's no reason to wait — your authority can't activate without it, and it only takes a few minutes. Don't let this be the thing that delays your start date.

Does a BOC-3 Expire?

No. A BOC-3 filing remains in effect as long as your operating authority is active. You only need to refile if you change your process agent or if your agent withdraws their designation.

Common BOC-3 Mistakes

Overpaying. $30–75. That's it. Walk away from anyone charging more.
Forgetting to file. Your authority will sit in "pending" forever without it.
Filing after insurance. Get your BOC-3 and insurance filed in parallel, not sequentially. Don't waste time.
Not verifying. After filing, check SAFER to confirm it's on record.