Is it Hard to Get a Motor Carrier Authority for a Commercial Van?
Setting up your own authority to haul freight with a Cargo Van or Sprinter is way easier than you might think!
Since a lot of FMCSA rules don’t apply to vehicles under 10,001 GVW, the process is much simpler.
Follow these clear, simple steps to get your own Commercial Van Motor Carrier Authority up and running.
You can do this, guys!
CIS is here to help!
Do Commercial Vans Need Motor Carrier Authority?
If you’re planning to bid on load boards or work with brokers to haul freight for hire across state lines–you’re gonna need a DOT number and Motor Carrier Authority.
But other FMCSA rules are a lot more relaxed for Cargo Vans and Sprinters compared to bigger trucks.
For starters, you won’t need to deal with CDLs, DOT audits & inspections, HOS logs, drug testing, IRP orIFTAs.
No wonder so many truckers are happy to drive Cargo Vans and Sprinters across the country!
Who Requires Vans to have Motor Carrier Authority?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all vehicles hauling freight for hire across state lines have a Motor Carrier Authority and minimum insurance in place.
Cargo Vans and Sprinters must carry at least $300,000 commercial auto liability Insurance to run legal.
Larger Vans and Hot Shots are required to carry at least $750,000.
What comes first—the Insurance, the DOT, or the MC number?
Short Answer:
Start by getting your insurance quote
- Apply for your DOT number
- Purchase your insurance and file your BOC-3
- Your Motor Carrier Authority–MC number–is activated by FMCSA
Keep that sequence in mind and you won’t feel overwhelmed as you move forward with the steps below:
How to Get Van Motor Carrier Authority?
1. Decide your Business Name & Entity Type
- Make sure you know EXACTLY how you want your name and address to read before you start
- Sole Proprieter’s will need their social security number
- LLCs and Corporations will use their TAX EIN from IRS Employer ID Number
- If you try to change any of this info later, the delay time is ridiculous and you will have lost money before you even get on the road.
2. Start your FMCSA Registration
- Go to the Online FMCSA Unified Registration System (URS)
- Follow the prompts and hit NEXT at the end of each screen
- You will be assigned an Applicant ID
- This ID number is discarded within 30 days of creation if your app is not completed
- Complete the pages until you get to Vehicle Types
- Cargo Van & Sprinters ONLY–Enter 0 in all boxes on this page
- Then choose “1” on the number of drivers who will operate soley as Interstate, or across state lines
- FMCSA will determine that your Financial Responsibility to operate for hire across state lines at $300,000 Liability
- (If you have registered with a larger truck, your Financial Responsibility will show $750,000.)
- Identity Verification in the form of a QR Code is next, you will need your Phone and your Driver’s License or Passport.
- Once your Identify is verified, FMCSA will ask for their $300 application fee
- If you aren’t ready to pull the trigger, you can go back into the portal within 30 days with your applicant ID to resume
- Once paid, you receive a DOT number immediately and your Motor Carrier processing will begin in that portal.
[FMCSA’s Getting Started Link for more on brand new start ups.]
For Existing DOT Number Applicants Only:
If you already HAD an existing DOT number, then FMCSA asks that instead of using the portal above, you to use their Legacy Registration System to request your Motor Carrier Authority.
Yes, we agree—it’s certainly more confusing than it needs to be:)
Have DOT Number…now What?
So Congrats! So you’ve got your DOT number now—basically the ID for your cargo van, sprinter or truck.
This number is what the feds and states use to make sure you’re meeting safety standards.
This is the number that will follow you the rest of your life:)
The DOT allows you to drive the truck within your state–Intrastate.
To legally haul freight across state lines–Interstate–you still need a Motor Carrier Number and Authority.
What Activates a DOT Number to include an MC Number?
Proof of insurance and Form BOC-3 posted to FMCSA is what activates your Motor Carrier Authority so that you can legally haul freight for hire across state lines.
This can be confusing, because it’s referred to as a DOT Motor Carrier Authority.
- Your DOT is a unique identifier that follows your truck for safety.
- Your MC authorizes your transportation activities as you travel across state lines.
3. Time to Start Your Insurance
Your Motor Carrier Authority request comes with a 10-day public protest period.
It’s during this time that you’ll set up your Commercial Auto Liability.
- If you’ve done your research, you already have your Transportation Insurance Specialist lined up…call her again now to start your policy.
- She’ll advise you on the most cost effective timing and amount of insurance to buy, and when to increase the limits.
- The insurance company will electronically send your proof of insurance to FMCSA – This is called your 91X/MCS90.
4. Then get your BOC-3 Form
- The BOC-3 Form is officially named Designation of Agents for Service of Process.
- This designates authorizes a process agent in each state to receive legal documents on your behalf.
- This is what your completed BOC-3 Form will look like.
- Finding a Process Agent to handle this easy FMCSA requirement for you is affordable and a quick online search away.
What Activates a Motor Carrier Authority?
The 91X/MCS90 insurance proof and BOC-3 form are what activates your MC–Motor Carrier Authority.
You’ll receive your official authority certificate in the mail approximately 2 weeks after your MC number becomes active.
Your Motor Carrier Authority allows you to legally haul freight for hire across state lines in your registered vehicles.
There’s a limited time period to set up your insurance and BOC-3 to activate your authority, so be sure to connect with your Truck Insurance Pro from the very beginning of your venture.
The better you have your ducks in a row, the least money spent on insurance and time wasted not hauling freight.
5. Do All Vehicle Types Require a Unified Carrier Registration–UCR?
Unified Carrier Registration–UCR–This registration is based on how many commercial vehicles you have and supports funding for state highway carrier registration and safety programs.
If you’re hauling freight for hire across state lines, including under 10,000 GVW Cargo Vans or Sprinters, you’ll need to complete your UCR.
It’s simple to do:
See Unified Carrier Do I Need To Register?
Do Commercial Vans Require an IRP or IFTA?
Both IRP and IFTAs are required for over 26,000 GVW Trucks, not under 10,001 GVW Cargo Vans and Sprinters.
If you have a Commercial Van that is over 26,000 GVW then here’s what you need to know about IRP & IFTA:
International Registration Plan–IRP–This agreement between states simplifies the registration process for commercial vehicles nationwide.
International Fuel Tax Agreement–IFTA– is another agreement among the lower 48 states of the U.S. and Canadian provinces designed to simplify fuel taxes for truckers.
The IFTA account is very similar to the IRP form in listing of states you are active.
Where does FMCSA Post Proof of Insurance?
The FMCSA’s SAFER system is where you can find company snapshots for all DOT Authorities across the country.
It’s where you’ll see your proof of minimum insurance—$300,000 for units under 10K GVW—posted under SAFER Licensing and Insurance.
Curious about a competitor?
Just pop their DOT number into the system, and you can uncover all kinds of details about their DOT Authority history:)
Why Do I need $1,000,000 Commercial Van Insurance vs $300,000?
These days, industry standards have shifted—$300,000 for Commercial Vans and $750,000 for Hot Shots and larger Trucks just isn’t the norm anymore.
You can start your commercial van insurance at lower limits to get your authority active, but in many cases you’ll need to bump that liability limit up to $1,000,000 to actually start getting loads.
It’s better to know this ahead of time so you can plan your budget.
The timing of it all is key, and that’s where your Transportation Insurance Expert comes in.
She’ll help you figure out the right limits at the right time.
Why Does FMCSA Post Commercial Van Insurance at $300,000 instead of the $1,000,000 You Bought?
One of the FMCSA’s main jobs is to make sure the public is protected from underinsured commercial truckers at the MINIMUM REQUIRED LIMITS.
The MCS90 is an endorsement on your policy that guarantees protection to the public in the minimum amounts required.
So think:
- Commercial Vans like Cargo Vans & Sprinters = $300,000
- Hot Shots and larger Trucks = $750,000
The 91X certifies that even if for whatever reason your $1,000,000 in insurance was not in place at the time of an accident, MCS90 acts as a bond to protect the public in the lower amounts required.
So what you’re seeing on Safer Licensing and Insurance is your insurance company’s promise to the public with your 91X Certification or Bond, for $300,000.
Why Does The Insurance Company Require 35 Days’ Notice to Cancel?
By law there is a mandatory 35-day waiting period before an insurance company can finalize a cancellation for a commercial auto policy with a filing. This gives the public enough time to be notified and stay informed if your insurance should lapse and the MCS-90 comes into play.
Just to clarify, if you bought $1,000,000 in truck insurance and your policy is active, you’re covered up to that full amount when you file a claim.
Your MCS-90 only comes into play when you don’t have insurance in place.
Here’s more on how your 91X and MCS-90 requirements factor into your commercial truck insurance.
What’s the Very First Step to Starting Your Own Van Motor Carrier Authority?
It all begins with getting an insurance quote to see if this is the right move for you financially. You don’t want to get halfway through the process only to realize the insurance costs more than you’d earn driving a cargo van or sprinter.
Trust us, the $300 for the DOT is the easy part.
Think about the time spent filling out applications, waiting for approval, and dealing with delays—it adds up.
That’s why having the right guidance is key.
At CIS, we’re here to help every step of the way.
Our Transportation Insurance Experts will walk you through the entire process, from finding the most affordable trucking coverage to handling your certificates of liability.
Plus, we’ll help you save money when it’s time to renew.
Check out our CIS 5-Star Reviews to see why so many Commercial Van Guys choose CIS!
Think you might want to become a Commercial Van Motor Carrier?
Start a Commercial Truck Insurance Quote Online with your basic information.
Once you’ve shared what you have so far, we’ll give you a call to chat and take it from there.
Or, if you’d rather talk right away, just give us a call at CIS at (330) 864-1511. We are happy to share free advice.
We’d love to help you get started on your journey as a new Commercial Van Motor Carrier!
We are CIS, and We Make Your Truck Insurance Easy!
