BOC-3 Process Agent For Motor Carriers
When You Want More
What sets Northwest Registered Agent apart from other process agents? Simple: at Northwest, we already manage local registered offices in every U.S. state as part of our registered agent and incorporation service. Most process agents don’t operate their own offices. They farm out their services to third-parties and pay them a small fee to accept service of process and legal documents. Only Northwest Registered Agent provides the kind of quality infrastructure and legitimate registered offices that guarantee your service of process is always accepted and delivered to you in a timely manner.
$125 Total
Hire Northwest Registered Agent as your process agent and get:
- Process Agent Service in Every State
- $125 Per Year Total
- No Per-State Charges
- No Hidden Fees
Same-Day Uploads
No other process agent has local offices in all 50 states:
- Docs Uploaded Same-Day
- Immediate Notification
- Access Your Docs Anytime, Anywhere
- Local Scans in Every State
BOC-3 Process Agent Service
Designate a process agent or blanket agent for your motor carrier business today!
Why Hire Northwest Registered Agent As Your BOC-3 Process Agent?
Local Registered Offices in All 50 States
We don’t outsource the scanning, uploading, and delivery of your service of process and legal correspondence to third-parties. Unlike the competition, we manage our own offices in every state, which allows us to oversee quality control at every stage of the process.
Sophisticated Digital Client Network
Over the years, we have built an in-house digital client system that has revolutionized the industry. Your documents are scanned locally and uploaded to your account, and you are instantly notified. You can see your important legal documents from anywhere at anytime. As a motor carrier, you spend a lot of time on the road, which means you should be able to receive notifications and see your documents while you are traveling. No other process agent provides the same level of secure, sophisticated digital networking.
You Are Our First Priority
Most process agents are actually law firms, accounting agencies, or businesses that offer process agent services only as an add-on product. This means that motor carriers are not their primary focus. This is one of the reasons we get so many clients who have had lousy experiences with their previous agents. At Northwest, registered agent or process agent services are our Number One Priority. We are process agents, first and foremost, which means that your business is never just an “add-on” to our bottom line.
We’ll File Your BOC-3 Today!
Step 1: Hire Northwest Registered Agent
We will act as your company’s registered agent in Washington State and your blanket agent in all 50 states. You can sign up for registered agent service and add BOC-3 Blanket Process Agent under Additional Services.
Step 2: We Process Online
Once you’ve signed up, we will file your BOC-3 (Designation of Process Agents) on your behalf with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). We do this immediately online.
Step 3: BOC-3 Complete
We will provide you with a copy of your BOC-3 Form to keep for your own records.
GET STARTED
BOC-3 FAQ
What is the BOC-3 Form?
The Form BOC-3 (Designation of Agents for Service of Process) is the official document filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to appoint your process agent. The Form BOC-3 must be filed in accordance with 49 CFR 366.
The Form BOC-3 can indicate specific states for which your motor carrier business needs process agent service, or it can indicate blanket agent coverage for all states in America.
When you hire Northwest Registered Agent, we will provide process agent coverage for all 50 states. We will also file your Form BOC-3 for you with the FMCSA. If you are a motor carrier, you cannot file the form yourself.
What is the Difference Between a Blanket Agent and a Process Agent?
The service provided by a blanket agent and a process agent are the same. Both accept service of process and legal correspondence on behalf of motor carriers. The difference is that a blanket agent provides coverage in all 50 states.
A blanket agent is always a process agent, but not all process agents are blanket agents. Some process agents may operate in only a single state or in only a few states. Blanket agents, on the other hand, always operate in every state. So, you can call us blanket agents or process agents.
Why Do I Need a Process Agent?
Motor carriers that engage in interstate commerce are required to file a Form BOC-3 and appoint a process agent for every state in which their cargo travels. This is important to remember, because it means that even if your own motor vehicles do not travel in, say, Kentucky, you will need process agent coverage if your cargo does cross through Kentucky.
For this reason, most motor carriers choose to appoint a blanket agent. This offers the most comprehensive coverage, guaranteeing that no matter where their cargo originates or forwards to, they have the proper statutory coverage.
Are There Penalties for Not Having a Process Agent?
You cannot get your Operating Authority without filing a BOC-3 Form and designating a process agent or blanket agent. It is against federal law to operate a motor carrier business across state lines without the proper Operating Authority.
What is a Process Agent?
When filing for your motor carrier Operating Authority, you must appoint a process agent for every state through which you and your cargo travels. A process agent accepts service of process (legal notification of a lawsuit against your business) on behalf of your company and forwards those legal documents to you in a timely manner to ensure that you are aware of any legal action taken against your business.
It’s critical to understand what can happen if you hire the wrong process or blanket agent. If you are not notified properly by your agent, then the lawsuit will move forward without your defense. A default judgment will be issued against your company, and you will automatically lose because you did not show up to defend yourself.
Choosing a reliable and professional process agent is one of the most important things you can do when starting your motor carrier business. The wrong agent can mean stiff fines, lost judgments, and possibly the revoking of your Operating Authority and business license.