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Truckers must comply with unified registration system

Truckers Must Comply with URS

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a “motor carrier” as any business that uses a unit or a combination of units with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 10,001 pounds or larger and uses the unit in interstate commerce. However, most insurance agents and carriers probably think of a motor carrier as a for-hire operator of a big 18-wheeler. Under the FMCSA definition any contractor with a Ford F-350 pickup who stores materials in their truck bed, has their name on the side of the truck and crosses state lines is considered a motor carrier.

However, the new Unified Registration System (URS) that became effective in October of this year, mandates stricter requirements for “motor carriers.”

How does this effect Commercial Truck Drivers?

1) All motor carriers must obtain an identification number from the FMCSA (a DOT Number)
2) The business must display their number on the side of their vehicle. (law enforcement can stop, fine and can even restrict the carrier’s operations until the number is obtained)
3) To meet the registration requirement, motor carriers must visit the FMCSA online and use the URS/MCSA-1 portal. All businesses with units having a Gross Vehicle Weight of 10,001 and crossing state lines must register, obtain a DOT number, pay a fee to the Unified Carrier Registration and operate within all FMCSA rules and regulations.

Required information includes:
• Name
• Physical address
• Mailing address
• Contact information
• Number of units in operation
• Number of drivers in operation
• Type of cargo
• Nature of cargo
• If the cargo is hazardous, classification of the hazardous commodity with increased financial responsibility requirements

The FMCSA provides this information to the public through it’s Snapshot link. The Snapshot link also shows information collected by law enforcement officers when doing on-road inspections or crash investigations that the business has been involved in over the past two years.

Lastly, a safety rating shows the date of a motor carrier’s on-site inspection, as well as its rating-Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory or No Rating-and any other on-site inspection results that didn’t result in a rating.

For more information on issues affecting the Trucking Industry, contact Certified Transport Risk Specialist, Tim Hall

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