Who Needs a Filing?
Many types of businesses may require a filing. Truckers operating with their own authority usually need some type of filing. Other businesses, such as towing services and driving schools, also commonly require a filing. Plus, sometimes oversized or overweight vehicles, trailers and loads may require a filing. Here's a quick guide for the types of filings businesses might need.
Federal Truck Filings
Federal filings are required for all businesses that engage in:
- Interstate trucking
- Hauling hazardous cargo (placard)*
- For-hire trucking (common, contract)
- For-hire passenger transportation*
You are required to have a federal filing if you are a motor carrier doing long haul trucking or regional trucking or if you are a specialist. For-hire truckers hauling nonexempt commodities across state lines must also carry a federal filing.
The filings required for this type of business are the BMC-34 Filing and the BMC-32 form.
To check if you have FMCSA Motor Carrier authority, visit the FMCSA Web site.
Learn more about federal filings and why businesses need them.
State Truck Filings
Businesses that engage in purely intrastate hauling and never cross state lines are not required to carry a federal filing. However, if you haul exempt commodities, you are required to submit a state filing unless you are in these states:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Vermont
- Wyoming
State filings for intrastate exempt commodity haulers are the Form E Filing, the Form F Filing, and the Form H Filing.
Learn more about different state filings.
Unregulated Trucking Sectors
The following are considered unregulated trucking sectors, which require no federal or state registration:
- Private carriers hauling their own goods, such as manufacturers, farming and retail operations
- Owner operators hauling under someone else's authority, such as a truck owner leased on to a motor carrier
Other Filings and Certificates of Insurance (COI)
Other reasons besides trucking authority might require a business to submit proof of insurance. For example, drivers with probationary licenses or owners of oversized vehicles may need a nontrucking filing or a certificate of insurance (COI).
To verify if you need proof of insurance, check the list below for your business type or vehicle class and state of operation.
| Who |
States |
Filing or Certificate of Insurance |
| Commercial balloon excursions |
CA |
PL914 Filing |
| Commercial river rafting excursions |
CA |
PL914 Filing |
| Commercial skiing (class C) excursions |
CA |
PL914 Filing |
| Courtesy transportation (not for-hire) |
CT |
MC1641 Filing |
| |
CA |
TL1000 Filing |
| Driving schools |
CA |
California Driving School Certificate |
| |
VT |
TA-VN-31 Driver Training COI |
| For-hire transport |
CA |
MCP-65 Filing |
| Leasing or renting a vehicle |
CT |
R1325C – IRB3613C Filing |
| Movers of household goods |
CA |
TL676 Filing |
| Oversized vehicles, trailers or loads |
OH |
OS-32 Filing |
| |
AL, AR, LA, MS, PA |
Oversized/Overweight Vehicles COI |
| Oversized or Overweight vehicles, trailers and/or loads |
NY |
Perm 17 |
| Overweight vehicle |
CA |
MCP-65 Filing |
| |
FL |
Florida Department of Motor Vehicles COI |
| Reinstate a suspended license |
All |
SR-22 Filing |
| |
IN |
SR50 Filing |
| Towing businesses |
MT |
Form MV5 COI |
| |
CO |
Form 12 |
| |
CO |
Form 14 |
| |
TX |
Form T |
| |
OK |
WA Form |
| Transporting goods or people across state lines |
All |
BMC-91X Filing |
| |
All |
Form MCS-90 |
Learn more about the different nontruck filings.
*A Progressive Commercial policy currently does not insure businesses that engage in the for-hire transportation of hazardous cargo or of passengers. See what other businesses Progressive does not insure currently.