BOC-3 (process agent designation)
Glossary · Last reviewed: November 1, 2026 · By VetCarrier
A BOC-3 is the form on which a motor carrier or broker designates its process agents, the people in each state who can accept court papers served on the company. Federal rules call it Form BOC-3, Designation of Agent for Service of Process, and allow only one current form on file.
Who must file and for which states
A motor carrier designates an agent for every state it is authorized to operate in and every state it crosses on the way. A broker designates an agent for each state where it has an office or writes contracts. Each agent must live in, or keep an office in, the state it is named for.
Many companies use a blanket designation instead of naming people one by one: an association or corporation files a list of agents for every state, and the carrier designates “those persons named in the list” on file with FMCSA. A copy of the form stays at the company’s principal place of business. A designation can be cancelled or changed only by filing a new one.
Why it matters to a broker
For a broker the point is practical: the BOC-3 names someone in your state who can receive court papers for the carrier if a claim ends up in court. In April 2026 FMCSA said changes to the BOC-3 filing process were not part of Motus’s Phase II release.
What it looks like in a carrier check
The FMCSA data service that VetCarrier reads does not return the BOC-3 or the agents’ names, so the check does not show them. What it does show is whether the authority is active and the address FMCSA lists. If your carrier packet asks for proof of the BOC-3 filing, ask the carrier for it and compare the company name with the check.
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Criminals copy real carrier records, so a clean check does not prove the caller is that carrier: always confirm their phone, email and address another way. A VetCarrier check is not a guarantee that a carrier is safe or legitimate.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice.