New Guidance Helps Interstate Carriers That Suspend Operations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published a new document to respond to questions regarding a carrier’s ability to voluntarily revoke an operating authority registration. FMCSA’s responses are intended to help for-hire carriers that have temporarily suspended operations and are no longer able to file proof of financial responsibility or insurance.

With freight in many sectors drying up to near nothing and spot rates plummeting due to efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, some motor carriers have decided to temporarily park their trucks and await better days. However, the document explains that for-hire carriers that have temporarily suspended operations are still required to file proof of financial responsibility or insurance – unless the company requests a voluntary revocation of operating authority registration. Insurance filings are only required to maintain active operating authority.

This FMCSA FAQ provides a step-by-step list of how voluntarily revoke an operating authority registration, as well as how to restore it later.

It also explains that once you’ve revoked that authority, you can no longer operate in interstate commerce. You would be limited to intrastate operations, operations within a commercial zone, or other operations specifically exempted under 49 U.S.C. § 13506.

Taking this action does not place your company on a “special compliance monitoring list,” FMCSA says, noting that voluntary revocations are common, especially for seasonal operators.

You'll find the document at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/voluntary-revocation-operating-authority-registration-qa.