MCSMCS
North American multimodal freight terminal at dawn — MCS DOT compliance partner
DOT Compliance Filing Service · BOC-3 Process Agent

Compliance mastery.
Federal certainty.

MCS is a DOT compliance filing service and BOC-3 process agent — not a third-party reseller — focused on carrier support and regulatory education.

425.610.7226Mon–Fri · 8am–5pm PT

FMCSA moved to Motus

Every carrier has to claim their USDOT record in the new registration system. We walk you through the login and identity steps end to end.

Motus transition help

Registered BOC-3 blanket company

FMCSA Motus Supporting Company and BOC-3 blanket company — process agent designation filed in all 50 states under 49 CFR 366.

Explore BOC-3 filing

UCR 2027 registration is open

Registration opened October 1 and is due December 31. Your fee is set by fleet size, with the plan fee included.

Read the UCR guide
MCS Client Portal

Order filings, track every deadline, and manage your drivers in one place.

Sign inCreate account
File a compliance service
BOC-3UCRForm 2290DQ Files
Free compliance gap analysis

Tell us your authority and fleet size. A specialist maps what you owe and when it is due.

Regulatory Intelligence

Federal filings move whether or not your records do.

We track the register, the deadlines, and the rule changes for you — then file what applies to your authority and fleet.

Compliance resources
Latest News
Hourly
FMCSA Newsroom
2026-10-16FMCSA Updates DataQs Review Process and Emergency Declaration Relief|2026-10-062027 UCR Registration Period Now Open|2026-10-21Request for Comments on Entry-Level Driver Training Certification|2026-08-27Supplemental Rulemaking for Freight Broker Transparency|2026-10-16FMCSA Updates DataQs Review Process and Emergency Declaration Relief|2026-10-062027 UCR Registration Period Now Open|2026-10-21Request for Comments on Entry-Level Driver Training Certification|2026-08-27Supplemental Rulemaking for Freight Broker Transparency|
Verified Authority · Credentials
BOC-3 Process Agent Services
49 CFR 366
FMCSA Clearinghouse II
49 CFR 382.701
Certified D&A Consortium
49 CFR 382
DOT Authority Specialist
49 CFR 390
The Trey Building
3257 16th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
Encrypted Filing Vault
SOC 2 Controls
FMCSA Highlights

FMCSA Highlights

Current federal safety initiatives and outreach campaigns from the FMCSA.

Veteran transitioning to a commercial trucking career
Veteran Career Pipeline

Freedom Haulers

Freedom Haulers connects veterans with rewarding trucking careers, training resources, and pathways to good-paying jobs. Read the news release to learn more and get started today.

Learn more
Professional truck driver standing in front of a tractor-trailer
September 13–19

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Join us in thanking the millions of professional truck drivers who keep America moving — delivering the goods, supplies, and resources our communities and economy depend on every day.

Learn more
Large truck and passenger car sharing the highway safely
Safety Campaign

Our Roads, Our Safety®

Explore new campaign materials, including sharable safety messages, graphics, and resources to help drivers safely share the road with large trucks and buses.

Learn more
DOT Compliance Filings · BOC-3 Process Agent
BOC-3 Process Agent
FMCSA Motus Supporting Company · BOC-3 Blanket Company

A DOT compliance filing service — BOC-3 process agent services delivered by an FMCSA Motus Supporting Company and BOC-3 blanket company.

Multimodal Compliance Services LLC is a DOT compliance filing service providing BOC-3 process agent services as an FMCSA Motus Supporting Company and BOC-3 blanket company — not a third-party reseller. Our role is to provide support, education, and regulatory guidance to the commercial transportation businesses that keep not just North America — but the world — running.

As a BOC-3 process agent service — not a third-party reseller or intermediary — MCS applies no markups to government fees. Where a regulatory filing carries a service charge, that fee is published, fixed, and uniform across every carrier we serve.

Flat-Rate Filings

Every filing is quoted at a published, fixed rate before you commit.

Education First

Carriers leave every engagement better equipped to stay compliant — not just handed a receipt.

No High Pressure

Transparent, flat-rate pricing on filings only. No commissions, no bundles pushed on operators.

FMCSA Process Agent Registry ↗

Every federal requirement, engineered into a single command structure.

Services

We modularize the full weight of DOT compliance into high-impact service blocks — each one a complete operational system, not a checkbox. This is where carriers outmaneuver legacy providers.

Consortium & Testing Management — MCS DOT compliance service
01
DRUG & ALCOHOL

Consortium & Testing Management

MCS administers a fully DOT-compliant drug & alcohol testing program under 49 CFR Part 382 and Part 40 — covering pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing through a SAMHSA-certified laboratory network. We carry the full FMCSA Clearinghouse II burden on the carrier's behalf: consortium registration, pre-employment and annual queries, violation reporting within the three-business-day statutory window, and ongoing query management. The advisory, registration, and query-administration elements are managed by MCS as a DOT compliance filing service; only the laboratory and collection costs set by third parties pass through at published rates.

  • Clearinghouse II registration & query management
  • Nationwide SAMHSA-certified collection network
  • Random pool administration at FMCSA minimum rates
  • Return-to-duty & follow-up program oversight
  • Violation reporting within statutory deadlines
Read moreTalk to an expert
ELD Management & Hours-of-Service — MCS DOT compliance service
02
ELD & TELEMETICS

ELD Management & Hours-of-Service

MCS provides carrier education and compliance oversight for the Electronic Logging Device and Hours-of-Service requirements under 49 CFR Part 395. Our specialists evaluate your operation's exemption status, select a self-certified ELD from the FMCSA registry, and configure it to your specific duty patterns — then continuously monitor recorded data for HOS violations, missing data, and malfunctions that trigger CSA severity points. Because we are not a device reseller, our recommendations are made solely on regulatory fit and operational suitability — never on commission. ELD selection guidance, configuration review, and ongoing HOS compliance education are included in your program; the device itself is sourced directly from the manufacturer at their published price.

  • AOBRD-to-ELD migration planning
  • ELD exemption & statutory assessment
  • HOS violation detection & driver coaching
  • Malfunction & data-diagnostic monitoring
  • Manufacturer-direct device sourcing, no markup
Read moreTalk to an expert
Audit Defense & CSA Score Control — MCS DOT compliance service
03
AUDIT & SAFETY

Audit Defense & CSA Score Control

When the FMCSA initiates a compliance review, intervention, or off-site investigation, MCS provides full representation and defense of the carrier's record. We pre-stage every audit artifact — driver qualification files, maintenance records, ELD data, drug & alcohol program documentation, and insurance filings — against the federal bench, challenge inaccurate violation data through the DataQs system, and manage the carrier's response through to a final safety rating determination. Our role is advisory and representational, provided as part of our federal support function; we do not assess fees for audit preparation or defense. Where a filing requires a government fee, that fee is published and passed through without markup — the carrier never pays more than the regulatory rate.

  • DOT compliance review & intervention defense
  • CSA Behavior Analysis & Safety score remediation
  • DataQs violation challenge & correction
  • Full audit artifact pre-staging
  • On-site and off-site FMCSA representation
Read moreTalk to an expert
Free Compliance Audit

Compliance Gap Analysis

Enter your DOT number. We surface every compliance exposure across your authority in under 24 hours.

SECURE · NO CREDIT CARD · CONFIDENTIAL

02B · Regulatory Protocol Breakdown

How MCS handles every federal requirement — step by step.

Each core service maps directly to the regulation that drives it. Below is the precise protocol we execute on your behalf — the citation, the federal requirement, and the exact handling MCS performs to keep your authority clean.

DRUG & ALCOHOL

Consortium, Testing & Clearinghouse

49 CFR Part 38249 CFR Part 40FMCSA Clearinghouse II
Federal Requirement

CDL drivers operating commercial motor vehicles must participate in a DOT-compliant random testing pool and have pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing administered under certified laboratory procedures. Every positive or refusal must be reported to, and queried through, the FMCSA Clearinghouse.

Our Handling
  1. 01Enroll drivers in our DOT-compliant consortium random pool with statistically valid annual rates (50% drug / 10% alcohol).
  2. 02Coordinate pre-employment and post-accident testing through a nationwide SAMHSA-certified collection network within required timeframes.
  3. 03Register your authority in the FMCSA Clearinghouse and conduct annual limited queries plus pre-employment full queries on every driver.
  4. 04Report violations to the Clearinghouse within the 3-business-day rule and manage return-to-duty plans with a qualified SAP.
  5. 05Maintain your drug & alcohol testing file, random selection records, and MIS reports ready for any DOT audit request.
ELD & HOURS-OF-SERVICE

ELD Compliance & HOS Management

49 CFR Part 39549 CFR Part 39049 CFR Part 393.62
Federal Requirement

Drivers subject to the hours-of-service regulations must record duty status on an FMCSA-registered Electronic Logging Device. Carriers must monitor for 11-hour driving, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, and 60/70-hour limit violations, retain RODS data, and correct malfunctions within 8 days.

Our Handling
  1. 01Procure and provision FMCSA-registered ELDs, handling device setup, user accounts, and AOBRD-to-ELD migration for legacy fleets.
  2. 02Ingest ELD telemetry continuously and flag HOS violations — 11-hour drive, 14-hour window, 30-minute break, and 60/70-hour caps — in real time.
  3. 03Alert driver and dispatcher the moment a violation risk surfaces, before it becomes a roadside CSA hit or a fine.
  4. 04Track ELD malfunctions and annotate data diagnostics; drive repair and data-transfer compliance within the 8-day cure window.
  5. 05Retain 8 days of RODS on the device and 6 months of records server-side, exportable for inspection or audit on demand.
AUDIT & SAFETY

Audit Defense & CSA Score Control

49 CFR Part 38549 CFR Part 38649 CFR Part 387
Federal Requirement

Carriers are assigned CSA Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) scores and may face Intervention tiers, offsite security reviews, or on-site compliance reviews. Audit outcomes can trigger conditional or unsatisfactory safety ratings that restrict operating authority. Financial responsibility (insurance) minimums must be continuously met and filed via Form BMC-91/X.

Our Handling
  1. 01Continuously monitor your CSA BASICs — Unsafe Driving, HOS, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances, Vehicle Maintenance, Crash Indicator — and remediate before thresholds trigger intervention.
  2. 02Challenge and correct inaccurate inspection/violation data via DataQs and prepare a documented response to any Notice of Investigation.
  3. 03Pre-stage all audit artifacts — driver qualification files, maintenance records, D&A files, RODS, accident register, and insurance filings — before a compliance review begins.
  4. 04Provide full on-site and off-site audit representation, interfacing directly with FMCSA investigators and arguing violations down.
  5. 05Track Form BMC-91/X, BMC-34, and state filings to guarantee continuous financial-responsibility coverage and prevent authority revocation.
Citation links to the binding regulation
Requirement is the federal mandate
Our handling is the MCS execution
03 · The MCS Advantage

The measurable difference against legacy providers.

Legacy providers built their models on paperwork volume. MCS was engineered on outcomes — faster onboarding, transparent pricing, and a single command dashboard that makes compliance visible.

Free Compliance Gap Analysis
MCS
Typical Provider—
Legacy Provider—
Real-Time CSA Score Monitoring
MCS
Typical ProviderPartial
Legacy Provider—
Dedicated Compliance Specialist
MCS
Typical Provider—
Legacy ProviderPartial
24/7 Audit Defense Representation
MCS
Typical Provider—
Legacy Provider—
Clearinghouse II Auto-Reporting
MCS
Typical Provider
Legacy ProviderPartial
Transparent Flat-Rate Pricing
MCS
Typical Provider—
Legacy Provider—
Unified Dashboard (All Services)
MCS
Typical ProviderPartial
Legacy ProviderPartial
Onboarding in Under 48 Hours
MCS
Typical Provider—
Legacy Provider—
<0h
Onboarding Time
0%
Audit Pass Rate
0/7
Compliance Monitoring
0
Hidden Fees
04 · Compliance Savings Calculator

Quantify what compliance costs you today.

Enter your fleet size to see the hours and capital MCS recovers every year. Estimates are built from industry baseline admin loads and average DOT violation exposure.

Input Variable
1Owner-OpMid Fleet500+
Model Assumptions
  • • Baseline manual admin: 8 hrs / driver / month
  • • With MCS: 2 hrs / driver / month
  • • Admin labor rate: $30/hr loaded
  • • Fine exposure avoided: 80% of $1,500/driver/yr
Annual Recovery · Fleet of 25
Estimated Total Savings
84,000/yr
34.5 hours recovered every week
Labor Value Recovered
54,000/yr
1,800 admin hrs eliminated
Audit & Fine Avoidance
30,000/yr
Reduced DOT violation exposure

Estimates are illustrative and based on industry averages for manual compliance administration and DOT violation exposure. Actual savings vary by operation, authority, and audit history. Request a free gap analysis for a fleet-specific assessment.

05 · MCS vs. Competitor Cost Analysis

See exactly how much less MCS charges than the big-name providers.

Pick the services your operation needs and set your fleet size. We'll show a transparent, side-by-side breakdown of what MCS charges versus the industry average — and total it up.

Fleet Size
1Owner-OpMid Fleet500+
Select Services to Compare
Comparison · Fleet of 10
You Save With MCS
1,937total
52% less than the industry average
MCS$1,813
Industry Average$3,750
ServiceMCSCompetitorSaved
BOC-3 Process Agent
one-time
$45$175$130
UCR Registration
/yr
$75$150$75
Form 2290 (HVUT)
/yr
$49$125$76
Driver Qualification Files
10 × one-time
$250$850$600
Drug & Alcohol Program
one-time
$337$575$238
FMCSA Clearinghouse
one-time
$498$850$352
IFTA Fuel Tax Filing
/yr
$60$175$115
MC Authority Filing
one-time
$499$850$351

MCS prices reflect current published service rates. Competitor prices represent published industry averages from major DOT compliance providers and may vary. Government filing fees (IRS, UCR brackets) are identical regardless of provider and excluded from this comparison. Request a free gap analysis for a fleet-specific quote.

05 · The Strategic Vantage Perspective

High-level oversight is not a metaphor. It's our address.

MCS operates from The Trey Building in Seattle — the commanding vantage point of the Pacific Northwest's multimodal corridor. We chose the location deliberately. Compliance is a matter of seeing the whole network before a single point fails.

While legacy providers process paperwork from back offices, MCS monitors the North American freight grid from a position of strategic oversight — the same perspective your operation deserves.

Headquarters
The Trey Building
3257 16th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119
47.649° N · 122.379° W
Seattle skyline — MCS headquarters in the Pacific Northwest
ALT · 42F · SEA
06 · Client Intelligence

Carriers who moved to MCS don't go back.

Real operators. Real audits. Real outcomes. These are the compliance leaders who chose MCS over legacy providers — and the results they've delivered since.

300+
Authorities Protected
0
Violations Across Audits
<48h
Avg. Onboarding
4.9
Client Satisfaction
"MCS caught three Clearinghouse reporting gaps we didn't even know we had. Their command dashboard gives me visibility I never got from our previous provider — and onboarding took less than two days."
Daniela Reyes, Director of Compliance at Cascade Freight Lines
Daniela Reyes
Director of Compliance · Cascade Freight Lines
42 power units
"MCS caught three Clearinghouse reporting gaps we didn't even know we had. Their command dashboard gives me visibility I never got from our previous provider — and onboarding took less than two days."
Daniela Reyes, Director of Compliance at Cascade Freight Lines
Daniela Reyes
Director of Compliance · Cascade Freight Lines
42 power units
"We switched from a legacy provider after years of opaque invoicing. The flat-rate pricing alone paid for itself, but the dedicated specialist is what keeps us. One call, one person who actually knows our authority."
Marcus Whitfield, Owner & President at Whitfield Express LLC
Marcus Whitfield
Owner & President · Whitfield Express LLC
Owner-operator
"Audit defense is where MCS earns its keep. We faced a Tier I compliance review last quarter — they handled documentation, representation, the whole engagement. Zero violations assessed."
Priya Nandakumar, VP of Safety at Summit Ridge Logistics
Priya Nandakumar
VP of Safety · Summit Ridge Logistics
118 power units
"The gap analysis alone was worth the call. They surfaced an ELD exemption we were misapplying that would have flagged us on the next inspection. Professional, fast, and genuinely on our side."
Trevor Halverson, Fleet Manager at Halverson & Sons Trucking
Trevor Halverson
Fleet Manager · Halverson & Sons Trucking
24 power units
"Our MCS-150 was six weeks overdue when we called. They filed it the same afternoon and backtracked our renewal calendar so we never miss another deadline. That kind of urgency is rare in this industry."
Sandra Delgado, Safety Director at Pacific Crest Transport
Sandra Delgado
Safety Director · Pacific Crest Transport
67 power units
"Starting out, compliance felt like a wall I couldn't get over. MCS walked me through authority, BOC-3, drug testing — everything. Eight trucks in and I've never had a single inspection finding."
James Okonkwo, Founder at Okonkwo Hauling Co.
James Okonkwo
Founder · Okonkwo Hauling Co.
8 power units
"IFTA quarterlies used to eat two full days of my week. MCS automated the whole cycle and their dashboard flags fuel-report anomalies before they become audit liabilities. I got my time back."
Linda Kowalski, Operations Manager at Great Plains Express
Linda Kowalski
Operations Manager · Great Plains Express
33 power units
"Managing compliance across 215 units and three states used to mean three providers. MCS consolidated everything under one roof with a single point of contact. The reporting alone justifies the switch."
Devin Marsh, Compliance Officer at Marsh Multimodal
Devin Marsh
Compliance Officer · Marsh Multimodal
215 power units
Trusted by carriers across North America
CASCADE FREIGHTSUMMIT RIDGEPACIFIC CRESTGREAT PLAINSMARSH MULTIMODALWHITFIELD EX
07 · Field Results

Compliance outcomes, not promises.

Four carriers. Four points of failure. The measurable results MCS delivered — documented end to end, from the first call to the clean audit.

01Case Study

Summit Ridge Logistics

118 power units · Pacific Northwest · Interstate
0
Violations Assessed

Pulled back from a Tier I compliance review to a clean DOT audit in 14 days.

  • Rebuilt 96 driver qualification files to 49 CFR 391
  • Enrolled every CDL driver in a certified consortium
  • Ran full pre-employment Clearinghouse queries
  • Retained a flagship shipper contract at risk
02Case Study

Cascade Freight Lines

42 power units · I-5 Corridor · Regional
3
Reporting Gaps Cured

Reconciled a roster inherited with missed Clearinghouse returns before re-inspection.

  • Filed outstanding negative return-to-duty updates
  • Established recurring annual limited-query schedule
  • Driver consent tracking + deadline reminders
  • Cycle now runs with zero manual oversight
03Case Study

Halverson & Sons Trucking

24 power units · Inland Northwest · Intrastate
48h
To Full Compliance

Family fleet with no safety staff — from intake to audit-ready in under two days.

  • Stood up complete DQ files from scratch
  • Corrected misapplied ELD exemption classification
  • Launched managed D&A program through consortium
  • Cleared next level-1 roadside inspection
04Case Study

Whitfield Express LLC

Owner-Operator · New Authority Launch
5
Filings in One Sprint

First-time authority stood up in days to hit a contracted revenue start date.

  • Lifetime BOC-3 process agent filing
  • Form 2290 e-filed with stamped Schedule 1
  • UCR registration coordinated with base state
  • Apportioned plate + cab card arranged
100%
Audit Pass Rate
< 48h
Avg. Remediation Kickoff
230+
Filings Managed
0
Conditional Ratings

Facing an audit, a missed filing, or a new authority launch? MCS takes the whole engagement — documentation, representation, and the deadline.

04A · Compliance Product Catalog

Every federal requirement, available à la carte — priced and ready to deploy.

From permits and registrations to driver qualification files and drug testing — modular products that get you DOT compliant and on the road as quickly as possible. Subscribe to a tier for the full program, or purchase exactly what your authority needs today.

Featured Services
06 Featured
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 391

Driver Qualification (DQ) File Management

Build and maintain complete driver qualification files per 49 CFR 391 — application, MVR, medical examiner’s certificate, road test, and annual review.

  • DQ file assembled per CFR 391.21–.23
  • MVR ordering & annual review
  • Medical examiner certificate tracking
  • Road test certification & retention
3–5 business days
$239one-time
07 Featured
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 382

Drug & Alcohol Testing Compliance Program

Full DOT-compliant testing program — pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion — administered through a certified consortium.

  • Certified consortium enrollment
  • Pre-employment, random, post-accident testing
  • Clearinghouse query coordination
  • MIS annual report support
Onboarding in 24h
$295one-time
08 Featured
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 382.701

FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration Assistance

Register your authority in the FMCSA Clearinghouse and run pre-employment and annual queries on every CDL driver.

  • Clearinghouse registration setup
  • Pre-employment queries (full & limited)
  • Annual query program management
  • Driver consent tracking
1–2 business days
$419one-time
All Services
01
AUTHORITY/ 49 CFR 390

Free DOT Number Filing

Fast US DOT number registration assistance to get your carrier authority established.

  • New or reinstated USDOT number
  • MCS-150 biennial update setup
  • Cargo classification & operation type
24–48 hours
$50one-time
02
AUTHORITY/ 49 CFR 366

BOC-3 Filing Service

Lifetime FMCSA Process Agent Coverage

MCS provides BOC-3 process agent services as an FMCSA Motus Supporting Company and BOC-3 blanket company — we designate a process agent in every state for legal service of process with a one-time lifetime BOC-3 filing that satisfies 49 CFR 366.

  • Blanket process agent in all 50 states
  • One-time lifetime filing — no renewals
  • Filed electronically with FMCSA
  • Instant filing confirmation delivered
Same day
$150one-time
03
STATE AUTHORITY/ CA CVC §34620

California Motor Carrier Permit (CA/MCP)

Obtain the California Motor Carrier Permit required to operate commercial vehicles intrastate within California.

  • CA/MCP application preparation
  • Proof of insurance filings coordinated
  • CA EPA motor carrier ID setup
7–10 business days
$570one-time
04
STATE AUTHORITY/ GA DDS Rule 391-2-2

Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC)

Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier registration to operate commercial vehicles within state lines.

  • GIMC registration filing
  • Insurance form coordination
  • UCR cross-registration check
5–7 business days
$425one-time
05
STATE AUTHORITY/ KY KRS 138.810

Kentucky Weight & Distance Tax Permit (KYU)

Kentucky Weight & Distance Tax Permit for carriers operating qualified vehicles in Kentucky.

  • KYU number application
  • Tax account setup with KYTC
  • Quarterly mileage reporting guidance
2–3 business days
$375one-time
06
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 391

Driver Qualification (DQ) File Management

Build and maintain complete driver qualification files per 49 CFR 391 — application, MVR, medical examiner’s certificate, road test, and annual review.

  • DQ file assembled per CFR 391.21–.23
  • MVR ordering & annual review
  • Medical examiner certificate tracking
  • Road test certification & retention
3–5 business days
$239one-time
07
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 382

Drug & Alcohol Testing Compliance Program

Full DOT-compliant testing program — pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion — administered through a certified consortium.

  • Certified consortium enrollment
  • Pre-employment, random, post-accident testing
  • Clearinghouse query coordination
  • MIS annual report support
Onboarding in 24h
$295one-time
08
DRIVER COMPLIANCE/ 49 CFR 382.701

FMCSA Clearinghouse Registration Assistance

Register your authority in the FMCSA Clearinghouse and run pre-employment and annual queries on every CDL driver.

  • Clearinghouse registration setup
  • Pre-employment queries (full & limited)
  • Annual query program management
  • Driver consent tracking
1–2 business days
$419one-time
09
TAX & FUEL/ 26 USC 4481

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) – Form 2290

IRS e-file with stamped Schedule 1

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (Form 2290) e-file for vehicles 55,000 lbs and over — computed, filed, and Schedule 1 stamped.

  • Form 2290 e-file with IRS
  • Tax computation by vehicle weight
  • Stamped Schedule 1 delivered
  • Suspension & credit claims handled
Same day (e-file)
$499one-time
10
TAX & FUEL/ 49 USC 11506 / 31104

IFTA & IRP Initial Registration

Apportioned Plates Registration

Initial International Fuel Tax Agreement and International Registration Plan registration with apportioned plates for interstate operations.

  • IFTA account & decals application
  • IRP apportioned plate registration
  • Base state selection guidance
  • Cab card & permit coordination
10–14 business days
$350one-time
11
TAX & FUEL/ 49 USC 31104

IFTA & IRP Quarterly Filing Service

Quarterly IFTA tax return preparation and filing — fuel mileage consolidated, calculated, and submitted on time.

  • Quarterly IFTA return preparation
  • Fuel & mileage consolidation
  • IRP mileage reporting support
  • Filing deadline reminders
Per quarter
$60one-time

Not sure where to start? Give us a call and we’ll map the right products to your authority.

425.610.7226
Regulatory Alert · May 14 2026

FMCSA moved to Motus. We make sure your authority survives the move.

FMCSA retired its legacy registration systems and moved every carrier, broker, and freight forwarder into Motus. Each one has to claim their record in the new system. MCS walks you through it end to end.

One front door

Motus replaced the Unified Registration System and the old FMCSA Portal. USDOT numbers, operating authority, biennial updates, and record changes all live in one system now.

Every identity verified

Every account ties to a verified person through Login.gov and a government-issued ID check. All ~800,000 existing registrants verify the first time they access the system.

New numbers work differently

Newly issued USDOT and docket numbers are randomized and carry suffixes showing the registration type. Your existing numbers do not change and do not get suffixes.

What didn't change
BOC-3 process agent requirement $300 authority fee MC, FF & MX prefixes FMCSA is still the agency in charge
How to claim your USDOT record
01

Find your company-official email

Motus expects the exact email your company official had on file in the old FMCSA Portal. Lost access to it? We help recover or re-establish it first — this trips up more carriers than anything else.

02

Sign in with Login.gov

Create or sign in to a Login.gov account using that same email. You may already have one from another federal agency.

03

Complete identity verification

Verify who you are with a government-issued ID and personal details. Creating the Login.gov account is not enough — the verification step must finish before Motus links you to your record.

04

Claim your record and check it

Once Motus matches your identity to your USDOT number, claim the record. Then audit it: authority status, insurance on file, company information — confirmed against your own filing history.

Where MCS steps in
  • Resolve the company-official email mismatch that blocks most logins
  • Walk you through Login.gov creation and the identity-verification step
  • Claim your USDOT record and verify authority, insurance, and company data display
  • File your MCS-150 biennial update once access is restored
  • Track every deadline that now lives in Motus, with alerts at 60, 30, and 7 days
  • Flag if what Motus shows is a system cutover error, not a lapse on your record
425.610.7226

The rollout has been rough

FMCSA is still working through cutover problems — authority displaying wrong, insurance filings running behind, and login failures taking multiple attempts. If your authority shows wrong in Motus, it is likely the system, not your record. We verify what Motus displays against your own filing history before anything else.

Motus quick answers
What is FMCSA's Motus system?+

Motus is FMCSA's registration system, launched May 14, 2026. It replaced the Unified Registration System and the registration functions of the legacy FMCSA Portal, putting USDOT and operating-authority registration in one place with identity verification through Login.gov.

Do I have to claim my USDOT number in Motus?+

Yes. If you had a USDOT number before May 14, 2026, you claim your record by signing in with the Login.gov account tied to the email your company official had on file, then completing identity verification. Until you do, you cannot update your record or file through the system.

Will my USDOT or MC number change under Motus?+

No. Existing numbers stay exactly as they are. Motus randomizes newly issued numbers and adds suffixes to new registrations as a fraud-prevention measure, but numbers already in use are not reassigned.

What if I missed my biennial update during the transition?+

FMCSA temporarily paused USDOT deactivations for biennial updates missed since June 1, 2026 while it works through rollout issues. The requirement itself has not gone away — file your update once you have access, and do not treat the pause as permanent.

Does MCS file in Motus for me?+

Motus filings happen under your own verified identity, so we cannot file as you. What we do is resolve the login blockers, walk you through every step in plain language, verify your record once claimed, file your biennial update when access is restored, and track every deadline that now lives in Motus.

04B · FMCSA Compliance Calculator

Calculate every filing your authority needs — before you operate.

Answer a few questions about your operation. MCS maps your federal requirements in real time and estimates the true cost of getting — and staying — compliant.

Operation Profile
drivers
only CDL need DQ & drug testing
Type of commerce
Vehicle weight (GVWR/GCWR)
Carrier type
Special conditions
Required Filings
10 items
US DOT Number Registration

Required to operate commercial vehicles in interstate or for-hire commerce.

Free
one-time
MCS-150 Biennial Update

Biennial update filed with FMCSA to keep your USDOT number active — required every two years.

$349
one-time
BOC-3 Process Agent Filing

Interstate for-hire carriers must designate a process agent in every state.

$150
one-time
MC Number / Operating Authority

For-hire interstate carriers must register operating authority with FMCSA.

$525
one-time
UCR Registration

Interstate carriers operating 10,001+ lbs pay annual UCR based on fleet size.

$258
/yr
Form 2290 (HVUT)

Vehicles 55,000+ lbs require the annual Heavy Vehicle Use Tax with a stamped Schedule 1.

$1,049
/yr
Driver Qualification Files

Each CDL driver requires a complete DQ file (application, MVR, medical, road test).

$478
one-time
Drug & Alcohol Testing Program

CDL drivers require a DOT-compliant testing program (pre-employment, random, post-accident).

$295
one-time
FMCSA Clearinghouse Queries

Pre-employment and annual Clearinghouse queries required for every CDL driver.

$419
one-time
IFTA Fuel Tax Filing

Interstate carriers with vehicles 26,001+ lbs file quarterly IFTA returns.

$60
/yr
MCS Service Fees
$2,964
preparation & filing
Government Fees
$619
UCR · IRS · SCAC
Year-One Total
$3,583
estimated

Estimates are generated from FMCSA regulations and current MCS service pricing. Government fees (UCR brackets, IRS HVUT, SCAC) are illustrative and set by the issuing agency. Request a free gap analysis for a binding, fleet-specific quote.

Interactive · Compliance Assessment

Find your compliance program in under a minute.

Answer four questions about your operation. We match you to the MCS service tier that fits your fleet size, authority status, and freight profile — with no obligation.

Step 1 of 40% complete

How many power units are in your fleet?

04B · Service Packages

Every tier. Full compliance. Zero ambiguity.

Transparent, all-inclusive pricing engineered to scale with your authority. No hidden fees, no à la carte surprises — pick the command level that matches your fleet.

Independent Authority
Operator
Owner-operators & single-truck carriers
$149/mo
  • Single-driver compliance
  • Drug & Alcohol consortium
  • ELD compliance monitoring
  • Clearinghouse management
  • Email support
Best Value
Most Popular
Fleet Command
Growing carriers 2–25 trucks
$399/mo
  • Up to 25 drivers
  • Everything in Operator
  • Real-time CSA monitoring
  • Dedicated specialist
  • Audit defense prep
  • 24/7 priority support
Multi-Authority
Enterprise
Large fleets & multi-state ops
Custom
  • Unlimited drivers
  • Everything in Fleet Command
  • Multi-authority management
  • Full audit representation
  • Custom integrations
  • Dedicated account team

All packages include FMCSA-aligned process, encrypted data handling, and a free compliance gap analysis.

04C · The Tier Differential

Every MCS tier out-classes the traditional compliance model.

Legacy providers assemble compliance à la carte and bill you for the gaps. MCS ships every tier as a complete, transparent program — so the smarter choice is the same at every level.

Dedicated Compliance Specialist
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersRarely included
Drug & Alcohol Consortium
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersÀ la carte
Clearinghouse Management
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersPartial
ELD & HOS Monitoring
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersÀ la carte
Real-Time CSA Score Monitoring
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersRare
Audit Defense
OperatorPrep
Fleet CommandPrep
EnterpriseFull representation
Traditional ProvidersCostly add-on
Onboarding Speed
Operator<48h
Fleet Command<48h
Enterprise<48h
Traditional ProvidersWeeks
Pricing Model
OperatorFlat-rate
Fleet CommandFlat-rate
EnterpriseFlat-rate
Traditional ProvidersVariable
Support Availability
OperatorEmail
Fleet Command24/7 Priority
EnterpriseDedicated team
Traditional ProvidersBusiness hours
Multi-Authority Management
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional ProvidersRare
Transparent, No Hidden Fees
Operator
Fleet Command
Enterprise
Traditional Providers
The Bottom Line

With MCS you pay one transparent rate and get a complete program. With traditional providers you assemble the same coverage piece by piece — at a higher total cost, with less visibility, and slower onboarding.

07 · Rapid Onboarding Portal

Activate your compliance manifest in three steps.

Frictionless conversion — from first contact to dashboard access in under 48 hours. No paperwork delays, no sales calls required to begin.

1
Identity
Fleet & DOT data
2
Selection
Service tier
3
Activation
Secure confirmation
08 · Compliance FAQ

Answers to the hurdles carriers ask us about most.

Confidence starts with clarity. These are the questions operators raise before they switch to MCS — answered straight, with the federal basis behind each one.

Still have questions?
425.610.7226

Federal compliance specialists — mandatory filings, handled.