Compliance Center
Plain-language overviews of US and Canadian trucking compliance — with review dates and links to the official sources.
US federal
USDOT Number
Companies that operate commercial vehicles hauling cargo or passengers in interstate commerce must register with FMCSA and have a USDOT num…
Operating Authority (MC Number)
For-hire carriers moving regulated freight across state lines, brokers and freight forwarders need operating authority (MC/FF/MX docket) in…
BOC-3 Process Agent Designation
The BOC-3 designates a process agent in each state where the company operates, to accept legal documents on its behalf.
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
UCR is an annual registration and fee for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies.
MCS-150 Biennial Update
Every entity under FMCSA jurisdiction must update its registration (MCS-150) every two years, even when nothing has changed; failure deacti…
Insurance & Financial Responsibility
For-hire interstate carriers must file proof of minimum public liability insurance; brokers must maintain financial security.
CSA and the BASICs
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) uses inspection and crash data organised into Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories…
Driver Qualification Files
Motor carriers must keep a qualification file for each CMV driver they employ.
Drug & Alcohol Testing and the Clearinghouse
CDL drivers are subject to pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, return-to-duty and follow-up testing; employers que…
Vehicle Inspection, Repair & Maintenance
Carriers must systematically inspect, repair and maintain vehicles and keep records, including annual inspections and driver vehicle inspec…
Roadside Inspections & Out-of-Service
Roadside inspections follow North American Standard levels; serious violations can place a driver or vehicle out of service.
Accident Register & Crash Reporting
Carriers must keep an accident register of DOT-recordable crashes for 3 years after each accident.
US Hours of Service (Property Carriers)
Property-carrying drivers have limits on driving time, the on-duty window, required breaks and weekly cycles.
Electronic Logging Devices (US)
Most drivers required to keep records of duty status must use a registered ELD.
Hazardous Materials Basics
Hazardous materials transport requires proper classification, packaging, placarding, shipping papers, training and, for some materials, a s…
Canada federal
National Safety Code (Canada)
The National Safety Code sets minimum safety standards for commercial vehicles; provinces and territories administer and enforce them.
Canadian Hours of Service
Federal hours-of-service regulations apply to commercial vehicle drivers of extra-provincial carriers.
Electronic Logging Devices (Canada)
Federally regulated carriers must use ELDs certified by an accredited third-party body.
Canada provincial
Provincial Carrier Registration (e.g., Ontario CVOR)
Provinces register carriers and keep their safety records — for example Ontario's CVOR, Quebec's RPEVL register (Commission des transports…
Border / customs
CBSA & CARM
CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management) is CBSA's system for commercial import accounting, payments and importer registration.
ACI eManifest (into Canada)
Highway carriers must transmit cargo and conveyance information electronically to CBSA before arriving at the border.
ACE e-Manifest & PAPS (into the US)
Trucks entering the US must submit an electronic manifest through ACE before arrival; PAPS links the shipment to the customs entry.
FAST, C-TPAT and PIP
Trusted-trader programs speed up border processing for low-risk, pre-approved carriers, importers and drivers.
Cabotage
Foreign drivers and equipment generally may not move domestic point-to-point loads inside the other country.
- ACI eManifest for highway carriersCanada Border Services AgencyAwaiting academy review Last reviewed: not yet reviewed
- US hours-of-service revisions (2020 final rule)FMCSAAwaiting academy review Last reviewed: not yet reviewed
- Drug & Alcohol ClearinghouseFMCSAAwaiting academy review Last reviewed: not yet reviewed
- Broker & freight forwarder financial responsibilityFMCSAAwaiting academy review Last reviewed: not yet reviewed
- FMCSA registration modernisation / MC number changesFMCSAAwaiting academy review Last reviewed: not yet reviewed