Whether you’re starting a new trucking company or looking to take the next step in your growing business, forming a Limited Liability Company is a popular option that helps reduce your personal liability.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number the IRS assigns to businesses for tax filing and reporting. EINs are required to file taxes for businesses registered with the IRS.
TCS will get you setup with an EIN as part of our Managed Services.
A USDOT number is a unique identifier assigned to you by the Department of Transportation (DOT). This federally mandated number is used by the DOT/FMCSA, as well as insurance companies and freight brokers, to look up your company’s information and determine whether you’re in compliance.
Beyond the federal USDOT number requirements, some states have additional or different requirements. The experts at Transportation Compliance Service can help determine what’s right for your situation.
Carriers that transport freight across state lines for hire need a Motor Carrier Interstate Operating Authority which is represented by a Motor Carrier (MC) number. In order to activate your MC number, and be authorized to cross state lines, a BOC-3 form must be filed with the FMCSA. A BOC-3 designates a processing agent to serve as a legal presence in any state where you do business.
The process of activating your MC number can take 20-24 days, so it is important to work with a TCS specialist to ensure the process is completed correctly.
Contact us if you need to haul freight across state lines.
As a trucking company, you and your drivers are always on the move. Keeping your organization’s policy and procedure manual up-to-date can be a challenge. Yet, any changes in your operations, fleet, or changes to permitting and state and federal regulations will necessitate immediate updates that will need to be communicated throughout your organization.
Look to TCS to help keep your drivers on the road with up-to-date policy and procedure manuals.
IFTA, or the International Fuel Tax Agreement, is a cooperative agreement among the lower 48 states and Canada, which allows commercial carriers to average out their fuel and mileage to determine the quarterly tax liability.
Similarly, the International Registration Plan (IRP) is a reciprocity agreement between the contiguous 48 states and Canada. It eases the process for apportioning payments of the registration fees carriers are required to pay based on their total distances they operate between jurisdictions every quarter.
Managing IFTA and IRP registration and quarterly compliance is one of many services TCS Compliance Specialists can assist with and ease the burden on trucking operators.
The heavy vehicle use tax is an annual tax levied by the IRS on vehicles operating on public highways at taxable gross weights of 55,000 pounds or more. Taxable gross weight is a combination of the unloaded weight of the vehicle plus the unloaded weight of any trailers used in combination with the vehicle plus the weight of the maximum load carried on the vehicle and any trailers used in combination with the vehicle.
TCS will help you navigate the complexities, deadlines, and confusion associated with IRS tax or let you know if your company’s operations fall under one of the HVUT exemptions.
When it comes to determining your rates for commercial trucking insurance, the FMCSA is very specific. Depending on your company’s operations and driver experience, your insurance can be rather expensive or relatively cheap.
Our partnerships with insurance companies can help determine your commercial insurance requirements.
Any person who operates a commercial vehicle is expected to demonstrate they are qualified to operate that vehicle. This applies to all commercial drivers required to secure a USDOT number to operate their vehicle.
The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) is an electronic records system that helps carriers make more informed hiring decisions. It provides secure, electronic access to a commercial driver’s five-year crash and three-year inspection history from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).
TCS is an authorized PSP account holder. We work with carriers to help make better hiring decisions.
Transportation Compliance Service provides all services related to DOT drug and alcohol testing, policy development, clearinghouse, and program management.
TCS works with more than 10,000 DOT‐approved FMCSA drug specimen collection sites and drug and alcohol testing technicians. These sites are located across the United States and Canada. Wherever your drivers are operating or wherever your business is located, there is a testing location near your drivers.
Our TCS Compliance Specialists have the knowledge and extensive experience to help you stay on top of, and meet, all of the requirements set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Whether your trucking company has interstate or intrastate operating authority, with TCS Managed Services, you’ll have the industry expertise and guidance you need to ensure you are compliant with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR.)
Your state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) sets the safety standards required for trucking companies to operate within the state. Yet, DOT compliance standards are updated continuously and differ significantly from state-to-state. Worse, the risk of accidental non-compliance can lead to steep fines and possibly the loss of business.
So how do you stay on top of state regulations and standards? And how do you determine which rules apply to your fleet of vehicles?
Regardless of which state your trucking company is in, our Compliance Specialists can help you get set up and running smoothly. We’ll monitor your compliance issues for you so you can keep your business moving.
In the trucking industry, failure to comply with Federal and State regulations can have a disastrous effect on your bottom line. And while remaining compliant is clearly in the best interest of every owner operator, it can be confusing, overwhelming, and time-consuming.
With TCS Compliance Monitoring, you’ll have a dedicated compliance manager who has made it their business to take care of yours. They’ll keep up-to-date with quarterly tax requirements, permitting, driver compliance issues, and more.
Get the help you need to keep your business on the road for the long haul.
