Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up when prospecting new carriers — no jargon, no fluff, each one links to where it matters.
A BMC-91 is the proof-of-insurance filing an insurance company submits directly to FMCSA on a carrier's behalf, confirming the carrier holds the required minimum liability coverage. Operating authority cannot activate without it on file.
A BOC-3 is the filing that designates a carrier's process agents — representatives in each state it operates in, authorized to accept legal documents on its behalf. It's required before operating authority can activate.
A carrier's business type describes what it's allowed to haul and for whom, as declared in its FMCSA filing: Authorized for Hire (hauling other companies' freight for pay), Private Property (hauling its own goods only), or Exempt (hauling certain commodities exempt from for-hire authority rules).
CAN-SPAM is the federal law governing commercial email, B2B included. It requires accurate sender information, a subject line that isn't deceptive, your business's physical postal address, and a working opt-out honored within 10 business days.
An MC number is the operating authority FMCSA grants a for-hire interstate carrier — permission to haul someone else's freight for pay across state lines. It's separate from, and issued after, a USDOT number.
The TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) is the federal law governing calls and texts, particularly automated ones. Autodialed or prerecorded messages to cell phones generally require prior consent, regardless of whether the call is B2B or B2C.
A USDOT number is the identifier the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assigns to a motor carrier when it registers. Every commercial motor carrier needs one — authorized for hire, private, or exempt — before operating.