Keeping It Compliant: What You Need to Know

There are plenty of rules and regulations out there for keeping drivers safe, cars moving, and trucks on the road. But how do you make sure you’re staying compliant with all of them? Let’s take a look at some of the most important requirements out there—and what you need to know to keep it compliant, with some great support from industry-standard auto transport technology.

The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA)

For truckers in the United States and in Canada, the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) collects fuel taxes from interstate commercial carriers—funds that each of the 58 member jurisdictions can use for road, transportation, and public works projects. The members include 48 American states (Alaska, the District of Columbia, and Hawai‘i do not participate in IFTA) and all 10 Canadian provinces.

1. IFTA license renewals are required quarterly.
2. Whether your commercial motor vehicles are traveling loaded or unloaded—and even if you have vehicles that aren’t traveling for a quarter—licensing and compliance is required.
3. Fuel taxes are calculated based on the distance traveled and fuel purchased in member jurisdictions. Compliance errors can result in fines, fees, and penalties.
4. Virginia and Kentucky require additional fuel taxes on vehicles that operate within their states.

The International Registration Plan (IRP)

Like IFTA, the International Registration Plan (IRP) is a reciprocity agreement among the 48 contiguous American states and the 10 Canadian provinces, as well as the District of Columbia (Alaska and Hawai‘i are not member jurisdictions).

1. IRP registrations must be renewed annually.
2. Vehicles on IRP can accrue penalties if they aren’t traveling out of state for 18 months or longer.
3. Apportioned license plates are registered to your vehicle in your base jurisdiction but allow you to operate in multiple jurisdictions. Compliance errors can result in fines, fees, and penalties.
4. Trailers and semi-trailers, as long as they are properly registered in their own jurisdiction, don’t require apportionment.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was established as part of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. One arm of the US Department of Transportation, the FMCSA is tasked with preventing commercial motor vehicle–related fatalities and injuries nationwide (including all 50 states and the District of Columbia). As part of their operations, they manage registration and safety data to inform motor carrier regulations.

1. Your company’s USDOT Number, which helps track safety information across inspections, audits, crash investigations, and compliance reviews, is issued when you register with the FMCSA.
2. The FMCSA oversees all vehicle titling, registration, and license plating.
3. The FMCSA regulates how many consecutive hours truckers can drive between breaks, how often commercial motor vehicle operators must inspect their vehicles, how often drivers must be tested for controlled substances, and driver fitness.
4. Driver qualification (DQ) files are required for any driver operating a commercial motor vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds (even if they don’t have a CDL or commercial driver license, which is generally required for driving vehicles that weigh more than 26,000).

The Benefits of Auto Transport Technology

Keeping your operation compliant with these federal regulations, international agreements, and other standards is essential to your business’s success. And the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone! Super Dispatch has developed auto transport technology designed specifically for shippers, carriers, and transporters—and we can help.

1. Work with carriers who have our Approved Carrier status, helping you ensure you’re working with trusted partners.
2. Easily pull reporting for fuel taxes.
3. Keep track of vehicle numbers, licensing information, DQ files, confirmations, and more critical information in one easy-to-use platform.
4. Coordinate seamlessly with drivers, customers, administrators, and other team members to provide exceptional service.

Contact Super Dispatch

At Super Dispatch, we want to help you maintain compliance with industry regulations—all while providing great service for your customers and thriving as a business. Our auto transport technology—including our transportation management system, auto transport load board, and other digital solutions—was designed specifically with auto carriers and shippers like you in mind.

If you’re ready to see how Super Dispatch can help you move cars faster, smarter, and easier, we’re ready to help. Sign up for your free trial to get started today!