Compliance FAQ
How long does FMCSA vetting take? (and what 'within protest period' means)
FMCSA controls the timing. Once FMCSA accepts your application it is published in the FMCSA Register, opening a 10-day public protest period during which anyone can object (49 CFR 365.203T). Your insurer's BMC-91 and your process agent's BOC-3 must be on file within 20 days of the Register notice (49 CFR 365.109T). FMCSA grants authority after the protest period, once both are on file; if either is missing, the application stays pending.
Reviewed by Korey Sharp-Paar · Updated
Why does it matter?
The 10-day protest window (49 CFR §365.203T) is regulatory - FMCSA does not waive it. It exists so existing carriers and consumer-affairs groups can challenge applicants whose principals have been previously revoked, fined, or implicated in unsafe operations. In practice protests are rare for new entrants without a prior FMCSA history.
The common delay is ordering insurance late. If the BMC-91 isn't on file within the 20-day window, FMCSA holds the application in pending status. The fix is simple: get a BIPD quote bound before you submit the application, not after.
You can check your application's status in FMCSA's Motus public search by USDOT number or company name.