Glossary · updated October 31, 2026
Protest Period
Also known as: 10-Day Protest Window, FMCSA Vetting Window
By Korey Sharp-Paar · Reviewed by the Fast Trucking Compliance team
Definition
The protest period is the window during which the public may oppose a pending operating-authority application. FMCSA publishes the accepted application in the FMCSA Register as a preliminary grant of authority, and under 49 CFR §365.203T a protest must be filed within 10 days of that notice. (The "21-day window" cited in older guides does not appear in the current rules.) The BOC-3 and insurance filings are due within 20 days of the same notice (49 CFR §365.109T). FMCSA controls the timing: authority is granted once the BOC-3 and insurance are on file and the protest period has passed.
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How Long Does Operating Authority Take?What decides when your MC number goes active: the 10-day protest period, and the BOC-3 and insurance being on file within 20 days of the FMCSA Register notice.
Related terms
- OP-1(OP-1 Application)
- Operating Authority
- 49 CFR §365.109T(49 CFR §365.109)