The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will stop accepting paper payments such as cheques and money orders for agency transactions effective Sept. 30.
The change applies to all fee-based transactions, including initial applications for operating authority registration, reinstatements, legal name changes, and civil penalty payments, according to a news release.
FMCSA said it has engaged with stakeholders over the past several weeks to ensure awareness and help fleets prepare for the transition. Going forward, debit or credit card information will be required to process payments.
For financial responsibility filings such as insurance fees, carriers should follow instructions on their monthly invoice. For operating authority-related fees, applicants are directed to FMCSA’s registration website.
Paper cheques received after Sept. 30 will not be processed and will be returned, potentially delaying services. FMCSA added that if applicants submit a paper application, they must complete the credit card section at the bottom of the form before filing.
