FMCSA Announces Electronic Insurance Filings For Motor Carriers via the Internet |
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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
November 7, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Contact: Dave Longo
Telephone: 202-366-0456
FMCSA 20-00
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has modified its licensing and insurance information database and web site to allow registered insurance companies and other financial institutions to file information for motor carriers’ about their insurance policies directly online.
Financial institutions may now enter certificates of insurance, notices of cancellation, surety bonds, trust fund agreements and other evidence of security via the Internet. The web site address is: http://fhwa-li.volpe.dot.gov
The FMCSA is at the forefront of the move toward e-government. "I am especially proud to expand our user-friendly, do-it-yourself web site that allows business to be conducted in a secure environment with the federal government," said FMCSA Acting Deputy Administrator Clyde J. Hart Jr.
The FMCSA web site already allows commercial truck and bus operators to use the Internet to apply for registration and to pay fines for violations of federal motor carrier safety regulations.
All for-hire motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers conducting operations in interstate or foreign commerce must maintain on file, with the FMCSA, evidence of insurance in the required amounts. This evidence of insurance is filed for motor carriers by insurance companies and other financial institutions. Currently, about 130,000 motor carriers’ insurance policies are submitted to the agency on paper forms. Another approximately 300,000 motor carriers’ insurance policies are submitted through the use of computer software that allows financial institutions and insurance companies to input the information directly to an electronic database.
Both of these methods, filing paper reports and filing into the electronic database via the Internet, will be retained. However, the FMCSA will no longer accept new filing applications via the electronic database system, which is being replaced by the new Internet filing system.
The Internet filing procedure will enable companies to receive insurance confirmation immediately following information submission. Companies using the paper filing system usually receive confirmation in approximately 10 days due to the large volume of submissions. An added benefit of Internet filing is that it expedites carriers’ compliance requirements with federal motor carrier insurance regulations.
Additional information regarding the Internet insurance filing system may be obtained by contacting the FMCSA’s Insurance Compliance Division at (202) 358-7028 or (202) 358-7029.