Common or Contract Carrier

dhalltoyo

Veteran Expediter
I am trying to remember if someone once posted that in order to haul government loads, you must register your own authority as a "Contract Carrier."

If that is correct, will being register in that manner exempt you from: "providing for-hire truck transportation to the general public?

Common Carrier: Before January 1, 1996, this was a company that provided for-hire truck transportation to the general public. The services offered and the prices charged were published in a public tariff and these were the only prices the common carrier could charge.

Contract Carrier: Before January 1, 1996, this was a company that provided for-hire truck transportation to specific, individual shippers based upon private contracts between the carrier and each shipper, stipulating the services offered and the prices charged to each.

Selecting "Common" or "Contract": The OP-1 form requires an applicant to designate whether it is registering as a "common carrier" or a "contract carrier." The historical difference between these two types is reflected in the definitions immediately above. The ICC Termination Act of 1995 defines contract carriage as truck transportation provided under a contract, but, effective January 1, 1996, it no longer distinguishes between common or contract carriers. However, the Act specifically authorizes FMCSA to continue registering applicants as either common or contract carriers. The current principal distinction between the two types is that common carrier applicants must file proof of cargo insurance while contract carrier applicants are not required to do so.
 

Jefferson3000

Expert Expediter
David,

The only pitfall of common carrier in my mind is that you must file both your liability AND cargo insurance w/ the Fed. Not only that, but I believe you must have a set of published tariffs, whereas a contract carrier works based on contracts between himself and his brokers/shippers.

Why not ask those questions here: TruckNet® Drivers RoundTable • View forum - Trucking 101 - ICC FHWA Operating Authority
There's few qualified folks on here that could answer you, but you certainly don't need to hear from the peanut gallery on this one.
 

gojack

Expert Expediter
I have Common Carrier Authority
and have hauled Gov loads through a varity of brokers.
(Archives, Military, Census, IRS etc)

I have no experience hauling for the Gov directly.

When I applied for authority, I was told the only difference
was having to have proof of insurance posted if Common.

The published tariffs are a thing of the past.
 
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dhalltoyo

Veteran Expediter
Jeff,

I went to the site you referenced and they need to do some serious work to that site.

I couldn't even register; therefore, I couldn't submit a question.

As always, I do thank you for all of your help.
 
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