BOC-3 documents have been used for many years by large companies that conduct business all over the world. They may receive a shipment of merchandise that needs to be received, but they may not be able to be there to receive it. It makes the person, the recipient, legally capable of being the one that signs off on the shipment. It also then allows them to ship that merchandise to you. Essentially, they are documents designed to help a business operate more effectively. 
How Often Would You Need To Use These Documents?
BOC-3 documents are only necessary if you do not have a local employee where the merchandise is going to be dropped off. For example, you could have merchandise coming in at a shipping guard, but if you have no one in that state, you will certainly need to use one of these documents. Additionally, this could be useful if you are constantly receiving shipments at an inland location. They can receive everything for you and then transition that to the next place it needs to be.
What Is The Official Use Of This Form
By definition, this is also referred to as a Designation of Agents for Service of Process form. Only a person that is a process that can receive anything from the applicant or the carrier. When using this form, it needs to be kept on file. There can only be one of these at any one location. Additionally, it may be used to include multiple states where you have designated agencies that can provide this type of service. There should also be a copy of this at your principal place of business that can serve as proof that you wanted this done.
Do You Need To Have Agents In Each State Where This Applies?
You certainly need to have at least one person in each state that can act on your behalf. This applies to where the freight forwarder, broker, or carrier is currently operating. These people, which could also be a corporation or association, will then be official for this type of service. The only problem that you may run into is not having a physical address. You need to have one for this document to be official. Using a PO Box is not possible as they do need to have a physical location where the merchandise can be delivered.
It is necessary to sign the original copy and then submit it to the FMCSA. This is located in Washington DC. That sign copy is what you need to make copies of. Without it, you cannot conduct any type of business in this way. If there are any changes, you have to refile, using a completely new BOC-3 form. This will apply to both blanket and individual designations. Finally, you must have these copies on hand in each state, at each physical location, where these transactions will occur. Although this may seem like a lot of work, since it is only one form, it’s not that hard to do. It is simply the process by which your business will be able to operate in multiple states when receiving merchandise that needs to be sent to different locations.
