In shipping, operation authority is the legal permission granted to operate commercial vehicles transporting cargo across the nation and sometimes even beyond. There are various operating authorities in the shipping industry, all of which are provided by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Authority). Having the proper operational authority makes it easy for carriers to legally transport cargo. You only need to ensure that you find one that will conveniently cover your shipping requirements.
You will only need to pay a $300 filing fee during the initial application of your operation authority. It might take about 2-3 weeks to complete the application process, after which you anticipate receiving your operation authority documents in about 2-3 business days. While most truck operators are required to have an operation authority, some other businesses are exempted from this requirement. These include private carriers hauling their personal properties, for-hire carriers who mostly ship exempt commodities, and commercial-zone carriers operating within specific commercial zones specified by the government.