Between 1,100 and 1,300 carriers should have received letters from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding $300 refunds for overpayment of operating authority since 2007.
Historically, FMCSA charged $300 for common carrier operating authority and $300 for contract carrier operating authority. The agency’s authority to charge a motor carrier for both ended Jan. 1, 2007, because of a legal change, says Duane DeBruyne, FMCSA spokesman.
The omnibus 2005 transportation bill amended federal code so truckers no longer register a carrier as a “motor common carrier” or a “motor contract carrier,” but register as a “motor carrier.” Technical issues with the FMCSA’s application processing delayed implementing this, which means some carriers paid $600 instead of $300.
The agency mailed letters the last week of July to affected truckers who overpaid in 2007, ’08 and ’09. After officials receive the complete paperwork, their goal is to have the refund processed within five business days.
Agency representatives will do manual record checks, Internet searches and work with their state offices to contact the affected carriers. In they are unsuccessful, they will add notations to their licensing and insurance records, so next time the carrier provides updated information, the agency will be able to help them in processing the refund.
Persons who believe they were affected but did not receive a notification should call FMCSA at 800-832-5660.
