Starting at the end of the month, telling the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, "The check is in the mail," won't cut it.
The agency today announced effective Sept. 30, it will no longer accept paper payments, such as checks and money orders, for any agency transactions, including fees for initial application of operating authority registration, reinstatement or legal name changes, civil penalty payments, and other fee-based transactions.
The FMCSA said, "The transition aligns with White House Executive Order 14247: Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account, and advances a faster, more secure, and more efficient payment experience for the motor carrier industry."
The agency's announcement also said that beginning Sept. 30:
- It will not process paper payments such as checks and money orders for any transaction
- Stakeholders must provide debit or credit card information to make payments
- For financial responsibility, entities should refer to their monthly invoice for instructions
- For operating authority registration related fees such as initial applications, name changes, and reinstatements, entities should visit the FMCSA registration website
- Assistance is available through the FMCSA Contact Center: 1-800-832-5660.
Checks received after Sept. 30 will not be processed and will be returned, potentially delaying services, according to the FMCSA.
