South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 38 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Article 5 - STATE TRANSPORT POLICE REGULATIONS
Subarticle 8 - SINGLE STATE, REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR INTERSTATE MOTOR CARRIERS OPERATING FOR HIRE
Section 38-429 - Participation by States

a. When an eligible state has notified other participating states that it desires to participate, the participating states will notify all motor carriers whose principal place of business is located in that state of the intention of the eligible state to register motor carriers. The motor carrier may then select the new participating state as its registration state if its principal place of business is located in that state. The motor carrier will notify the prior registration state as required in Section IV.

b. When a participating state ceases its participation in this program and notifies all parties, the motor carrier shall select its new registration state and notify that state in accordance with Section IV.

a. The single state registration system's regulations and procedures shall govern the registration and identification of motor carriers operating in interstate or foreign commerce under a certificate or permit issued by the Department.

b. Registration states shall comply with the standards set forth herein. Registration in the registration state shall be deemed to satisfy the registration requirements of all participating states.

c. All motor carriers authorized to engage in interstate transportation of passengers or property as a common or contract carrier by the FHWA shall register in the motor carrier's registration state for all states of travel. Registration states will not exempt any motor carrier holding FHWA authority to transport property or passengers from registration under these procedures.

d. All vehicles operated under an FHWA authorized motor carrier's interstate operations (whether owned or leased) shall be registered in the motor carrier's name in accordance with these procedures.

e. Motor carriers receiving emergency temporary authority (ETA) or temporary authority (TA) from the Department for a duration of 120 days or less are required to comply with the all requirements of these procedures except the filing of evidence of authority granted by the Department. After 120 days, the motor carrier must be in compliance with all of the procedures established herein or subject the registration to revocation as set forth in Section X.

f. The motor carrier must register with its registration state before it commences operating. Forms required by federal regulations and prescribed by these procedures shall not be altered by the registration state except to indicate the proper registration state for mailing purposes. The forms attached to these procedures must be completed by the registrant or prepared by the registration state in the manner described herein.

g. The registration year will be a calendar year.

h. Fees collected under this system will not be prorated for partial year operations.

i. Any changes to the authority granted by the FHWA after the initial registration in the registration state will be filed with the registration state. The registration state may waive the filing of any authority granted by the FHWA if that grant of authority certificate or permit is longer than 20 pages in length. When the waiver is granted in writing, the motor carrier shall provide a copy of the portion of the Department order which shows the service date and order section and shall prepare and file a synopsis of the authority granted within the body of the order.

j. A registrant may request in writing that its registration be cancelled. The registration state will immediately cancel such registration and give written notice of cancellation to the registrant. The notice of cancellation will show the effective date of cancellation and shall be mailed to the registrant requesting such cancellation. Each registration state shall transmit information concerning the motor carrier's full name, business address, MC number and DOT number for each carrier requesting cancellation of registration to all affected jurisdictions participating in the program when the next monthly fee accounting transmittal is required to be submitted to each registration state. No fees shall be refunded.

a. A motor carrier may not change its registration state unless it changes its principal place of business or its registration state or commences participation in the program.

b. For the purpose of this program, the carrier's principal place of business for registration selection will be the business address the motor carrier indicated on the order issued by the Department or as otherwise noticed to the Department pursuant to an address change.

c. When a registrant changes its principal place of business to another state participating in this program before the annual registration period of August 1 to November 30, the registrant may move its registration to the new registration state at the next registration period or retain registration in the current registration state for no more than one additional year.

d. When a registrant changes its principal place of business to another participating state, the registrant shall notify the new registration state and the current registration state within 30 days after it has made its selection.

e. When the registrant changes its principal place of business and selects a new registration state, the motor carrier shall refile in the new registration state the application, a copy of its interstate operating authority, and a copy of the designation of agent(s) for service of process. Proof of insurance must be filed in the new registration state showing the change of business address of the registrant.

f. When the registrant changes its principal place of business to a state that is not eligible to participate in this program, the registrant shall retain the current registration state designation for registration purposes and file notice of business address change along with a new insurance filing in its registration state.

g. If a registrant changes its principal place of business during a registration period and that principal place of business change affects its reciprocity status to now afford it reciprocity from payment of fees, the registrant shall not be allowed any credit or refund of prior fees paid for that registration period. The new principal place of business shall be used by the current registration state for determination of proper payment of future fees or waiving of those fees for any additional states of travel or additional equipment added.

h. The motor carrier must give notice of its change in registration state to its insurer as soon as practicable.