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International Carrier Registration

This checklist is offered by TxDOT as an aid for foreign and/or Mexico-domiciled for-hire motor carriers and motor private carriers and describes standards or documents required to operate in municipalities of Texas on the United States--Mexico International Border or within the commercial zones of such municipalities.

This is not an all-encompassing list of requirements and is provided for information only. Direct specific questions to the agencies referenced below or read our information on NAFTA annual permits.

Vehicle Safety

To operate in the U.S., foreign and/or Mexico-domiciled motor carriers or drivers entering the U.S. must:

Comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR).
Have a Licencia Federal de Conductor with the medical certification code to operate in commercial zones, OR have a non-resident commercial driver license issued by a U.S. state.
Have either a valid equivalent Mexico Federal Inspection Sticker in the commercial zone (proof of insurance required to obtain), OR have a valid state inspection sticker from one of the Border States to operate outside border zones.

Note: If the vehicle has not passed a safety inspection before they get to customs agents, carriers will need to get a VI30, Certificate of Inspection ("Green Sheet") issued at a Texas Department of Public Safety inspection station at the border, where they must also provide proof of insurance.

For additional information, contact the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Stations along the border.

Del Rio - (830) 775-3569
El Paso - (915) 849-4030
Eagle Pass - (830) 757-4683
Laredo - (956) 728-2251
Harlingen - (956) 423-1160
McAllen - (956) 984-5600

To comply with U.S. Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations (FHMR), Foreign and/or Mexico- domiciled motor carriers, or drivers entering the U.S. must:

Ensure shipping papers are prepared properly in English, readily accessible, and visible.
Ensure shipping papers contain emergency response information.
Ensure that the motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials is placarded and labeled in accordance to 49 CFR, Part 172.
Register with the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA), if applicable. For information, call the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (OHMS) at (800) 467-4922. RSPA is the national agency responsible for the control or regulation of the transportation of hazardous materials. Their address is Hazardous Materials Registration Program, DHM-60, United States Department of Transportation, Washington , D.C. 20590-0001.

Insurance

To operate in the U.S., foreign and/or Mexico-domiciled motor carriers must:

Have the minimum required insurance levels for the type of vehicle operated and cargo being transported. The following are the vehicle types and cargo with descriptions and the minimum level of liability insurance requirements for each one.

Vehicle Type	Insurance
Bus - seating capacity of 15 passengers or less (including driver) operated by a foreign motor carrier and foreign motor private carrier defined in 49 USC §13102	$1,500,000
Bus - seating capacity of 16 passengers or more (including driver) operated by a foreign motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier defined in 49 USC §13102	$5,000,000
Vehicle - defined in 49 USC §13102 under 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), operated by a foreign motor carrier and foreign motor private carrier and not transporting hazardous materials	$300,000
Commercial motor vehicle - defined in 49 CFR §390.5, operated by a foreign motor carrier or foreign motor private carrier defined in 49 USC §13102	$750,000
Commercial motor vehicle - oil listed in 49 CFR §172.101; hazardous waste, materials, and substances defined in 49 CFR §171.8 and listed in 49 CFR §172.101.	$1,000,000
Commercial motor vehicle - hazardous substances, as defined in 49 CFR §171.8, transported in cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles with capacities in excess of 3,500 water gallons; or any quantity of Division 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 materials, any quantity of Division 2.3, Hazard Zone A material; in bulk Division 2.1 or 2.2; or highway route controlled quantities of a Class 7 material, as defined in 49 CFR §173.403.	$5,000,000

Present to any state or federal law enforcement official, or any TxDOT investigator:
- current MCS-90 insurance endorsements;
- evidence of liability insurance coverage on an insurance identification card, binder, or a similar document; and
- RS-3 Registration Receipt, listing all states of travel, issued by TxDOT, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, or the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission.
Have the vehicle marked with the company name, Mexican city and state, and the FMCSA motor carrier identification number preceded by the letters "USDOT".

Note: All of these documents must be in the same motor carrier's name, U.S. Customs agents will not allow drivers who fail to present these required documents into the U.S.

Registration