Service of Process Agents

What Service of Process Agents does

Service of Process Agents, Inc. (SPA) is a Washington, DC-based law firm founded in 1979 that specializes in FMCSA regulatory compliance for the US transportation industry. The company's core offering is execution and filing of Form BOC-3, the federally mandated designation of process agents in every state where a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder operates. SPA serves as an authorized FMCSA filer and positions itself as one of the oldest firms in this niche, claiming approximately 3,000 active clients and 45+ years of continuous operation. All agents are practicing attorneys specializing in transportation industry law, a structural differentiator from non-attorney competitors.

The company monetizes primarily through a $150 one-time BOC-3 filing fee and recurring $150 renewal invoices, supplemented by a broker and freight forwarder bond/trust program delivered through Pinnacle National Bank at $1,500/year for $75,000 of coverage. Complementary services include name and address change processing, new operating authority filing assistance, and Unified Registration System guidance. Distribution is via direct channels: a website self-service portal (processagents.net and BOC3NOW.com), phone-based sales (1-800-338-8883), and email/fax, with payment processing through Square and PayPal. Marketing relies on word-of-mouth referrals, testimonials from SMB clients, and an ecosystem of referral partnerships with Seaton & Husk (transportation law firm) and Transportation Revenue Management (freight charge collections). The technology stack is minimal — no proprietary software products, no APIs, no AI capabilities — reflecting a service-based compliance business rather than a technology company.

Name

Service of Process Agents

Legal name

Service of Process Agents, Inc.

Website

https://processagents.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Service of Process Agents is a Washington, DC-based law firm founded in 1979 that files BOC-3 process agent designations and broker bond programs for US motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders, serving approximately 3,000 SMB clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. BOC-3 Filing Services: One-time filing fee for Form BOC-3 designation of process agents. This is a mandatory requirement for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to operate in interstate commerce under FMCSA regulations. The company also provides renewal services for ongoing compliance.
2. Bond and Trust Programs: Facilitates $75,000 surety bonds and bank trusts for brokers and freight forwarders. Through their Broker's Trust Division with Pinnacle National Bank, SPA offers these financial instruments at discounted rates starting at $1,500/year for qualified members.
3. Client Account Renewals: Recurring revenue from existing client renewals. SPA processes invoice payments for coverage renewals, with the standard invoice amount being $150.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Service of Process Agents, Inc. (SPA) files and executes FMCSA Form BOC-3 designations, appointing qualified practicing attorneys as process agents in every state where motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders are authorized to operate. The firm also facilitates $75,000 surety bonds and bank trusts through its Broker's Trust Division with Pinnacle National Bank, and assists clients with state registration, fuel permits, authority reinstatements, and related federal/state compliance referrals.

Product overview

Service of Process Agents (SPA) provides a single core service: BOC-3 filing for motor carriers to designate process agents in every state of operation as required by the FMCSA. The company also offers complementary services including bond and trust programs for brokers and freight forwarders ($75,000 options), address and name change processing for existing clients, new authority filing assistance, and educational resources on the Unified Registration System. All services are focused on federal and state compliance for the transportation industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BOC-3 Filing Service Federal compliance filing and execution of FMCSA Form BOC-3 designating qualified attorneys as process agents in every state where a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder operates. Mandatory requirement for obtaining and maintaining interstate operating authority. Priced at $150 per filing.
• Broker & Freight Forwarder Bond and Trust Program $75,000 surety bond and bank trust options for brokers and freight forwarders required under MAP-21, offered at preferred discounted rates starting at $1,500/year for qualified members through Pinnacle National Bank.
• New Authority Filing Assistance Assistance with filing applications for new interstate/intrastate operating authority, including guidance through the registration process and connection to transportation law resources.
• Unified Registration System (URS) Guidance Information and FAQ resources on FMCSA's Unified Registration System that streamlines federal motor carrier registration, with referral to TransComply.
• Address Change Service Contact information update service for existing clients to maintain current BOC-3 filings and account records at no additional charge.
• Name Change Service BOC-3 re-filing service for companies that have changed their name with the FMCSA, including account information updates to maintain authority compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ clients rely on SPA's services
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Seaton & Husk, LPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation law firm specializing in regulatory compliance, cargo claims, freight charge collection, commercial litigation, and bankruptcy matters. Uses a network of attorneys specializing in transportation law managing litigation throughout the continental United States and Canada. Operates transportation law website and blog providing industry news and information. SPA clients are referred to Seaton & Husk for legal representation matters beyond process agent services.
• Transportation Revenue Management, Inc. (TRM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialists in freight charge collection providing nationwide debt collection services, bad debt prevention, and credit reference services for over 20 years. Manages an average of 500 cases per year for carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Works closely with qualified motor carrier lawyers with 25+ years of industry experience.
• Pinnacle National BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFDIC insured bank partnered with SPA's Broker's Trust Division to offer $75,000 bank trusts for members who wish to fully collateralize the bonding obligation. SPA negotiated preferred rates including a 25% discount on surety bonds (as low as $1,500/year for qualified brokers) through this relationship.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• InCorp Services: Registered-agent and business-compliance provider offering process-agent services nationwide. Comparable to SPA in serving SMB transportation and brokerage customers that need multi-state process-agent designation.
• National Registered Agents, Inc. (NRAI): Registered-agent firm providing process-agent and BOC-3 services for regulated entities including motor carriers. Comparable to SPA in target customer (SMB carriers and brokers) and core offering (state-by-state process-agent designation).
• Harvard Business Services, Inc. Registered-agent and incorporation services firm with a national agent network. Comparable to SPA in registered/process-agent services for regulated entities, though typically anchored in Delaware incorporation rather than FMCSA filings.
• Parasec: Long-standing process-agent and registered-agent service serving law firms, corporations, and transportation clients. Comparable to SPA in legal/process-agent focus and multi-state agent network.
• Cogency Global: National registered agent service that files BOC-3 designations for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Most direct functional competitor to SPA, offering similar process-agent and FMCSA compliance services with a more digitally enabled platform.

Emerging players

• Seaton & Husk, LP: Transportation law firm specializing in regulatory compliance, cargo claims, and freight litigation; named as a SPA referral partner. Comparable in transportation-law expertise but focused on litigation and compliance rather than process-agent filings.
• TransComply: FMCSA compliance services platform referenced on SPA's own website as a complementary resource. Overlaps with SPA on URS and interstate operating-authority assistance, but with a more digital, software-enabled delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• CT Corporation (Wolters Kluwer): Long-established registered agent and corporate compliance provider with national agent coverage. Competes with SPA for process-agent and BOC-3 filings among motor carriers and brokers, but serves a much broader corporate-compliance market.
• Corporation Service Company (CSC): One of the largest registered-agent and compliance service providers in the U.S., serving corporations, LLCs, and regulated entities including motor carriers needing process-agent designation. Comparable to SPA in the registered/process-agent function but operating at vastly greater scale and across many industries.

Regional players

• Transportation Revenue Management, Inc. (TRM): Freight charge collection and bad-debt prevention specialist serving carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Adjacent to SPA in serving the same transportation customer base, with a U.S.-only geographic footprint and 500 cases/year scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BOC3NOW
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Service of Process Agents