WASHINGTON -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued new regulatory guidance on how it expects motor carriers to designate their principal place of business.

The guidance is designed to end of the practice of bus and truck companies calling some distant state their headquarters to avoid fees and restrictions.

In a notice published in the Federal Register last month, the FMCSA said its guidance will provide bus and truck operators, as well as federal, state and local law enforcement officials, with uniform information for use in determining the headquarters location.

The notice became effective Aug. 12.

"In instances where a motor carrier has more than one terminal or office, the regulations do not explicitly place a restriction on which location a motor carrier may designate as its principal place of business," FMCSA said in the notice.

"The definition states that such a location is normally the carrier's headquarters; the rule does not require motor carriers to use the company's corporate headquarters as its principal place of business. However, motor carriers are limited to using an actual place of business of the motor carrier" for its headquarters.

Moreover, a motor carrier may designate as its principal place of business only locations that contain offices of the motor carrier's senior-most management executives, management officials or employees responsible for the administration, management and oversight of safety operations and compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

In determining its principal place of business a motor carrier must consider the following factors: The relative importance of the activities performed at each location and, if this factor is not determinative, then time spent at each location by motor carrier management or corporate officers."

FMCSA also said it may take into consideration other factors such as ownership of the location, employees at the site, vehicle maintenance at the site, and the presence of records.

"A motor carrier may not designate as its principal place of business any location where the motor carrier is not engaged in business operations related to the transportation of persons or property," the notice pointed out.

The FMCSA does not like engaging in wild goose chases when trying to perform its safety oversight functions.

More information is available from Bill Mahorney with the FMCSA enforcement and compliance division. Phone: (202) 493-0001.