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Frequently Asked Questions
Motor Carriers
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UIIA representative for help!
For questions specific to UIIA Equipment Use issues, click here.
NEW MOTOR CARRIER PARTICIPANTS:
- What does the UIIA stand for?
- How do I apply for participation in the UIIA?
- What is the cost of participation in the UIIA and what do these fees cover?
- How do I know if my company is an IANA member?
- What methods of payment are accepted?
- What is the billing cycle for the renewal of my participation in the UIIA?
- What is a SCAC Code and who assigns this code?
- Are the MC Number, DOT Number and Federal ID Numbers required?
- Once I become a participant in the UIIA, what do I need to do to set up work with the various Equipment Providers? Does the UIIA office do this for my company?
- How long does the application process take?
EXISTING MOTOR CARRIER PARTICIPANTS:
- What are the benefits of being a participant in the UIIA?
- If my company is an active participant in the UIIA will I be able to do business with any UIIA Equipment Provider?
- How are UIIA Equipment Providers advised that my company is approved?
- If my company is updated for all Equipment Providers, why do my drivers still get stopped at the various terminals and facilities?
- How can I access my account on-line?
- What if I forget my password or want to change the password?
- What insurance is required under the UIIA? Does my insurance agent need to issue a certificate for each Equipment Provider I want to do business with?
- How can I obtain copies of Equipment Provider addenda?
- When checking my account on the Web Validator there are a lot of abbreviations? What do these abbreviations mean?
- If my company is changing their name, what do I need to do?
Q-1: What does the UIIA stand for?
A-1: The UIIA stands for the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement and it is a program administered by the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).
Q-2: How do I apply for participation in the UIIA?
A-2: You can register on-line at https://app1.uiia.org/application/NewMember/joinMC.do (for detailed instructions for online registration click here), or you can click here to download a copy of the motor carrier application packet for participation in the UIIA. The packet includes a "Motor Carrier Quick Reference" that outlines the items your company and your insurance agent need to provide our office in order to participate in the program.
Q-3: What is the cost of participation in the UIIA and what do these fees cover?
A-3: There is an annual administrative service fee of $290.00 to participate in the UIIA. If your company is also an IANA member and wishes to participate in the UIIA program the annual administrative fee will be discounted to $250.00 a year.
The annual service fee covers the costs associated with the administration of the program.
Q-4: How do I know if my company is an IANA member?
A-4: If your company is not sure if it is an IANA member, please click here to view a list of the current IANA Motor Carrier Division Members. Information on how to become an IANA member is available by visiting the IANA website. Click here to find out the Benefits of IANA Membership.
Q-5: What methods of payment are accepted?
A-5: We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express for credit card payments. If your company prefers to pay by check, we will accept a faxed copy of the check in order to expedite your application. Once your company is accepted in the UIIA, we must receive the original check within seven (7) days or your company’s participation will be cancelled. All Canadian checks must be in US Funds and drawn on a U.S. Bank.
Q-6: What is the billing cycle for the renewal of my participation in the UIIA?
A-6: The billing cycle is twelve (12) months and on an anniversary basis. Companies are invoiced thirty (30) days in advance of their billing cycle. For example, if a company is accepted in the UIIA in January 2007, the next invoice date will be December 2007.
Q-7: What is a SCAC Code and who assigns this code?
A-7: SCAC stands for Standard Carrier Alpha Code. This is a four letter code that is assigned by National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) and is utilized to identify your company in both the UIIA and Equipment Providers (ocean carriers/railroads/leasing companies) databases.
You can use Form 4 of the UIIA Application packet to apply for a SCAC Code through the National Motor Freight Traffic Association or you can apply for the code on-line at https://secure.nmfta.org/
Q-8: Are the MC Number, DOT Number and Federal ID Numbers required?
A-8: The US DOT Number and Federal Tax ID number is required for participation in the UIIA. The MC Number will be required depending on your company's type of business operations. If you are an Interstate, For Hired or Private/For Hired motor carrier you will be required to provide your MC Number.
Q-9: Once I become a participant in the UIIA, what do I need to do to set up work with the various Equipment Providers? Does the UIIA office do this for my company?
A-9: The UIIA sets up the interchange contract for your company to do business with participating UIIA Equipment Providers. However we DO NOT SET UP WORK for motor carrier participants.
Once a company is accepted in the UIIA, they need to contact individual Equipment Providers with whom they wish to do business directly to set up work. Make sure the Equipment Provider is aware that your company is a new participant in the UIIA.
The UIIA office provides each participating Equipment Provider with motor carrier interchange status information. Each Equipment Provider has access to this interchange status data so they can confirm whether your company has a valid interchange in place for them.
For your convenience, a list of the corporate contacts for each Equipment Provider Participant on the UIIA website or you can Click here to obtain a copy of the EP Contact List.
You may also want to try contacting Intermodal Marketing Companies that broker loads for some Equipment Providers. Click here to access a list of Intermodal Marketing Companies that are IANA members.
Q-10: How long does the application process take?
A-10: Motor Carriers are encouraged to apply on-line for UIIA participation at www.uiia.org/tcs/mc_login.shtml by clicking on New Member. We also suggest that you have your insurance agent register to become authorized to submit insurance on-line on behalf of your company by going to www.uiia.org/tcs/ia_login.shtml and clicking on New Member. The timeframe for completion of the process depends on how quickly all the necessary information is either submitted on-line or faxed to the UIIA office. Your account will be activated once all required information is received.
Q-11: What are the benefits of being a participant in the UIIA?
A-11: Here are some of the ways the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement (UIIA) benefits Motor Carriers participants:
- 1. Eliminates signing separate interchange contracts with individual Equipment Providers.
- 2. The UIIA is the only industry standard interchange contract that is utilized by 95% of the top 100 ocean carriers and all major railroads.
- 3. Reduces the number of insurance certificates that must be filed. One certificate of insurance is provided to the UIIA that includes all insurance required for the Equipment Providers with whom you company wishes to do business.
- 4. You will have access to your account information 24/7 via the Internet through your UIIA Account login. This also includes while your account is in a pending status waiting to complete the application process. Automated Voice Response system provides an alternative method for obtaining account status information.
- 5. Automatic seven day insurance reminders are provided advising Motor Carriers of upcoming renewals and assist in maintaining up to date insurance.
Q-12: If my company is an active participant in the UIIA will I be able to do business with any UIIA Equipment Provider?
A-12: In order to be approved for any UIIA Equipment Provider, the Motor Carrier must meet the insurance requirements of the specific Equipment Provider. Motor Carriers meeting the basic requirements of the UIIA are not automatically approved for every participating Equipment Provider. The Equipment Provider Requirements will provide you with the individual insurance requirement for each Equipment Provider.
Motor Carriers may check the list of Equipment Providers they are approved for through the UIIA Account access, via the Internet. Once logged into your account, each Motor Carrier should click on Update EP list and select the companies you wish to do business with. You can then click on any of the Equipment Providers’ companies name to see the You Need /You Have List to determine what additional information is needed to become approved for the specific Equipment Provider.
Q-13: How are UIIA Equipment Providers advised that my company is approved?
A-13: Motor Carrier status information is provided to UIIA Equipment Providers electronically via EDI (electronic data exchange) or through the Equipment Providers access to the UIIA, via the Internet. Each Equipment Provider makes the determination of how they will receive UIIA Motor Carrier interchange status data.
Q-14: If my company is updated for all Equipment Providers, why do my drivers still get stopped at the various terminals and facilities?
A-14: Motor Carrier interchange status information is provided directly to the participating Equipment Providers under the UIIA. It is then up to the Equipment Provider to update the various facilities they utilize with this information.
Motor Carriers often experience delays with this process, so IANA developed the Terminal Feed Service. Under the Terminal Feed Service, UIIA Equipment Providers can have Motor Carrier status information sent directly to the facilities they utilize, expediting this process.
Unfortunately not all Equipment Providers take advantage of this value- added UIIA service. We continue to work to encourage those Equipment Providers not subscribing to the Terminal Feed Service to do so.
Q-15: How can I access my account on-line?
A-15: All UIIA Motor Carriers are provided with a password when they initially register for UIIA participation. This password, along with their company’s SCAC Code, provides access to their UIIA Account information, via the Internet at www.uiia.org/tcs/mc_login.shtml.
Q-16: What if I forget my password or want to change the password?
A-16: If you forget your password, you may request this information on-line from the Motor Carrier login page at www.uiia.org/tcs/mc_login.shtml by clicking on Forgot Password. You will need to enter your SCAC Code and then your password will be sent via e-mail to the Main UIIA/IDD Contact on file. The Password will only be provided to the Main UIIA/IDD Contact.
The Main UIIA/IDD Contact may also change their password on-line once they have logged into their account at www.uiia.org/tcs/mc_login.shtml under Update Account Information.
Q-17: What insurance is required under the UIIA? Does my insurance agent need to issue a certificate for each Equipment Provider I want to do business with?
A-17: Click here for UIIA Insurance Requirements.
Motor Carriers should access their account information online and click on Update EP List to select the Equipment Providers they wish to do business with. They should also provide their insurance agent with the Insurance Agent Code and their SCAC Code and have the agent register to submit insurance online at www.uiia.org/tcs/ia_login.shtml by clicking on New Member. If you do not remember your Insurance Agent’s Code to access your account, you can obtain this information by clicking on Update IA Details and the Insurance Agent Code will be shown at the top of the page. We also suggest that your agent download a copy of the Insurance Instructions and also the on-line user guide for Insurance agents at www.uiia.org/userguide/ia/iahelp_1.php.
If your agent will be faxing the information to our office, they will need to provide one certificate of insurance showing the UIIA as the certificate holder. The certificate should include all required insurance policies along with the applicable endorsements. In addition, the certificate must name the Equipment Providers, not the UIIA, as additional insurance on the appropriate policies.
For your agent’s convenience in naming the Equipment Providers additional insured, they can use the Equipment Provider Checklist.
Q-18: How can I obtain copies of Equipment Provider addenda?
A-18: All Motor Carrier participants are provided with copies of all Equipment Providers addenda via e-mail when they initially begin participation in the UIIA. In addition, Motor Carriers can download copies of Equipment Providers addenda to the UIIA by accessing their UIIA account online.
Once you have logged into your UIIA account you can download all the Steamship Lines' addenda by clicking on “Download All Addendums” from the navigation bar or you can click on the Equipment Provider’s company name listed under Pending Approval/Approved, scroll down to the bottom of the page & click on “Current Addendum-click here to download.”
Q-19: When checking my status with specific Equipment Providers online, it shows a lot of the Providers as "selected approved" or "selected pending". What do these selected/not selected terms mean?
A-19: Click here to see a brief summary of what is meant by the terminology Selected Approved/Selected Pending/Not Selected Pending/Not Selected Approved .
Q-20: If my company is changing their name, what do I need to do?
A-20: Changing the company name that your UIIA participation is shown under can be done online or by fax. Click here for the online users guide on how to change your company name :
- 1. Complete a new signature page to the UIIA. (Form 2 starting on Page 3 of the Motor Carrier UIIA participation packet) .
- 2. Make sure that you contact National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) to get your SCAC Code changed to reflect the new company name. You can reach NMFTA at (703) 838-1831. Click here to download a SCAC Code Application.
- 3. If your company currently is approved to do business with Equipment Providers that require additional paperwork (ie. addenda, credit applications), you will be required to complete these documents again under the new company name. Click here for detailed instructions on how to submit EP addenda online.
- 4. Your insurance agent will need to provide a new Certificate of Insurance along with the applicable endorsements reflecting the new company name.
Please note that the name change will not be completed and reflected in the UIIA system until ALL necessary information is provided to our office.
