This branch of the Division of Motor Vehicles oversees credential issuance and revenue collection from the commercial trucking industry.
The Motor Carrier Services Section administers West Virginia’s participation in two multijurisdictional revenue and credential reciprocity compacts: the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) and the International Registration Plan (IRP).
They spearhead a technology-driven effort to simplify legal compliance procedures for the trucking industry and bring maximum economic efficiency to interstate and US-Canadian commerce. IRP and IFTA enable US and Canadian commercial motor carriers to operate throughout most of North America with tax and registration credentials issued by their home jurisdictions.
The Motor Carrier Services Section also serves as the lead agency for the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems Network (CVISN) and other Intelligent Transportation Systems/Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO) initiatives directed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. CVISN and ITS/CVO initiatives are focused on streamlining government regulatory processes by consolidation of functions and electronic data exchanges.
IRP
The International Registration Plan regulates commercial vehicle registration, and is required for vehicles over 26,000 lbs or that have (3) or more axles on a power unit and cross state lines. Once registered, drivers receive an apportioned license plate and an apportioned cab card showing all states you’re registered to drive in for each unit.
10 Canadian provinces and all of the states of the continental US recognize IRP credentials.
IFTA
The International Fuel Tax Agreement administers the credentialing for commercial fuel taxes, so the decals and licenses for the aforementioned vehicles.
IFTA credentials are valid for travel in all of Canada and the continental US.
IFTA and IRP-What’s the Difference?
A couple key differences between the two compacts include that IRP allows for more than one base jurisdiction while IFTA does not. Additionally, IRP refers to license plates or vehicle registration and IFTA refers to fuel tax reports that member carriers must file with their base jurisdictions.
Other Operations:
- Collection of apportioned ad valorem fees for WV counties
- Advice and training for law enforcement personnel and others concerning policies, regulations, and statutes pertaining to commercial vehicles
- Processing and issuance of fuel tax decals