What is IRP?

If you are new to the trucking industry, you might probably be trying to find an answer to this question. But things related to this term aren’t that hard to understand.

In simple words, IRP or The International Registration Plan is an agreement effective between the U.S. and Canada. IRP allows vehicles carriers to operate across jurisdictions. It can do this by charging them a fees/ tax based on the likes traveled in each state. However, the fees vary according to the different state, and South Carolina is a member of IRP has its own set of requirements.

Let dive straight into more information about South Carolina IRP requirements.

South Carolina IRP Registration

Before we talk about IRP, you will have to register your vehicle carrier with USDOT and acquire authorization from FMCSA in order to travel across the state borders. Additionally, you should also register with IFTA to report quarterly fuel use taxes.

Usually getting plates requires you to undergo several procedures such as filling different IRP registration forms.

• The forms IRP Schedule A/E and IRP Schedule B for opening new accounts.
• IRP Schedule C to makes changes to an already existing account.
• IRP Schedule F to add more jurisdictions to your route.

You should get in touch with your base state to access these forms, or you can obtain them from the local IRP office or from the DMV as well. If you are unaware of what a base jurisdiction is, it is the state at which your vehicles at registered. For instance, if you register your vehicles in South Carolina, then this state becomes your base jurisdiction.

In South Carolina, a carrier eligible to be an apportianable feed mainly runs in two or more member jurisdictions of the IRP.

Additionally, the below-given criteria also have to be met by the vehicles:

• The power unit should contain at least two axles and GVW of over 26,000 pounds.
• It should have a minimum of three or more axles without taking weight into consideration.
• The power unit when used in combination with GVW exceeds 26,000 pounds.

When these criteria are taken into consideration, certain vehicles such as farm vehicles, recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, and government-owned or leased vehicles are made exempt from the IRP.

Renewing Your South Carolina IRP Plate

The license plate in South Carolina is issued by the base jurisdiction. This license plate under IRP becomes base plate and it happens to be the only registration ID plate that would be issued by a member jurisdiction. In order to obtain a base plate in South Carolina, your business should meet the following criteria;

• Your vehicles must run and accrue mileage in the state in of South Carolina.
• Your business should have a registered physical address in the base state.
• The operational records under your business should be stored at your office space in South Carolina.
• You must submit a proof for your established business place at the address including a telephone number, and a list of names of all the people doing business at this location.

According To IRP, if you don’t meet these requirements you won’t be eligible to get a base plate from South Carolina. The base plates are renewed yearly, and IRP offers a grace period of 3 days after the due date for renewal. You need to make sure that you renew, make the payment, and grab the new credentials during the grace period to save yourself from delays and fines.

How TruckingOffice Can Assist You

The humongous amount of paperwork that comes along with IRP is such a headache for most of the professional drivers out there. Our TruckingOffice program comes to your aid always to relieve your stress of IRP applications, renewals, payments, and more. Our software makes invoicing, and dispatches easy, alongside, tracking your mileage, and making sure you never miss a deadline. Take advantage of our 30-day free trial, and learn more about TruckingOffice and South Carolina IRP by contacting us.