IRP stands for International Registration Plan. IRP Apportioned plates are special licensed plates granted to commercial trucking companies that conduct interstate and international shipping (i.e., business with Mexico and Canada). You cannot simply get these plates when you register a truck in your fleet for operation on state roads. There is a process, and there are states that may or may not participate in this program. There are also reasons why you may want to get these plates for all of your trucks.
Be an Established Interstate Shipper
First and foremost, to apply for these plates you have to show that in the last several months your drivers and their trucks have been crossing state lines into several other states. Usually, the receipts you have for interstate trucking permits are enough proof. You can apply online, but you still have to either mail in or bring your proof to the nearest truck licensing and registration office. If you are approved for these plates, you have to pay the proper registration and licensing fees for every truck to receive its own qualified plates.
Participating States
Most states participate, although this program may be called something different in other states. You will have to check the list of states through which your drivers travel to make sure the plates cover their travel without separate trip and travel permits. Any state that does not participate in this program may have something similar or those states will still require trucking permits. Ergo, it is important to verify which states are part of the apportioned plates program.
Why You May Want These Plates
As it stands, you are probably paying thousands and thousands of dollars every year, and hundreds of dollars every month, just for your trucks to cross into other states and have permission to drive in and through those states. When you are accepted into the IRP program, you can say goodbye to all of those interstate trucking permits and fees and your drivers will not have to constantly stop and have their loads inspected all the time. The plates give your drivers more room to move and move through states to meet their deadlines. In a way, it even saves on gas because the trucks are not pulling over, braking, and/or standing idle for long periods of time while the loads are inspected and the trucks are released to keep on driving.
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