As a new member of the trucking industry, you’re looking for answers about IRP.  What is IRP for trucking? Do I need IRP? How do I apply? We will answer these questions and more about the IRP to help you get started with your registration.

Kentucky IRP Information

The IRP, meaning International Registration Plan, is an agreement between the United States and Canada that has simplified the complex process of collecting and distributing fees among jurisdictions. Truckers benefit from this plan because it eliminates having to register with each jurisdiction on their route.  With IRP, you only need to register once, with your base state, and they take care of distributing the fees among the jurisdictions on your route. Each jurisdiction is paid according to the number of miles accrued by your vehicles in that state. This is known as apportioned fees, and they vary from state to state.

Kentucky IRP Registration

To answer your second question, “Do I need IRP?”, these are the requirements and qualifications you must meet to be approved for an IRP apportioned plate:

  1. Have an established place of business in Kentucky that is a physical structure with a street address.  The business must be open during regular business hours. All operational records must be maintained and can be made available at this location.
  2. If you operate a qualified vehicle outside of Kentucky in two or more jurisdictions, you must register with IRP.  
  3. A qualified vehicle is one that is designed, maintained, and used for transporting persons or property.  The power unit should have two axles with a gross vehicle weight that exceeds 26,000 pounds, or three axles regardless of weight.  

How do you apply for a Kentucky IRP apportioned plate?  The first thing you’ll need to do is visit the county clerk’s office to obtain an apportioned certificate which can only be used once.  To apply for the IRP plate, you can contact your local IRP office, or apply online here.

Once your registration is approved, you’ll receive an apportioned plate and cab card for each vehicle.

Renewing Your IRP Kentucky Plates

Your Kentucky IRP plates must be renewed each year.  About six weeks before the expiration date, you’ll receive a renewal notice with instructions on how to complete the process.  Or, you may complete the application online here.  You can also add vehicles, change weights, print temporary cab cards, request replacement credentials, and pay your IRP fees on the website.  Keep in mind that the renewal and payment must be received by the IRP office 30 days before the due date. Late payments can result in fines or penalties.

Like most new truckers, you’re excited about getting behind the wheel and building your business.  But, the idea of all the forms, reports, and deadlines has made you wonder how you can do it all and still have time to make money.  You’ll be pleased to know that at TruckingOffice, we have the solution.

How TruckingOffice Can Make Your Life Easier

Our TruckingOffice software was designed to help truckers make the most of their valuable time and also stay compliant with IRP and IFTA.  We track everything for you including invoices, dispatches, vehicle maintenance, mileage, IFTA and IRP reporting and payments, and more.  

Another benefit of our TruckingOffice software is that all of your information is secure and in one place.  No more worries about lost receipts or missing documents. Also, you can access your information anytime, from any computer that has the Internet.  

We’ve made it easy for you to give TruckingOffice a try.  Sign up for our 30-day free trial and find out why thousands of truckers are enjoying freedom from paperwork while also saving time and money.