The Board is charged with the regulation of public motor bus operators that transport passengers for hire in and out of the province of New Brunswick.

Motor Carriers must make application for a license to operate and the application is published in the Royal Gazette. Any person wishing to object to the granting of the application shall file a notice of objection with the applicant and the Board. When no objection is received, the application is granted. However, if the Board receives an objection it will hold a meeting to review the information received and discuss the necessity of a public hearing. When a public hearing is scheduled, the onus is on the objector to prove to the Board that the granting of the license would be detrimental to the users of the public transportation services, to provincial economic or social development, or to intraprovincial, interprovincial or international commerce.

Following the granting of a license and before the license is issued, the carrier must satisfy safety requirements to purchase motor carrier plates for each vehicle they intend to operate under the license.

Temporary permits are granted on an emergency basis to motor carriers that do not hold a New Brunswick motor carrier license only when licensed carriers in New Brunswick are not available to provide the service.