Frequently Asked Questions

A USDOT number identifies a company for safety-monitoring purposes and is required for most companies operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce (and for some intrastate operations, depending on the state). An MC number (operating authority) is a separate registration required for most for-hire carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders that transport regulated commodities or passengers for compensation. Many carriers need both; some — like private carriers hauling only their own non-hazardous freight — only need a USDOT number.

Motor carriers must complete a biennial (every 24 months) update of their USDOT number information using Form MCS-150, on a schedule determined by the last digits of the USDOT number. This is required even if nothing about the business has changed. Missing the deadline can lead to deactivation of the USDOT number and civil penalties.

New motor carriers are placed under FMCSA's New Entrant Safety Assurance Program for an 18-month monitoring period after they register. During that window FMCSA typically conducts a safety audit to check that basic safety management controls are in place, and the carrier is also subject to the same CSA monitoring and interventions as established carriers. Failing to demonstrate adequate controls can result in revocation of the new entrant's registration.

A compliance review is an in-depth, on-site examination of a carrier's safety management controls — driver qualification files, hours-of-service records, drug and alcohol testing program, vehicle maintenance records, and more — usually triggered by a poor safety record, a complaint, or a serious crash. It's more thorough than a roadside inspection and can result in a safety rating and, in serious cases, an out-of-service order for the carrier.

The violation goes on the driver's and carrier's inspection record and, depending on severity, may put the vehicle or driver out of service until it's corrected (for example, a critical brake defect or an hours-of-service violation). Inspection results also feed into the carrier's CSA/SMS data, so a pattern of violations in the same category can trigger FMCSA follow-up even without any single serious incident.

Most companies operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce — motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies — must register and pay an annual fee under the Unified Carrier Registration Plan, separate from FMCSA's own registration. Fees are set annually and vary by fleet size, so check the current fee bracket before you file.

Any carrier, broker, or freight forwarder applying for operating authority must have a BOC-3 process agent designation on file covering every state in which it operates or maintains an office. For carriers, only a process agent can file the BOC-3 on the carrier's behalf; brokers and freight forwarders without commercial vehicles can file it themselves.

Minimum financial responsibility (liability insurance) levels vary by vehicle type, weight, and what's being hauled — general freight, household goods, passengers, and hazardous materials all have different required minimums, and FMCSA won't issue operating authority until proof of the required coverage is on file. Check FMCSA's insurance requirements page for the current dollar thresholds that apply to your operation.