USDOT Number & MC Number Requirements | FMCSA Registration Help

A USDOT Number is a unique identifier issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It’s used to monitor and collect safety information, inspections, compliance reviews, and accident investigations for commercial motor carriers.

You must have a USDOT Number if you operate in interstate commerce (across state lines) and meet any of the following conditions:

1. Your vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 10,001 pounds or more.
    
2. You transport hazardous materials in quantities requiring placards.
    
3. You transport passengers (9 or more for compensation, or 16 or more not for compensation).
    
4. You operate a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate commerce in certain states that require a USDOT Number (check your state regulations).
    

Key Takeaway: If you drive a truck, bus, or other commercial vehicle in interstate commerce, chances are you need a USDOT Number.

An MC Number (Motor Carrier Number) is issued by FMCSA to companies that transport regulated commodities in interstate commerce for-hire (meaning you are paid to transport goods or passengers). It’s sometimes called Operating Authority.

You must have an MC Number if you:

1. Transport regulated commodities or passengers for hire across state lines.
    
2. Arrange the transport of regulated commodities for others (as a broker or freight forwarder).
    
3. Operate as a for-hire carrier, even if you already have a USDOT Number.
    

Note:

• If you only haul exempt commodities (like certain agricultural products) across state lines, you may need only a USDOT Number, not an MC Number.
   
• If you operate strictly in intrastate commerce, meaning neither your vehicles nor the commodities that you transport cross State lines,  you may not need an MC Number — but state-level authority may still apply.
   

RequirementUSDOT NumberMC NumberPurposeIdentifies and monitors safety compliance.Grants operating authority to transport regulated goods/passengers for hire.Who Needs It?Most interstate commercial carriers.Interstate for-hire carriers of regulated commodities or passengers.Issued ByFMCSAFMCSACoversSafety and compliance monitoring.Legal authority to operate in for-hire interstate commerce.  
 

Operating without the proper registration can result in hefty fines, shutdown orders, and insurance issues. The FMCSA actively enforces these requirements through roadside inspections and audits.

Need Help?

We can prepare and file your USDOT and/or MC Number applications for you — ensuring accuracy, speed, and compliance from the start.

📞 Call us at [Your Phone Number] or 📧 Email [Your Email] to get started today.”