MC Number Requirements | FMCSA Registration Help

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.

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