Interstate Carrier ResourcesSuspended, Revoked, Inactive, or Out of Service: What Your MC and USDOT Status Means
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated October 28, 2026
- Your USDOT number and your MC authority have separate statuses. Check both.
- Involuntary suspension means a required filing (insurance or BOC-3) dropped off. Get it back on file, then request reinstatement for $80.
- An inactive USDOT number is usually a registration issue, often a missed MCS-150. It has to be fixed before FMCSA takes a reinstatement request.
- Out of service is the serious one. Paperwork does not clear it, and reinstatement is not available after an imminent hazard order or an unsatisfactory rating.
Brokers usually just say your authority is "not active." FMCSA's records are more specific, and the exact word matters, because suspended, revoked, inactive, and out of service each have a different fix. Here is how to read your status and which path applies.
Two numbers, two statuses
Your USDOT number is your registration. Its status (active, inactive, or out of service) is on SAFER. Your MC number is your operating authority. Its status (active, pending, or inactive with a reason) is on L&I. You can be active on one and not the other. See USDOT vs MC number.
The statuses side by side
| What the record says | What it usually means | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Involuntary Suspension: insurance cancellation | The insurer's BMC-91 or BMC-91X was cancelled | Insurer refiles, then request reinstatement ($80) |
| Involuntary Suspension: BOC-3 cancellation | The process agent company cancelled your BOC-3 | New BOC-3, then request reinstatement ($80) |
| Voluntary Suspension | The carrier asked for the authority to be made inactive | Filings on record, then request reinstatement |
| Revoked | FMCSA took the authority away | Depends on the reason; may need FMCSA review or a new application |
| USDOT inactive | Registration not current, often a missed MCS-150 | MCS-150 update or reactivation |
| Out of service | A safety, audit, or enforcement order | Resolve the order with FMCSA first |
Involuntary suspension
The most common case by far. FMCSA's authority history since June 1, 2026 lists about 9,100 suspensions for insurance and about 1,250 involving the BOC-3. The authority is not gone: once the missing filing is back on record, you request reinstatement and pay FMCSA's $80 fee, and FMCSA says authority is typically active within a week. Guides: insurance suspensions and BOC-3 cancellations.
Voluntary suspension
A voluntary suspension is one the carrier asked for, often when it stops running for a while. Bringing it back works like any reinstatement: insurance and BOC-3 on file, an active USDOT number, and a request with the $80 fee.
Revoked
Revocation is FMCSA taking the authority away rather than the carrier losing a filing. One example in the rules: a new entrant that refuses its safety audit has its registration revoked (49 CFR 385.337), and getting back in means reapplying under 385.329T. Because the reason drives the fix, read the authority history on L&I before you do anything.
Inactive USDOT number
SAFER defines an inactive USDOT as one where the biennial MCS-150 update was not completed. It matters for reinstatement too: FMCSA's systems will not take a motor carrier's reinstatement request while the USDOT number is inactive or out of service. An MCS-150 can go in with the request. See USDOT number inactive.
Out of service
An out-of-service order comes from a safety rating, an audit, unpaid civil penalties, or enforcement. An MCS-150 or a new filing does not clear it. FMCSA says reinstatement cannot be requested after an imminent hazard order or a final unsatisfactory rating. See out-of-service orders.
Not sure which of these you have? See why your MC number is inactive.
How to check yours in two minutes
- SAFER for the USDOTSearch your USDOT number on SAFER and read USDOT Status and Out of Service Date. See how to read the snapshot.
- L&I for the MCSearch your MC number on L&I. Check insurance on file, BOC-3 on file, and the authority history, which gives the reason for each status change.
- Match the reason to the fixUse the table above. Not sure? Run our USDOT lookup or get a Compliance Check.
Suspended for insurance, with your insurer's filing back on record? Our Authority Reinstatement is $169 total, including FMCSA's $80 fee.
Suspended because your BOC-3 was cancelled? See BOC-3 suspension. If the USDOT number itself shows inactive, you can reactivate your USDOT number. To see where you stand right now, check your MC number and authority status.
Common questions
Is suspended the same as revoked?
No. A suspension is usually caused by a missing insurance or BOC-3 filing and is fixed by refiling and requesting reinstatement. Revoked means FMCSA took the authority away, and the path back depends on why. Your authority history on L&I gives the reason.
What does inactive mean on my MC number?
On L&I, an inactive authority status comes with a reason, such as an involuntary suspension, a voluntary suspension, or a revocation. Read the reason in the authority history to know which fix applies.
What is a voluntary suspension?
The carrier or its representative asked FMCSA to make the authority inactive, for example when parking the business. It is reinstated through a request like any other suspension.
Can I reinstate if my USDOT number is inactive?
Not until it is fixed. FMCSA's systems will not let a motor carrier request reinstatement while the USDOT number is inactive or out of service, though an MCS-150 can be submitted with the request.
Can I reinstate after an out-of-service order?
FMCSA says you cannot request reinstatement if you were placed out of service as an imminent hazard or for a final unsatisfactory safety rating. Those have to be resolved with FMCSA first.
Official sources
- FMCSA FAQ: How do I reinstate my operating authority (MC/FF/MX number)?
- FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) public search
- FMCSA SAFER: company snapshot
- 49 CFR 385.337: new entrant refusal to permit a safety audit
- 49 CFR 385.329T: new entrant re-application after revocation
- 49 CFR 385.13: unsatisfactory rated carriers and out-of-service orders
- 49 CFR 386.83: out of service for failure to pay civil penalties
- FMCSA open data: Motus authority history (all with history)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- How Much Does It Cost to Reinstate MC Authority in 2026?
- Why Is My MC Number Inactive? Find the Reason, Then the Fix
- BOC-3 Filed but Your USDOT Number Is Still Inactive? Here Is Why
Want us to handle it?
Reinstate suspended or revoked MC authority. Our turnaround: started within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.
See Authority Reinstatement