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Just Got Your MC Authority? What to Do in the First 30 Days

Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 10, 2026

The short answer
  • Confirm the grant on L&I. That, not the letter, is the official record that your authority is active.
  • Grants made in Motus after May 20, 2026 are not in FMCSA's public certificate files. Ask FMCSA for your letter if it did not arrive.
  • Register for UCR, set up drug and alcohol testing, and keep your BOC-3 and insurance current.
  • You are a new entrant for 18 months, and FMCSA does a safety audit within 12 months of starting operations.

Congratulations, your authority is active. Brokers will start asking for paperwork right away, and the next 12 months decide whether you keep it. Here is what to do first.

1. Confirm it on L&I

Search your MC number on FMCSA's L&I system. Authority status should say active, with your insurance and BOC-3 on file. Authority History shows your grant date. Brokers and factoring companies check the same record. See how to check your authority status.

2. Get your authority letter

FMCSA says authority documents normally go out within 3 to 4 business days after the grant. Its Daily Registration Decisions page only covers grants from September 27, 2022 through May 20, 2026, so newer grants made in Motus are not there. If nothing has arrived after 10 business days, contact FMCSA's Registration Customer Service Center. More in how to get a copy of your authority letter, or we can get it for you.

3. Register for UCR

Interstate carriers register with the Unified Carrier Registration Plan every year, and the fee depends on your fleet size. See what UCR is and the 2027 fees. Running loads before January 1, 2027? You likely need 2026 and 2027 as two registrations: see missed 2026 UCR and new carriers.

4. Set up drug and alcohol testing

If your truck needs a CDL, you need a testing program with random testing before your first load, and a Clearinghouse account. Having no program, or no random program, is an automatic failure of the new entrant safety audit. See DOT drug testing for owner-operators and the Clearinghouse.

5. Keep your BOC-3 and insurance current

If either drops off your record, FMCSA suspends your authority. Put your insurance on autopay, find out whether your process agent bills yearly, and keep your mailing address current so notices reach you. If it happens, see how to reinstate your authority.

Planning to haul for large shippers, brokers, or the ports? Many of them ask for a SCAC code before they will set you up. See what a SCAC code is and who needs one, or we can get yours.

6. Get ready for the new entrant safety audit

FMCSA monitors new carriers for 18 months and conducts a safety audit within 12 months after you begin operations, usually at your principal place of business. Your authority becomes permanent only after you complete the program. FMCSA lists automatic failures, including:

  • No drug and alcohol testing program, or no random testing program.
  • Operating without the required level of insurance.
  • Using a driver without a valid CDL, or a medically unqualified driver.
  • Not requiring drivers to keep hours-of-service records.
  • Operating a vehicle that was not periodically inspected, or one placed out of service before repairs.

Start a file now for driver qualification records, hours of service, inspections, and maintenance. Our new entrant audit checklist lists what to keep.

7. Watch your MCS-150 and state filings

Your MCS-150 has to be updated every two years (see when yours is due), and depending on where you run you may need IRP plates, IFTA, Form 2290, and state permits. The filings checklist covers the rest.

Not sure what is missing? A compliance check reviews your FMCSA record and lists what still needs doing.

Common questions

When will I get my MC authority letter?

FMCSA says operating authority documents normally go out within 3 to 4 business days after the grant. If 10 or more business days pass with nothing, contact FMCSA's Registration Customer Service Center.

Can I download my certificate of authority?

Only for grants between September 27, 2022 and May 20, 2026, from FMCSA's Daily Registration Decisions page. For newer grants, ask FMCSA by phone or ticket.

Is my authority permanent now?

Not yet. Under 49 CFR 365.110, authority for carriers operating commercial motor vehicles becomes permanent only after you complete the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program.

What makes a new carrier fail the safety audit automatically?

FMCSA lists automatic failures, including having no drug and alcohol testing program, no random testing program, operating without the required insurance, and using a driver without a valid CDL.

Do I need UCR right away?

Interstate for-hire carriers register with the UCR Plan each year. Register before you run interstate.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.

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