USDOT Number vs MC Number: What Is the Difference and Do You Need Both?
Reviewed by the ICR Filings compliance team · Updated October 19, 2026
New carriers mix these up all the time, and no wonder: both come from FMCSA, both are numbers, and many companies need both. The short version is that a USDOT number says who you are, and an MC number says what you are allowed to do for hire.
The USDOT number: your company's ID
The USDOT number is the identifier FMCSA uses for a company's operations. It ties together your safety record, inspections, crashes, and every registration you hold. It costs nothing to get, and you keep it current with an MCS-150 update every two years.
Interstate carriers generally need one if they run vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more, haul placarded hazmat, or carry passengers in certain vehicles. Brokers and freight forwarders get one too, and many states require one for in-state carriers.
The MC number: your operating authority
An MC number is a docket number for operating authority, the permission to haul regulated freight for hire, or arrange it, across state lines. Freight forwarders get an FF number and Mexican carriers an MX number instead. FMCSA charges $300 for each type of authority, and one company can hold several, for example authority as a motor carrier of property and as a broker.
You generally do not need an MC number if you:
- Haul only your own company's goods (a private carrier)
- Haul only exempt commodities, such as unprocessed farm products
- Operate only within a federally designated commercial zone
Who needs which
| Your business | USDOT number | MC number |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire carrier hauling other people's freight across state lines | Yes | Yes |
| Private carrier hauling its own goods across state lines (10,001 lbs or more) | Yes | No |
| Freight broker | Yes | Yes (broker authority) |
| Carrier hauling only exempt commodities | Usually yes | No |
| Intrastate only | Depends on your state | No |
Not sure where you fit? Our filing checker builds the list for your business in about a minute.
Having an MC number means more filings
Authority only becomes active once FMCSA has your proof of insurance (filed by your insurance company) and a BOC-3 on file. Interstate for-hire carriers also register for UCR every year.
Is FMCSA getting rid of MC numbers?
FMCSA has proposed it, but it has not happened. Under the proposal the USDOT number would become the only identifier, with a letter on the end for each registration you hold. FMCSA has published the suffixes it plans to use, for example:
- C for property carrier authority, so USDOT 1234567C
- B for broker authority
- F for freight forwarder authority
- P for passenger authority and H for household goods
- V for private carriers and R for intrastate carriers
A company with more than one registration would have more than one letter, like 1234567CF. FMCSA says the change would come through a proposed rule open for public comment, and that existing MC numbers would not be replaced by USDOT numbers. Until then, keep using your MC number wherever brokers and shippers ask for it.
Official sources
- FMCSA: What is operating authority and who needs it?
- FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC number)
- FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number?
- FMCSA: Registration modernization FAQs
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Want us to handle it?
USDOT, MC authority, BOC-3, and UCR in one package. Flat service fee, government fees shown separately. Our turnaround: submitted within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.
See New Authority Package (MC Number)