What a USDOT number and an MC number each mean, who needs which, why MC numbers still exist after Motus, and how to look up any carrier or broker in minutes.
A USDOT number identifies a company to FMCSA so its safety record, inspections and crashes can be tracked, while an MC number is operating authority: permission to haul regulated freight for hire across state lines or to broker loads. Most for-hire interstate carriers need both. You can look up either number for free in FMCSA's SAFER system or in a lookup tool like Company Snapshot.
Key takeaways
- A USDOT number is about safety tracking. An MC number is about permission to operate for hire.
- Private carriers hauling their own goods usually need a USDOT number but no MC number.
- MC numbers still exist in 2026. FMCSA's new Motus system kept them, and replacing them is only a proposal.
- Always check that the number is active and matches the company name before you book or tender a load.
What is a USDOT number?
A USDOT number is the unique ID FMCSA uses to track a company's safety information, including inspections, crashes, audits and compliance reviews. FMCSA requires one for companies whose commercial vehicles haul cargo or passengers in interstate commerce if a vehicle:
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more.
- Is designed or used to carry more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation.
- Is designed or used to carry more than 15 passengers, including the driver.
- Hauls hazardous materials in amounts that require a safety permit, even within one state.
Many states also require a USDOT number for carriers that only operate inside the state, so check your state's rules too. Once you have a number, keep your registration current with an MCS-150 update every two years.
What is an MC number?
An MC number is a docket number that shows a company has operating authority from FMCSA. Depending on the business, authority comes with an MC, FF (freight forwarder) or MX (Mexico-domiciled carrier) prefix. Companies generally need it, on top of a USDOT number, if they:
- Haul regulated freight for hire across state lines.
- Transport passengers in interstate commerce.
- Arrange freight for others as a broker.
Not everyone needs one. Private carriers hauling their own cargo, for-hire carriers that only haul exempt commodities, and carriers working only inside a federal commercial zone usually don't. A company can also hold more than one type of authority.
Getting the number isn't the finish line. Authority only becomes active once the required insurance or bond and the process agent filing (BOC-3) are on file with FMCSA.
How to get a USDOT number and MC number
New registrations now go through Motus, FMCSA's online registration system, which replaced the old portal in 2026. The basic steps:
- Create a Motus account and verify your identity.
- Apply for your USDOT number and choose the operating authority your business needs.
- Have your insurance company or bond provider file proof with FMCSA.
- File your BOC-3 process agent designation, usually through a blanket process agent company.
- Wait for the authority to show as active before you haul or broker any load.
New carriers should also expect a new entrant safety audit during their first year in business.
MC number vs DOT number: the key differences
- Purpose: the USDOT number tracks safety. The MC number grants permission to operate for hire or broker freight.
- Who needs it: almost every interstate commercial carrier needs a USDOT number. Only for-hire carriers, passenger carriers and brokers need an MC number.
- What it tells you: a USDOT lookup shows safety data and fleet size. An MC lookup shows authority type, status and insurance or bond filings.
- Brokers: a broker needs broker authority and the $75,000 bond or trust, but no trucks.
- Together: a for-hire interstate carrier usually has both, and you can search by either one.
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet. FMCSA launched its new Motus registration system in 2026 and shut down the old Unified Registration System on May 14, 2026. Motus did not remove MC numbers, and FMCSA says existing MC numbers will not be replaced by USDOT numbers.
FMCSA has proposed eventually using the USDOT number as the only identifier, with letters added for each type of registration, such as C for a property carrier or B for a broker. That change would need a future rulemaking. For the background, read our article on the USDOT number transition.
How to look up an MC or DOT number
Use FMCSA's SAFER system
SAFER is FMCSA's free public lookup. Search by USDOT number, MC number or company name, then open the company snapshot to see the legal name, address, operating status, fleet size, inspections and crashes. Authority and insurance filings are listed in the licensing and insurance records linked from it.
What to check
- The USDOT status is active and not out of service.
- The authority type matches the job: carrier authority to haul, broker authority to broker.
- The authority is active, not pending or revoked.
- Insurance is on file for carriers, or the bond or trust for brokers.
- The legal name, address and phone number match who you are dealing with.
Carriers checking a broker can follow our 7 broker checks. Brokers checking a carrier can use our guide on how freight brokers find and vet carriers.
Faster: look it up in Company Snapshot
Jumping between FMCSA pages takes time. Just Tracking's Company Snapshot shows it all on one screen when you search any broker or carrier by MC or DOT number:
- For carriers: authority and USDOT status, liability insurance on file, safety rating, out-of-service rate, fleet size, a 24-month safety record and red flags in plain words.
- For brokers: authority status, the bond and its filing history, revocation notices, the process agent, credit score and days to pay.
- For both: reviews from verified users, checked by our team.
Company Snapshot is free for verified users, and every account is reviewed by our team.
Common mistakes when checking numbers
- Trusting the number in an email signature without checking that the contact details match FMCSA records.
- Confusing broker authority with carrier authority. A company with only broker authority can't haul the load itself.
- Stopping at "the number exists" without checking that the authority and USDOT status are active.
- Assuming an MC number on paperwork is outdated. MC numbers are still valid in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need both an MC number and a DOT number?
If you haul regulated freight for hire across state lines, you usually need both. Private carriers hauling their own goods typically need only a USDOT number.
Can I have a DOT number without an MC number?
Yes. Private carriers, carriers hauling only exempt commodities and many intrastate carriers have a USDOT number but no MC number.
How do I look up a company by MC number?
Search the MC number in FMCSA's SAFER system to see the company snapshot and authority records. Lookup tools like Company Snapshot show authority, insurance, safety and reviews together.
Is the MC number being replaced by the USDOT number?
Not yet. FMCSA has proposed it, but Motus launched in 2026 without removing MC numbers, and existing MC numbers stay in use.
Does a freight broker have a DOT number?
Yes. Brokers are registered with a USDOT number and hold broker authority with an MC number, plus the required $75,000 bond or trust.
Look up your next carrier or broker
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