How to Get Your Own Authority: USDOT Number, MC Number and Motus
The order of filings that takes a new trucking company from application to active authority, what changed with FMCSA's Motus system in 2026, and the state registrations that follow.
To haul freight for hire across state lines under your own name, you need a USDOT number and operating authority, which comes with an MC number. As of November 2026, new applicants file both in FMCSA’s Motus registration system, pay $300 for each type of authority, pass identity verification, and must have insurance and a BOC-3 process agent on file before the authority becomes active.
This guide covers federal registration for a for-hire property carrier, the most common path for an owner-operator leaving a lease. Brokers and freight forwarders follow similar steps with different filings.
Do you need a USDOT number, an MC number, or both?
A USDOT number identifies a company for safety purposes. An MC number shows authority to operate as a for-hire carrier, broker or freight forwarder in interstate commerce.
| Operation | USDOT number | Operating authority (MC) |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire carrier hauling regulated freight across state lines | Yes | Yes |
| Private carrier hauling its own goods across state lines | Yes | No |
| For-hire carrier hauling only exempt commodities, such as some unprocessed farm products | Yes | No |
| Carrier operating only within one state | Depends on the state; many require one | No federal authority; the state may require its own |
| Property broker | Yes | Yes (broker authority) |
The USDOT number applies to interstate vehicles of 10,001 lb or more, vehicles hauling placarded hazmat, and vehicles carrying 9 or more passengers for pay or 16 or more without pay.
What is Motus and what changed in 2026?
Motus is FMCSA’s new online registration system. It replaced the old Unified Registration System for new USDOT numbers and operating authority. Phase I opened to insurance filers, process agent companies and service providers on December 8, 2025. Phase II opened to all regulated companies in May 2026, when the legacy registration tools went offline.
Two things changed for new applicants:
- Identity verification. The company official scans a QR code with a smartphone or tablet, photographs a government-issued ID, and takes a face scan. Existing carriers verify identity the first time they use Motus.
- Business verification. Motus checks the legal name, principal place of business, ownership and company officials against outside records.
FMCSA said applicants should expect at least eight business days for initial review, longer if an application is flagged for vetting. The agency’s Federal Register notice on Motus explains the system and the forms it absorbs.
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet. FMCSA has proposed for years to make the USDOT number the only identifier, but when Motus Phase II launched the agency kept MC and FF docket numbers. It also left the BOC-3 process and the proposed safety registration step unchanged after industry asked for more time. FMCSA said it would make those changes through later rulemaking. As of November 2026, no proposed rule to end MC numbers had been published, so new for-hire carriers still receive one with their authority.
FMCSA has also warned that USDOT and MC numbers may not be sold, bought or leased. A number belongs to the legal entity that registered it.
What are the steps to get your own authority?
- Form the business. Decide on a sole proprietorship, LLC or corporation and get an EIN from the IRS. The legal name must match across every filing.
- Create a Login.gov account and open Motus. Complete identity verification for the company official.
- Apply in Motus for a USDOT number and operating authority. Select motor carrier of property (and broker, if you plan to broker loads). Pay $300 for each type of authority through Pay.gov. The fee is not refunded if the application is denied.
- Line up insurance. Your insurer files proof of liability coverage with FMCSA on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X. The federal minimum for a for-hire carrier of general freight in vehicles of 10,001 lb or more is $750,000; hazmat carriers need more. See our guide to commercial truck insurance requirements.
- Designate process agents. A process agent company files Form BOC-3 for you, naming an agent in each state where you operate. Many carriers use a blanket company that covers all states.
- Wait out the protest period. FMCSA publishes the application in the FMCSA Register, and anyone may protest within 10 days.
- Confirm the authority is active. FMCSA grants authority once the protest period ends and the insurance and BOC-3 filings are on record. Check the status in Motus before hauling a load.
What do you register after the authority is granted?
Federal authority is only part of the paperwork. Before running interstate, most owner-operators also need:
- Unified Carrier Registration (UCR). An annual fee based on fleet size. For the 2027 registration year, a carrier with 0 to 2 vehicles pays $55, up from $46. Details are in our UCR registration guide.
- IRP apportioned plates and IFTA. Filed with your base state for vehicles over 26,000 lb or with three or more axles; see the guides to IRP plates and IFTA fuel tax.
- Heavy vehicle use tax. IRS Form 2290 for trucks of 55,000 lb or more, needed to register the vehicle.
- Drug and alcohol program. Enrollment in a testing consortium and Clearinghouse registration, since a one-truck carrier must use a consortium or third-party administrator for its own reporting.
What happens in the first 18 months?
A new carrier is a new entrant for 18 months. FMCSA monitors its roadside inspections and crashes and conducts a safety audit, generally after at least 3 months of operation, to check basic controls such as driver qualification files, hours of service records, drug testing and vehicle maintenance (49 CFR 385.307).
Certain findings can trigger an expedited audit, including using a driver without a valid CDL, operating a vehicle placed out of service, or a driver or vehicle out-of-service rate of 50 percent or more over at least three inspections in 90 days. A carrier that fails the audit and does not correct the problems can have its registration revoked. Keep your USDOT record current with the biennial update every 24 months, or the number can be deactivated.
Bottom line
The $300 filing fee is fixed, but insurance premiums for a new authority are not, so get quotes before you file: the authority cannot go active until the insurer’s BMC-91 filing is on record. Because Motus verifies the identity of every new applicant, a mismatch between your ID, your business records and your application can delay approval, so use the exact legal name everywhere. Shippers and brokers will look up your new authority in FMCSA’s public data; see how in our guide to checking a carrier’s safety record.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get an MC number?
The FMCSA filing fee is $300 per type of authority, as of November 2026. Insurance, process agent filings, UCR and state registrations are separate costs.
How long does it take to get operating authority?
Expect at least the 10-day protest period after publication, plus FMCSA’s initial review of at least eight business days in Motus. Delays in insurance or BOC-3 filings, or extra vetting, add time.
Can I use someone else’s MC number?
No. FMCSA says USDOT and MC numbers cannot be sold, rented or leased. An owner-operator who wants to haul under another carrier’s authority does so by leasing the truck to that carrier.
Do I have to reapply for my USDOT number because of Motus?
No. Existing registrations stay valid. You create a Motus account and verify your identity when you first use the system to update or manage your registration.
