Carriers transporting regulated commodities for hire in interstate commerce must obtain operating authority from the FMCSA, evidenced by an MC number, and maintain minimum levels of financial responsibility.
A USDOT number separately identifies the carrier for safety monitoring purposes.
Alternative Names:
Operating Authority, MC Number, DOT Authority
Why it Matters?
Authority status identifies which entity bore regulatory responsibility for a trip, which is the starting point when multiple companies appear on the paperwork. It also determines whether the MCS-90 endorsement applies. A carrier operating without authority, or with authority revoked for failing to maintain insurance, faces both regulatory consequences and a straightforward negligence per se argument in the resulting litigation.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an MC number and a DOT number?
Why does authority matter after a crash?
