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Look it up to check your status, file an MCS-150, or add services.
USDOT Registration
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Add Operating Authority (MC/FF number)
Update, reactivate or deactivate with an MCS-150
What is a DOT number?
A USDOT number is the identifier the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) gives your company. Roadside inspections, crash reports, audits and compliance reviews are all recorded under it, so it becomes your company's safety record.
If you haul freight or passengers commercially, carry hazardous materials, or arrange transportation for others, you'll almost certainly need one. Numbers are usually 6 to 8 digits and belong to the company, not to a single truck.
Who qualifies
Who needs a DOT number?
You need to register if any of these apply
- Heavy vehiclesA vehicle or combination rated or weighing 10,001 lbs or more.
- Interstate operationsCommercial vehicles that cross state lines for business.
- Passenger transport9–15 passengers for pay, or 16+ passengers for any purpose.
- Hazardous materialsHauling hazmat in amounts that require placards.
- Brokers & forwardersArranging freight as a broker, forwarder, IEP or cargo tank facility.
Operating authority
What is an MC number?
An MC number is the operating authority FMCSA grants to for-hire carriers and brokers.
You need one if you transport goods or passengers for pay across state lines.
Applies to
- For-hire carriers running interstate
- Movers and passenger transportation companies
- Businesses hauling federally regulated freight across state lines
Freight forwarder and household goods broker authorities work the same way.
Frequently asked
USDOT registration FAQ
It's the unique ID FMCSA assigns to your company. Inspections, crashes, audits and your safety rating are all tracked under it, and it stays with the company for as long as you operate.
You need one if you run commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs across state lines, carry passengers for pay, haul placarded hazmat, or operate as a broker or freight forwarder. Many states also require one for in-state carriers.
No. One USDOT number covers the whole company. You display it with your legal name on both sides of each commercial vehicle.
Your legal business name and structure, an EIN (or SSN for sole proprietors), a physical business address, how and where you operate, what you haul, and how many vehicles and drivers you have. If you don't have something handy, you can skip it and send it later.
Yes. FMCSA's Motus registration system requires every new applicant to complete a Login.gov ID check, with photos of your license taken on your phone. We walk you through it on your secure order page and finish the filing as soon as it's done.
Changes are reported with an MCS-150 update, which is also due every two years. See our MCS-150 service.