US DOT & MC

A US DOT number identifies carriers operating in interstate commerce while an MC number identifies a carrier who transports regulated commodities for hire in interstate commerce. Companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number. In general, companies that do the following are required to have interstate operating authority (MC number) in addition to a DOT number: Operating as for-hire carriers (for a fee or other compensation), transporting passengers or arranging for their transport in interstate commerce, transporting federally regulated commodities or arranging for their transport in interstate commerce.

FMCSA operating authority is also referred to as an “MC,” “FF,” or “MX” number, depending on the type of authority that is granted. Unlike the USDOT Number application process, a company may need to obtain multiple operating authorities to support its planned business operations. Operating Authority dictates the type of operation a company may run and the cargo it may carry.