Short answer
An MC number is the docket number FMCSA assigns when it grants operating authority. For-hire carriers hauling federally regulated freight across state lines, freight brokers, and freight forwarders need one in addition to a USDOT number. FMCSA has proposed dropping MC numbers for USDOT-only identification, but as of September 2026 its guidance says docket numbers are still issued.
MC number vs USDOT number
The two numbers do different jobs.
- USDOT number. Identifies the company to FMCSA and ties to its safety record. All FMCSA-regulated entities need one.
- MC number. Identifies an operating authority, meaning what the company is allowed to do for hire. FMCSA says companies that transport federally regulated commodities owned by others, or arrange for their transport, need an MC, FF, or MX number in addition to a USDOT number.
A private fleet hauling its own goods can have a USDOT number and no MC number. A freight broker needs both, plus a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund on file (BMC-84 or BMC-85) and a BOC-3 process agent filing.
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet, based on FMCSA’s own pages as of September 10, 2026. Plenty of third-party articles said MC numbers would end in 2025. That didn’t happen.
- Motus launched. FMCSA’s registration page says legacy systems began giving way to Motus, the new USDOT registration system, on May 14, 2026.
- Docket numbers continue. FMCSA’s May 2026 guide on changes to registrations in Motus says Motus will continue to issue docket numbers and the MC, MX, and FF prefixes stay the same.
- Elimination is proposed, not in effect. The modernization FAQ says FMCSA has proposed no longer assigning MC numbers, with the USDOT number as the sole identifier, and that the change will not take effect with the first release of Motus.
- Existing numbers stay. FMCSA’s FAQ (updated May 21, 2026) says existing MC numbers won’t be replaced by USDOT numbers if it stops issuing them.
Motus also shows suffixes on USDOT numbers to mark registration types, such as B for broker, C for property carrier, and F for freight forwarder. FMCSA says suffixes aren’t a vehicle marking requirement.
How brokers use MC numbers
The MC number is the first thing most brokers ask for, and it’s the first place fraud shows up. Before booking, check the authority in FMCSA’s public records:
- Authority status is active for the type of work, such as property carrier.
- Insurance is on file and matches the certificate the carrier sent.
- Company name, address, phone, and email match what’s on the carrier packet.
- The USDOT number and MC number belong to the same company.
A mismatch between the phone number on the rate con and the one on file is a classic sign of identity theft or double brokering. The freight fraud prevention guide covers the checks in more depth.
Example: a mismatch that should stop a booking
Example. A carrier calls about a load and gives its MC number. The public record shows active authority for more than ten years and a company based in Ohio. The carrier packet lists the same name but a new Gmail address and a cell phone with a Florida area code. The carrier sales rep calls the phone number listed in the FMCSA record, and the real company says it never called. That load stays unbooked.
Common mistakes
- Checking only that an MC number exists, not that authority is active and insurance is on file.
- Trusting contact details from the email instead of the federal record.
- Assuming a USDOT number alone means a carrier can haul brokered freight for hire.
- Acting on “MC numbers are gone” articles instead of FMCSA’s current pages.
How FreightVero handles it
In the FreightVero broker TMS, carrier records store the MC number with a DOT field, and you can search your own carriers by MC. That part is live. FreightVero doesn’t look up FMCSA authority for you. Your team records a compliance status on the carrier, and a load’s carrier checkpoint requires that status to be approved. RMIS and MyCarrierPackets integrations are planned.