FMCSA Operating Authority: How to Get Your MC Number

By CarrierLens Compliance Team • Last updated: 2026-05-01

FMCSA operating authority — commonly called an MC number — is the federal authorization that allows for-hire carriers to transport regulated commodities or passengers in interstate commerce. Without it, any for-hire trucking operation crossing state lines is operating illegally. This guide explains who needs operating authority, how to apply, what the timeline looks like, and what compliance obligations kick in the moment authority activates.

What Is FMCSA Operating Authority?

Operating authority is the legal right granted by FMCSA to carry goods or passengers across state lines for compensation. It is separate from a USDOT number — you can have a USDOT number without having operating authority, but you cannot legally operate as a for-hire interstate carrier without both.

Operating authority is identified by an MC number (Motor Carrier), FF number (Freight Forwarder), or MX number (Mexican carrier). The MC number is the most common type and is what most trucking companies need.

Who Needs FMCSA Operating Authority?

You need operating authority if you are a for-hire carrier transporting regulated commodities in interstate commerce — meaning you haul other people's goods across state lines for payment. You do not need operating authority (only a USDOT number) if you are a private carrier hauling only your own products in your own vehicles.

• Motor carrier of property (general freight) — most trucking companies; requires MC authority
• Motor carrier of household goods — moving companies; requires MC authority (household goods)
• Motor carrier of passengers — charter buses, passenger transportation; requires MC authority (passengers)
• Freight broker — arranges transportation without operating trucks; requires broker authority (MC number)
• Freight forwarder — assembles consolidations; requires FF number

Applying for Operating Authority: Step by Step

1. Register or log in to the FMCSA Unified Registration System (URS) at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. If you already have a USDOT number, use your existing account.
2. Submit Form OP-1 (Application for Motor Property Carrier and Broker Authority) with your company information, type of authority requested, and commodity types. The filing fee is $300 per authority type.
3. Wait for the 10-day protest period. After FMCSA publishes your application, existing carriers have 10 days to file objections. Most applications receive no protests.
4. File insurance with FMCSA. Your insurance broker must file Form BMC-91 (liability) or BMC-91X electronically with FMCSA. For household goods carriers, a BMC-34 cargo insurance filing is also required.
5. File a BOC-3 designation of process agents. A blanket BOC-3 service can file this for $20–40, designating process agents in all 50 states.
6. Receive your MC number and activation notice. Once the protest period expires and all filings are received, FMCSA activates the authority — typically within 1–3 business days of all documents being received.

Timeline: How Long Does It Take?

• USDOT number: Same-day to 24 hours (free)
• MC number issuance: 1–3 business days after OP-1 submission
• 10-day protest period: Mandatory waiting period after MC number is issued
• Insurance filing processing: 1–3 business days after your broker submits BMC-91
• Total from application to active authority: Typically 3–5 weeks

Insurance Requirements for Operating Authority

FMCSA requires proof of insurance before activating operating authority. Your insurance broker must file electronically:

• BMC-91 or BMC-91X — Primary liability insurance. Minimum limits: $750,000 for general freight under 10,001 lbs; $1,000,000 for general freight over 10,001 lbs or passengers; $5,000,000 for hazardous materials in certain categories.
• BMC-34 — Cargo insurance for household goods movers. Minimum $5,000 per vehicle or $10,000 per occurrence.

If your insurance lapses, FMCSA automatically revokes your operating authority. Reinstatement requires a new BMC-91 filing and a $80 reinstatement fee.

Compliance Obligations That Begin the Day Authority Activates

Operating authority activation is not the finish line — it is the starting gun for FMCSA compliance obligations:

• Drug and alcohol testing program — must be in place before your first CDL driver operates a CMV
• Driver qualification files — required for every CDL driver before their first trip
• MCS-150 biennial update — required every 2 years; missing it deactivates your USDOT number
• ELD mandate — required for most carriers subject to HOS rules
• Vehicle annual inspections — required under 49 CFR Part 396
• New entrant safety audit — FMCSA will conduct one within 12 months of operations

Common Operating Authority Mistakes

• Hauling freight before authority activates — operating as a for-hire carrier without active MC authority is a federal violation. The 10-day protest period is mandatory; you cannot begin operations during it.
• Letting insurance lapse — even a single day without active BMC-91 coverage triggers automatic authority revocation.
• Confusing USDOT number and MC number — a USDOT number alone does not authorize for-hire interstate operations. Both are required.
• Not setting up compliance programs before first dispatch — carriers frequently launch without a drug testing program or driver files in place, creating acute violations on day one.