Authority and Registration: Your Complete Guide
Authority and registration is the set of federal filings that let a trucking company legally operate: a USDOT number, MC operating authority (if you haul for others across state lines), a BOC-3 process agent, Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), and the MCS-150 update that keeps it all current. This guide links every piece together; the sections below link to the full guide or FAQ on each one.
Free USDOT lookup
See your MCS-150 due date and UCR fee in under a minute — no sign-up.
What’s the difference between a USDOT number and MC authority?
A USDOT number identifies your company to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for safety tracking. MC operating authority (also called “for-hire authority”) is the separate permission to haul other people’s freight for payment across state lines. Many carriers need both; a private carrier hauling only its own goods usually needs just a USDOT number.
Who needs MC operating authority?
For-hire interstate carriers — anyone paid to move someone else’s freight across state lines — need MC authority before they can legally haul a load. Owner-operators leasing onto a carrier operate under that carrier’s authority instead of their own, until they decide to run their own.
How long does it take to get a new authority active?
Plan on three to six weeks from a complete application to an active authority, mostly waiting out FMCSA’s mandatory protest period. The full timeline, step by step, is in How long does it take to get a new DOT number and MC authority?
What is a BOC-3 and why does it matter?
A BOC-3 names a process agent in every state you operate in — someone who can legally accept paperwork on your behalf. FMCSA will not activate MC authority without one on file. See our BOC-3 Process Agent service for how it’s filed.
What is UCR and who has to pay it?
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is a yearly fee most interstate for-hire carriers, brokers and freight forwarders pay, based on fleet size. See UCR Registration for this year’s brackets and deadline.
What is the MCS-150 and when is it due?
The MCS-150 is the biennial update that keeps your USDOT record current — fleet size, driver count, operations. It’s due every two years in a month set by your USDOT number, not a fixed calendar date for everyone. The full schedule is in MCS-150 biennial update: deadlines, who must file, and what happens if you miss it, and the filing service is at MCS-150 Update.
Where do I start?
If you’re setting up a new authority from scratch, start with New authority for owner-operators. If you already have authority and just need to know what’s due when, check the FAQ below or run our free USDOT lookup.
Looking for a free load board, ELD comparisons or other carrier tools while you wait on your authority? Our sister company TruckerOutpost.com, part of the same family of companies, runs a directory of carrier tools and services.