Frequently asked questions
MC authority questions, answered.
Direct answers to the 25 most common FMCSA operating-authority questions. Every entry links to a full deep-dive with the underlying federal regulation cited inline.
Last reviewed October 24, 2026
Do I need an MC number or just a USDOT number?
Most for-hire interstate motor carriers need both. The USDOT is the safety-tracking ID; the MC is the for-hire interstate operating-authority ID. Private carriers (hauling their own freight) need only the USDOT. Pure intrastate carriers may need neither under federal rules but face state-level requirements.
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How long does an MC application take?
FMCSA controls the timing. Authority is granted once the BOC-3 and insurance are on file and the 10-day protest period after the application's FMCSA Register notice has passed (49 CFR 365.203T). The accepted application publishes in the FMCSA Register as a preliminary grant of authority; protests are due within 10 days of that notice and the BOC-3 + insurance within 20 days (49 CFR §365.109T).
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Do freight brokers need an MC number or USDOT number?
Both. Brokers register with the FMCSA and receive both an MC-B (broker authority) and a USDOT number. The MC-B is the operating-authority record; the USDOT is the parent ID. Brokers also need a $75K BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust, plus a BOC-3 process-agent designation.
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What causes an MC application to fail?
The four most common failure modes: legal-name mismatches between the USDOT and the application, incomplete applications (missing tariff or HHG arbitration sections), missing BOC-3 or insurance filings within 20 days of the FMCSA Register notice, and unresolved public protests.
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How much does it cost to get MC authority?
The FMCSA application fee for Form OP-1 is $300 - the same fee for motor carrier, broker, and freight forwarder authority. On top of the $300, factor in $75 for the BOC-3 process-agent designation, $39 for Form 2290 (if running 55,000+ lb GVW vehicles), and the underlying insurance premiums (highly variable). FastTruckAuthority prepares the application for a $199 service fee plus the $300 FMCSA fee ($499 total).
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How long does MC authority take to activate?
FMCSA controls the timing. Authority is granted once the BOC-3 and insurance are on file and the 10-day protest period after the application's FMCSA Register notice has passed (49 CFR 365.203T). The accepted application publishes in the FMCSA Register as a preliminary grant of authority; protests are due within 10 days of that notice and the BOC-3 + insurance within 20 days (49 CFR §365.109T).
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Do I need MC authority or just a USDOT number?
Both. Every for-hire interstate motor carrier needs a USDOT number AND MC operating authority. The USDOT number is the FMCSA carrier identifier; MC authority is the FMCSA permission to haul interstate. Pure intrastate carriers need only a USDOT number (or sometimes just a state DOT number, depending on the state).
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Can I be my own process agent on the BOC-3?
No, in any state where you are not physically present. The BOC-3 process agent must be physically located in each state where the carrier may be served - for blanket coverage, that means agents in all 48 lower states. A motor carrier or broker cannot self-designate in states where they have no physical presence.
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How long does it take to get an MC number?
FMCSA controls the timing. Authority is granted once the BOC-3 and insurance are on file and the 10-day protest period after the application's FMCSA Register notice has passed (49 CFR 365.203T). The BOC-3 and insurance filings are due within 20 days of the FMCSA Register notice (49 CFR §365.109T).
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What is the BIPD filing for FMCSA authority?
BIPD stands for Bodily Injury and Property Damage - the financial-responsibility filing required under 49 CFR Part 387. For property carriers, this is the BMC-91 (cargo and auto liability) or BMC-91X (auto liability only). The BIPD filing demonstrates that the carrier has at least the federal-minimum primary auto liability coverage in place.
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Can a carrier hold multiple MC numbers?
Generally only one MC per legal entity. A single LLC or corporation typically holds one MC. Different MC numbers are assigned for different authority types under the same entity (motor carrier MC, broker MC-B, freight forwarder MC-FF can all attach to the same EIN). Separate operating-authority entities (different EINs) get separate MC numbers.
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Do I need both a USDOT and an MC number?
Most interstate motor carriers need both. The USDOT is the federal safety/compliance ID - required for CMV operations in interstate commerce and for intrastate hazmat that needs an FMCSA safety permit; 38 states plus Puerto Rico also require it for some intrastate operations. The MC number is operating authority - required for interstate for-hire freight or broker activities. Pure intrastate carriers may need only a USDOT (or only state authority); pure private-fleet operators need only USDOT.
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What is the FMCSA new-entrant safety audit?
A mandatory safety audit conducted by FMCSA on every new motor carrier within the first 12 months of operation under 49 CFR Part 385 Subpart D. The audit reviews the carrier's compliance with §391 (driver qualification), §382 (drug & alcohol), §395 (hours of service), §396 (vehicle maintenance), and other items. A failed audit brings a written notice and a deadline to fix the problems: 60 days, or 45 days for passenger carriers (9-15 passengers for compensation, or 16+) and placardable-hazmat carriers. If FMCSA does not accept the corrective action in time (or by the end of any extension), it revokes the new entrant registration and issues an out-of-service order (49 CFR 385.319(c), 385.325).
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When does my MC number activate?
Your MC number becomes active once FMCSA grants the authority. FMCSA controls the timing. Authority is granted once the BOC-3 and insurance are on file and the 10-day protest period after the application's FMCSA Register notice has passed (49 CFR 365.203T). Under 49 CFR §365.109T the BOC-3 and insurance are due within 20 days of the FMCSA Register notice. If supporting filings are missing, the MC stays pending until they land.
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Why was my MC number revoked?
The most common revocation reasons are: failure of the §385 new-entrant safety audit, lapsed BMC-91 insurance, voluntary deactivation followed by extended inactivity, FMCSA enforcement action for serious safety or operational violations, and §385.13 unsatisfactory safety rating after an FMCSA compliance review.
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How do I add passenger authority to an existing MC?
You file a new OP-1(P) application for passenger authority, even if you already hold property authority under a different MC. FMCSA does not "add" passenger authority to an existing property MC - they're distinct authority types. The new OP-1(P) generates a new MC specifically for passenger carriage and goes through its own FMCSA review.
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How much BIPD insurance is required for an MC?
BIPD (bodily injury and property damage) insurance minimums under 49 CFR §387.9 are $750,000 for general freight, $1,000,000 for oil and for hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or hazardous substances that are not in the $5,000,000 entries, and $5,000,000 for bulk hazardous substances in cargo tanks, portable tanks, or hopper-type vehicles, bulk Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosives, bulk Division 2.3 Hazard Zone A or Division 6.1 Packing Group I Hazard Zone A material, bulk Division 2.1 or 2.2 material, and highway-route-controlled quantities of Class 7. Passenger authority under §387.33T has separate minimums: $5 million for any vehicle seating 16 or more passengers including the driver, and $1.5 million for 15 or fewer including the driver.
What is the difference between a process agent (BOC-3) and a BMC-91 filing?
BOC-3 is the process-agent designation under 49 CFR §366 - names someone authorized to accept legal service of process in each state. BMC-91 is the financial-responsibility filing under 49 CFR §387 - confirms the carrier has the required BIPD insurance coverage on file. Both are required before FMCSA operating authority activates, but they cover completely different requirements.
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Can I have both an MC and an MX number?
Yes. MC (motor carrier) numbers are issued under 49 CFR §365 for US-domiciled and Canadian-domiciled carriers operating in the US. MX numbers are issued under §365.501 for Mexican-domiciled long-haul carriers operating into the US. A US carrier with a US MC can apply for an MX number if it spins up a Mexican-domiciled subsidiary; conversely, a Mexican-domiciled carrier with an MX can apply for a US MC if it establishes US operations.
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Do I need passenger authority for charter, shuttle, or limo work?
Yes for any interstate transportation of passengers for compensation. The 49 CFR §365 passenger-authority requirement (OP-1(P) application) applies to charter buses, shuttle services, limo services, and any other for-compensation passenger-carrying operation that crosses state lines. Intrastate passenger work is regulated by state authority instead. Passenger BIPD insurance under §387.33T is significantly higher than property insurance.
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What is the difference between a broker MC and a carrier MC?
A carrier MC authorizes the holder to physically transport freight or passengers as a motor carrier of property or passengers. A broker MC authorizes the holder to arrange transportation between shippers and carriers without physically transporting anything. The two authority types have completely different operational requirements: carriers need vehicles, drivers, and BIPD insurance; brokers need a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85).
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How long is the grace period if BIPD insurance lapses?
There is no formal "grace period" for BIPD lapse. Once BMC-91 cancels (typically with 30 days advance notice from the insurer), the carrier's operating authority immediately becomes non-compliant with §387.9 and FMCSA's records (Motus public search) reflect that. Continued operation without §387 insurance is a federal violation; FMCSA will revoke the authority if not remedied promptly. Carriers should reinstate coverage before the cancellation effective date.
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What is blanket BIPD insurance for motor carriers?
Blanket BIPD is a §387.9-compliant insurance policy that covers the carrier's entire fleet under a single BMC-91 filing, rather than requiring separate per-vehicle filings. Most insurance providers structure §387 coverage as blanket by default - the carrier's policy lists all covered vehicles and a single BMC-91 references the policy. Adding or removing vehicles updates the policy schedule without triggering a new BMC-91.
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Do I need cargo insurance for a broker MC?
No. Brokers are not federally required to carry cargo insurance because they do not physically transport freight. The §387.301 financial-responsibility requirement for brokers is the $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85), not BIPD or cargo coverage. Some brokers choose to carry contingent cargo insurance as a contractual protection, but it is voluntary, not federally mandated.
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What causes FMCSA to revoke an MC number?
The most common causes of MC revocation are insurance lapse (BMC-91 cancels and is not replaced), failure to maintain a current BOC-3 process-agent designation, unsatisfactory new-entrant audit, an out-of-service order, unpaid civil penalties, and serious safety violations resulting in a §385 unfit fitness rating. A missed MCS-150 biennial update can lead to civil penalties and deactivation of the USDOT number (49 CFR 390.19T(b)(4)), but it is not an MC-authority revocation. Note: FMCSA has temporarily suspended enforcement of biennial updates and USDOT inactivation for updates due on or after June 1, 2026, until further notice. Overdue UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) does not by itself trigger FMCSA revocation - UCR is enforced by the states through roadside citations and fines. Voluntary revocation (carrier requests deactivation) is also possible and follows the same procedural path.
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