USDOT numbers, MC numbers and operating authority explained
Car shipping companies quote their USDOT and MC numbers to show they're legitimate. What each number means, and why operating authority is the part that matters.
Car shipping websites often show a USDOT number and an MC number. They sound official, but they mean different things, and neither one alone proves a company is allowed to move your car.
USDOT number
A USDOT number identifies a company in the federal motor carrier system. It's tied to the company's registration, safety record and inspections. A company can have a USDOT number and still not be allowed to transport vehicles for hire across state lines.
MC number (docket number)
The MC number is the docket number for a company's operating authority: its license to operate for hire in interstate commerce. FMCSA has been moving registration into its new Motus system, where new authorities are increasingly identified by USDOT number.
Operating authority: the part that matters
Operating authority is what allows a company to do the job:
- Motor Carrier of Property: authority to haul vehicles (and other property) for hire.
- Broker of Property: authority to arrange shipments with carriers.
Each authority has a status: Active, Inactive, Pending, or revoked. Only Active means the company is currently licensed to do that work.
Why this matters
A company can keep a website, phone line and old reviews long after its authority has ended. When we checked the companies on our site against FMCSA data, 733 of 3,947 were no longer licensed. We mark them Out of business.
How to check
Search the company's USDOT number on FMCSA's Motus public search, or use the FMCSA record (Motus) button on any company page on our site. Step-by-step: how to check a company's FMCSA record.