Starting October 1st of this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is launching their newest version of the Unified Registration System (URS). While this process has been over ten years in the making, 2025 is, to the relief of many, the year that this change takes place. Eventually, the FMCSA hopes to use the URS to replace the existing registration database using MC numbers. That means that, supposedly, the new URS “will streamline and simplify the FMCSA’s registration process,” but what does that mean?!
Right now, the FMCSA has to deal with their own issued MC (Motor Carrier) numbers, as well as USDOT registration numbers. The goal is to move forward only issuing USDOT numbers, but why is that? Today, the LZ Blog will look into what these two registration numbers are and what the switch will do for the FMCSA and trucking companies.
MC Numbers vs. USDOT Numbers?
It is important to start out with an understanding of what these two numbers mean to the trucking industry. Starting with MC numbers, these are assigned by the FMCSA as a “unique identifier,” and they are required by the administration to legally operate and maintain compliance with federal regulations. While these are registered and assigned through the URS, not all motor carriers are required to have them. “For instance, if you are only transporting goods within your state, you may only need to obtain a USDOT number.” Put simply, once a truck crosses state lines, then they fall under federal jurisdiction and are required to have the necessary registrations to do so. This means, if a company does not have an MC Number, then they are restricted to working within one state.
USDOT numbers allow for a great deal more freedom when it comes to their business models. Not only are these numbers assigned to trucks carrying freight, but they also apply to large passenger vehicles, such as busses. Like the MC numbers, USDOT numbers are also assigned through the URS, and, at this time, the FMCSA requires a USDOT number for trucks and busses operating within state lines, as well as across state lines. So, even though a company needs an MC number to cross state lines, the FMCSA can, and does, assign both the MC and the USDOT numbers to most trucking companies. This has led to much confusion and some fraud, which we will cover in the next section.
Why Is the FMCSA Trying to Change Now?
Since the inception of the USDOT numbers a decade ago, the FMCSA has struggled to maintain the separation between the USDOT and the MC numbers. Finally, “when all operating authorities became nationwide, with the elimination of route-specific and common or contract authorities,” the MC numbers became unnecessary, and plans were made to phase them out. With the goal of reducing the size of the paper trail and to create a single clearinghouse of information on trucking companies, the FMCSA, at last, decided to phase out the MC number and no longer issue them as of this year, 2025. This gives brokers and shippers only one number to track instead of two.
Why is this important? That leads us to another issue that has also occurred to create problems within the industry and FMCSA. The DOT Operating Authority states that the “primary focus of these changes is on enhancing security and preventing fraud, as fraud within the freight industry has reached alarming levels.” Both the DOT and FMCSA understand that MC numbers have been susceptible to fraud for years now. When a poorly run trucking company has its issues become common knowledge, their managers have found that they can simply rename themselves as a new entity, register for a new MC number, and then conduct their business as usual. With fewer checks and balances required for an MC number, these companies have been flying under the radar and wreaking havoc in the trucking industry for quite some time. According to CSNprotects.com, “In other words, FMCSA hopes to use the URS to put a stop to ‘chameleon’ carriers who get shut down for safety violations and then open up again in the form of a new company with a different MC number.” While it has taken some time to come up with a solution to this issue, the FMCSA believes they have finally landed on something viable. Since USDOT numbers require a lot more background checks and paperwork, switching to this registration system makes it more difficult for fraudulent companies to attain the USDOT number and gives the FMCSA a better chance at rooting out the bad apples “…by thoroughly vetting all entities in their database and taking action against those found in violation.”
Conclusion
One of the major goals of the FMCSA is to protect the trucking companies and the consumers who need and want the products being shipped from fraudulent figures in the industry. To do that, they have tried different methods to record and track trucking companies. However, having both MC numbers and USDOT numbers has become cumbersome and confusing for the administration. This year, the hope is to take the two sets of numbers and streamline the process for ease of registration and to curb the ability of fraudulent companies to work around the system. The FMCSA has stated that MC numbers will not go away immediately; they will be slowly phased out as only USDOT numbers will be issued in the future. For now, if your company has an MC number, don’t worry. The FMCSA will be taking their time to get all of the registrations together, so there’s no need to stress about having to get a USDOT number any time soon.
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Meaghan Goldberg covers recruitment and digital marketing for Lionzone. A Patterson, GA native, after graduating from both Valdosta State University and Middle Tennessee State University, Meaghan joined Lionzone in 2018 as a digital recruitment strategist before becoming the social media manager.
Resources:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/what-operating-authority-mc-number-and-who-needs-it
https://www.tafs.com/dot-number-mc-number-differences/
https://cnsprotects.com/news/what-ending-mc-numbers-means-for-the-trucking-industry/
https://www.dotoperatingauthority.com/the-fmcsa-will-cease-motor-carrier-numbers/
