Key takeaways
- The USDOT number identifies the company with FMCSA. It belongs to the same legal company forever.
- The MC number is the docket for operating authority — FMCSA’s permission to haul for hire.
- Neither number can be sold on its own. A company can be sold, and its USDOT number goes with it.
- Since May 2026, registration runs in Motus, FMCSA’s new system. MC numbers are still in use.
- After a sale, the records must be updated. FMCSA says new owners should do it immediately.
USDOT vs MC in plain words
USDOT number — who you are.
An interstate motor carrier registers with FMCSA by filing Form MCS-150 before it begins operations. That registration is tied to the company’s USDOT number. FMCSA says a USDOT number belongs to the same legal person forever.
MC number — what you are allowed to do.
The MC number is the docket number for operating authority. Operating authority is FMCSA’s permission to work as a for-hire carrier in regulated interstate transport. A vehicle must not be operated without the operating authority it needs. Running without it can lead to an out-of-service order (an order to stop driving).
| USDOT number | MC number (operating authority) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The company’s ID with FMCSA | The docket for permission to haul for hire |
| How you get it | File Form MCS-150 before operating | Apply to FMCSA for operating authority (Part 365 covers these applications) |
| Keeping it active | Update the MCS-150 every 24 months | Keep insurance and BOC-3 filings on file |
| Can it be sold alone? | No | No |
Who needs which
- Interstate motor carriers register and get a USDOT number before they start operating.
- For-hire carriers in regulated interstate transport also need operating authority — the MC number.
- Brokers and freight forwarders get their own authority. Part 365 covers these applications too.
Rules for your exact type of work can differ. If you are not sure, ask FMCSA.
Motus: FMCSA’s new registration system
In 2026, FMCSA moved registration into a new system called Motus. Motus replaces the old registration system (URS) and the FMCSA Portal. The old L&I registration functions were retired on May 14, 2026. Motus launched in May 2026.
What changed for you:
- You sign in to Motus with a Login.gov account.
- Motus checks who you are (a government ID and a face scan) and checks the business.
- Existing registrants go through this check the first time they log in.
- FMCSA says Motus will randomize newly issued USDOT and docket numbers. Existing numbers will not change.
- So for a newly issued number, the number alone may not tell you how old the company is.
Are MC numbers going away?
Motus did not remove MC numbers. FMCSA says it is considering replacing them with USDOT number suffixes. FMCSA has not set a date. As of October 6, 2026, FMCSA has not published a rule to phase out MC numbers.
Can an MC or USDOT number be sold? No. The company can.
On March 19, 2026, FMCSA published a bulletin: “DO NOT Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT or MC Number.”
What the bulletin says:
- A USDOT number may not be sold, transferred, rented or leased by itself.
- Operating authority is not something to trade on its own.
- A company can be sold — a corporation or LLC (FMCSA’s words: “any legal Business Organization”) — and “the USDOT Number goes with the company.”
- If FMCSA finds a number was sold outside a legitimate company sale, it can inactivate the USDOT number and revoke related registrations.
- Normal equipment leasing under FMCSA’s leasing rules is not covered by this warning.
That is why TruckBiz lists companies: the LLC or corporation that holds its own USDOT and MC. Renting or “leasing” an MC is not a transfer.
Sole proprietor vs LLC or corporation
| Sole proprietor (one person, no company) | LLC or corporation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who owns the USDOT number? | The person | The company |
| Can a buyer get the USDOT number? | No — it never passes to a buyer | Yes — when the company is sold, the number stays with the company |
If the owners, officers or address change but it is still the same legal company, it keeps its USDOT number.
How FMCSA records a change of ownership
The 2013 change. FMCSA’s FAQ says it stopped its transfer review and approval process in 2013. Transfers no longer need FMCSA’s approval in advance.
Buying the whole company. FMCSA’s bulletin says that when a company is sold, often only the change of owners or officers has to be reported. FMCSA records a transfer in a company sale only if operations continue under the same safety management.
Transferring authority with a whole operation. FMCSA records a transfer of authority when it is part of buying an entire operation. Both the seller and the buyer must send notice. The buyer then gets a letter to file insurance and a BOC-3. The authority shows “Inactive” until that is done. This applies when authority moves to a different company. When you buy the company itself, the same company keeps its authority. Usually only the change of owners or officers is reported.
One honest warning. The federal rule text (49 CFR 365.405T) still describes a filing for transfers. FMCSA’s FAQ says the approval process ended in 2013. Ask FMCSA to confirm the current steps for your deal.
Records to update after you buy
- Update FMCSA records right away. FMCSA says new owners should update FMCSA records immediately.
- File an updated MCS-150. FMCSA’s FAQ says to do it within 30 days of the change.
- Claim the company in Motus. The new owner claims the company in Motus with their own Login.gov identity. Never use the seller’s login. Ask FMCSA how.
- Keep the insurance filing active. Authority does not stay in force unless the insurance filing is on file with FMCSA and accepted.
- Check the BOC-3 (the list of process agents — people who accept legal papers). It changes only by filing a new one.
- Mark the 24-month MCS-150 update. The month depends on the last digit of the USDOT number. Missing it can lead to penalties and deactivation of the USDOT number.
How to read a SAFER Company Snapshot
Open SAFER and search by USDOT number, MC number or name.
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Entity Type | What kind of registrant it is — for example, a carrier or a broker |
| USDOT Status | Whether the USDOT number is active |
| Out of Service Date | Whether an order to stop operating was issued, and when |
| MCS-150 Form Date | When the company last filed its MCS-150 |
| Operating Authority Status | Whether the authority is active |
| MC/MX/FF Number(s) | The docket numbers |
| Power Units · Drivers | Fleet size the company reported |
| US Inspections (24 months) | Inspections and out-of-service rates next to the national average |
| Crashes (24 months) | Fatal, injury and tow-away crashes — listed without deciding who was at fault |
| Safety Rating | Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory or Unrated, with a date |
“Unrated” only means FMCSA has not assigned a rating yet. A TruckBiz listing uses the same layout, so it looks familiar.
FAQ
Does the USDOT number change when I buy the company?
No. The USDOT number stays with the company.
Can a sole proprietor sell me their USDOT number?
No. FMCSA says a sole proprietor’s USDOT number never passes to a buyer.
Are MC numbers being removed?
Motus did not remove them. FMCSA says it is considering a change but has set no date.
What is Motus?
FMCSA’s new registration system, which replaced URS and the FMCSA Portal.
Does FMCSA approve the sale?
FMCSA’s FAQ says it stopped its transfer approval process in 2013. When you buy the company itself, it keeps its registration, and you update the records. Ask FMCSA to confirm the current steps for your deal.
Can I lease an MC instead of buying a company?
FMCSA warns against leasing a USDOT or MC number. TruckBiz does not offer it.
Sources
- FMCSA — DO NOT Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT or MC Number (March 19, 2026)
- FMCSA FAQ — How do I notify FMCSA of my Operating Authority ownership change?
- FMCSA FAQ — Do I need a new USDOT number if I am changing my company’s Legal Name or Form of Business?
- FMCSA FAQ — If FMCSA stops issuing MC numbers, will existing MC numbers be replaced with USDOT numbers?
- FMCSA — Move to Motus · What’s coming
- Federal Register — Availability of Motus, FMCSA’s New Registration System
- eCFR — 49 CFR 390.5T · 49 CFR 390.19T · 49 CFR 392.9a · 49 CFR 365.101 · 49 CFR 365.405T · 49 CFR 387.301T · 49 CFR Part 366 · 49 CFR 385.3
- FMCSA tools — SAFER Company Snapshot · Licensing & Insurance
General information only, as of the “Last reviewed” date — not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules change; check the official source we link. TruckBiz is a marketplace, not a law firm, insurance agency or escrow company. TruckBiz is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escrow.com, FMCSA or the U.S. DOT. Talk to your own lawyer, accountant and insurance agent about your deal.
Last reviewed: October 6, 2026 · TruckBiz Team