Start Your Motor Carrier Business the Right Way
Professional registration and compliance support for trucking companies, box-truck operators, passenger carriers, private carriers, and transportation businesses.
Get a USDOT Number
Call (202) 660-1434
USDOT Registration
Application support for qualifying interstate and intrastate commercial motor vehicle operations.
MOTUS Account Setup
Guidance with the user profile, company account, identity verification, and registration workflow.
Authority Review
Help identifying whether the business may also need MC, FF, or MX operating authority.
How New USDOT Registration Works
New applicants use the FMCSA MOTUS registration system. The person creating the account should be a company official who is authorized to complete identity and business verification.
Create the User Profile
Sign in through Login.gov and create the individual user profile used to access MOTUS.
Complete Identity Verification
Complete the required identity-proofing process. The individual may be asked for a government-issued photo ID and facial verification.
Create the Company Account
Enter the legal business name, physical address, EIN, ownership details, and supporting business information.
Apply for the Correct Registration
Identify the operation, cargo or passengers, vehicle information, scope, and any operating authority needed.
Who Needs a USDOT Number?
A business operating in interstate commerce generally needs a USDOT number when it uses a vehicle that meets at least one applicable federal commercial motor vehicle threshold.
- GVWR, GCWR, GVW, or GCW of 10,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater
- Designed or used to transport more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation
- Designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver
- Transports hazardous materials in a type or quantity that requires placarding or a safety permit
Some states also require a USDOT number for intrastate commercial motor vehicle operations. State requirements must be reviewed separately.
States and jurisdictions with additional intrastate USDOT requirements
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Interstate vs. Intrastate Commerce
Interstate Commerce
Transportation between states, through another state, or within one state when the shipment or passenger movement begins or ends outside that state. Cargo can be considered interstate even when the truck itself does not cross the state line.
Intrastate Commerce
Transportation conducted entirely within one state when the shipment or passenger movement is not part of a larger interstate movement. State registration and safety requirements may still apply.
Scope, Classification, and Cargo
Accurate classification is essential because it affects registration, insurance, operating authority, and safety responsibilities. Common classifications include private carrier, for-hire carrier, exempt for-hire carrier, passenger carrier, broker, and freight forwarder. A business may have more than one classification.
Cargo classifications should describe what the company actually transports. If no listed category accurately describes the commodities, the application may allow an “Other” description. Incorrect classifications can delay registration or create compliance problems later.
CDL vs. Non-CDL Operations
A USDOT number requirement and a CDL requirement are not the same. A non-CDL commercial vehicle may still be subject to federal or state safety rules.
| Operation | General Federal Threshold | Common Compliance Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Non-CDL Commercial Vehicle | Often 10,001–26,000 pounds in interstate commerce, when no passenger or hazardous-material CDL threshold applies. | USDOT number, medical certification, driver qualification file, vehicle markings, inspections, maintenance records, and hours-of-service rules may apply. |
| Class A CDL | Combination vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more when the towed unit is rated over 10,000 pounds. | CDL, medical certification, Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, testing program, driver qualification file, and applicable endorsements. |
| Class B CDL | Single vehicle rated 26,001 pounds or more, or such a vehicle towing a unit rated 10,000 pounds or less. | CDL, medical certification, Clearinghouse and testing requirements, driver files, and applicable endorsements. |
| Class C CDL | A vehicle not meeting Class A or B thresholds that transports qualifying passenger quantities or placarded hazardous materials. | CDL plus passenger, school bus, or hazardous-material endorsements when applicable. |
Vehicle ratings, passenger capacity, cargo, state rules, and the exact operation control the final determination. This overview is not a substitute for an operation-specific review.
Box Trucks vs. Semi-Trucks
Box Trucks
A box truck has an enclosed cargo body attached to the same chassis as the cab. Box trucks may be CDL or non-CDL vehicles depending on their ratings and use. Operators may still need a USDOT number, medical certificate, driver file, inspections, maintenance records, hours-of-service compliance, and operating authority.
Semi-Trucks
A semi-truck uses a tractor connected to a separate trailer. Most tractor-trailer combinations meet Class A CDL thresholds and may also require interstate operating authority, UCR, IRP, IFTA, insurance filings, BOC-3, drug and alcohol testing, and complete driver and vehicle records.
Do You Need Operating Authority?
A USDOT number identifies the business for safety monitoring. Operating authority determines the type of interstate commercial service the business is authorized to provide.
MC Number
May apply to for-hire interstate motor carriers, passenger carriers, and property brokers, depending on the operation.
FF Number
Used for qualifying freight-forwarder authority.
MX Number
Used for certain Mexico-domiciled carrier operations in the United States.
Private carriers transporting only their own property, carriers hauling only exempt commodities, and certain commercial-zone operations may not need interstate operating authority.
Activating an MC, FF, or MX Authority
Submitting the application does not make the authority active. Depending on the authority type, activation may require insurance or financial-responsibility filings, a BOC-3 designation of process agents, a surety bond or trust fund, matching legal-business information, and completion of FMCSA’s review process. Operations requiring authority should not begin until the authority is shown as active.
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
UCR is an annual registration requirement for many businesses operating in interstate or international commerce. Obtaining a USDOT number does not automatically complete UCR registration.
Who May Need UCR?
- For-hire, private, and exempt motor carriers
- Property and passenger carriers
- Brokers and freight forwarders
- Commercial leasing companies
- Canada- and Mexico-based carriers operating in the United States
Important UCR Facts
- Registration is renewed each year
- Motor-carrier fees are generally based on qualifying fleet size
- Brokers and freight forwarders register in the applicable non-carrier bracket
- Wholly intrastate carriers and private passenger carriers are generally exempt
- Noncompliance can lead to enforcement and operating interruptions
Hazardous Materials Requirements
Hazardous-material operations can create additional registration, licensing, endorsement, insurance, training, and security obligations.
- Intrastate HAZMAT carriers may need a USDOT number when transporting types and quantities requiring a safety permit.
- Drivers may need a CDL with the appropriate hazardous-material or tank endorsement.
- Certain carriers must obtain an FMCSA Hazardous Materials Safety Permit.
- Higher financial-responsibility requirements may apply based on the materials transported.
- Driver training, shipping papers, placarding, security planning, testing, and recordkeeping may apply.
The exact material, quantity, packaging, vehicle, and route determine the requirements.
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Legal Requirements
An ELD automatically records driving time and supports hours-of-service recordkeeping. Most interstate motor carriers and drivers who must maintain Records of Duty Status are required to use an FMCSA-registered ELD.
ELD May Be Required When
- The driver operates a regulated interstate commercial motor vehicle
- Federal hours-of-service rules apply
- The driver must maintain Records of Duty Status
- No ELD exception applies
Common Limited Exceptions
- Qualifying short-haul operation using time records
- Paper logs required no more than eight days in a 30-day period
- Qualifying driveaway-towaway operation
- Vehicle manufactured before model year 2000
- Qualifying agricultural or covered-farm-vehicle operation
USDOT Compliance Services does not sell or install ELD equipment. This section provides general legal-requirement information only. Carriers are responsible for confirming applicability and choosing a device listed by FMCSA.
Not Sure Which Registration You Need?
Tell your Transportation Compliance Advisor:
- What type of cargo or passengers you plan to transport
- Whether you will operate interstate or intrastate
- Your vehicle or combination weight ratings
- Whether you will transport property for compensation or only your own cargo
We can help review your operation, identify the appropriate registration path, and prepare the filing information.
New USDOT Number Questions
Does every box truck need a USDOT number?
No. The answer depends on the vehicle’s weight rating, interstate or intrastate operation, cargo, passenger capacity, and state requirements. Many box trucks used in interstate commerce qualify as commercial motor vehicles even when no CDL is required.
Can I need a USDOT number without needing a CDL?
Yes. A vehicle can meet the federal commercial motor vehicle threshold beginning at 10,001 pounds for interstate safety regulation while remaining below the general 26,001-pound CDL threshold.
Is a USDOT number the same as an MC number?
No. The USDOT number is primarily used for safety identification and monitoring. An MC number represents certain operating authority granted for specific interstate commercial operations.
Do private carriers need operating authority?
Private carriers that transport only their own property generally do not need interstate for-hire operating authority, but they may still need a USDOT number and must comply with applicable safety regulations.
Does a new USDOT number require MOTUS identity verification?
New applicants create an individual user profile and company account in MOTUS. The authorized company official must complete the required identity-verification and business-verification steps.
Does a USDOT number automatically cover UCR, IRP, IFTA, or operating authority?
No. These are separate registrations or programs. Which ones apply depends on the company’s operation, vehicle weights, routes, states, and business model.
Registration and Operating Authority Services
Choose the service that matches your planned motor-carrier operation. Current service prices are shown below. Review filing details before checkout.
Drug & Alcohol Consortium & Enrollment
$129.00
Consortium enrollment for your drug and alcohol testing program. Review the service details and choose the program that fits your operation.
New USDOT Number Registration
$199.00
- FMCSA MOTUS Verification
- Interstate Motor Carrier
- Intrastate Private Carrier
- Operating Classification Review
- Cargo or Passenger Classification
Operating Authority — MC Number
$149.00
Plus $300 FMCSA filing fee
Government filing fee is separate from the service price.
- FMCSA MOTUS Verification
- Interstate For-Hire Carrier
- Authority Application Support
- Insurance and BOC-3 Guidance
- MC Number Activation Support
Motor Carrier of Property Authority
$149.00
Plus $300 FMCSA filing fee
Government filing fee is separate from the service price.
- FMCSA MOTUS Verification
- Interstate Property Carrier
- For-Hire Authority Review
- Insurance Filing Guidance
- BOC-3 Requirement Support
Motor Carrier of Passengers Authority
$149.00
Plus $300 FMCSA filing fee
Government filing fee is separate from the service price.
- FMCSA MOTUS Verification
- Interstate Passenger Carrier
- Passenger Authority Review
- Insurance Requirement Guidance
- BOC-3 Requirement Support
Broker of Household Goods Authority
$149.00
Plus $300 FMCSA filing fee
Government filing fee is separate from the service price.
- FMCSA MOTUS Verification
- Household Goods Broker Review
- Authority Application Support
- Surety Bond or Trust Guidance
- BOC-3 Requirement Support
Independent paid service: USDOT Compliance Services is a Registered Transportation Service Provider in the FMCSA MOTUS system. Federal Filer ID Number: 6257083. USDOT Compliance Services is not affiliated with or part of the U.S. Department of Transportation or FMCSA. Requirements vary by operation, vehicle, cargo, passenger capacity, and jurisdiction.
