We updated SAFER to clarify how information is displayed on the website. These updates include how the Company Snapshot defines the operating authority statuses in SAFER. The “NOT AUTHORIZED” message linked to the USDOT Number status resulted in misunderstandings about the statuses of entities. 

 The current operating authority statuses will now be correctly displayed in the Company Snapshot. Operating authority statuses are defined as the following: 

 Operating Authority Status 

•  AUTHORIZED FOR (Passenger, Property, Household Goods [HHG]): This will list the specific operating authorities the carrier (or broker) is allowed to operate. 

• NOT AUTHORIZED: The entity does not have any operating authority and/or is not authorized to engage in interstate, for-hire operations. 

• OUT-OF-SERVICE: Carrier is under any type of out-of-service order and is not authorized to operate. 

Failure to complete biennial updates to FMCSA will subject the entities to civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day with a maximum penalty of $10,000. Certain for-hire carriers of passengers and freight, freight forwarders, and brokers may be subject to additional civil penalties as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 14901(a). FMCSA may also deactivate the USDOT Number for any entity that fails to comply with the updating requirements.

Please send your CAP to the appropriate FMCSA Office:

Western: AK, American Samoa, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, , MT, ND, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY, Northern Mariana Is.

E-mail: WSCCAP@dot.gov      
Phone: 303-407-2347
Fax: 877-547-0383

Midwestern: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, OH, WI
E-mail: MSCCAP@dot.gov  
Phone: 708-283-3564
Fax: 877-547-0381

Southern: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN
E-mail: SSCCAP@dot.gov 
Phone: 404-327-7351
Fax: 877-547-0380

Eastern: CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, PR, RI, VA, VI, VT, WV
E-mail: ESCCAP@dot.gov 
Phone: 443-703-2269
Fax: 877-547-0379

Household goods carriers and freight forwarders of household goods are required to have cargo insurance. For the minimum levels of financial responsibility required for each type of motor carrier, please see 49 CFR 387.9.  

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, part 49, sections 300-399.

You can access the official version of current FMCSA regulations on our regulations web page. Look under "Related Links" for other regulations that may affect motor carrier operations, such as drug and alcohol regulations (section 40) and hazardous materials program procedures (section 107).

An up-to-date, unofficial version of the regulations can be found on the eCFR site.

To access previous versions of the Code of Federal Regulations (including 49 CFR 300-399) by year, back to 1996, go to the US Government Printing Office (GPO) FDsys site and select the year, then the part/section you want. If you need older versions, please contact your local library, which may have access to earlier versions of the CFR in print or online.

Proposed and final rules amending regulations (and other regulatory documents) are published daily in the Federal Register, also on the GPO website.

Recent regulatory documents published by FMCSA can be found on our "Rulemaking Documents" page.

Regulatory documents (including proposed and final rules and notices) for the FMCSA and other government agencies can be found on the Regulations.gov website. You can submit comments on proposed and final rules at this site.

You are no longer licensed to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Your SDLA will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a CMV in non-excepted interstate commerce.

You can find contact information for your state’s driver licensing agency on the USA.gov website.

For more information, click here. 

A private motor carrier transports its own cargo, usually as a part of a business that produces, uses, sells and/or buys the cargo that is being hauled. A private motor carrier transports its own goods and is required to have a USDOT number but does not need operating authority (MC number).

If FMCSA determines the safety audit discloses the new entrant has adequate basic safety management controls, the Agency will provide the new entrant written notice as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after completion of the safety audit, that it has adequate basic safety management controls. The new entrant’s safety performance will continue to be closely monitored for the remainder of the 18-month period of new entrant registration.

A broker must maintain a surety bond or a trust fund agreement in the amount of $75,000 to comply with FMCSA’s financial security requirements.

For more information about insurance requirements and filings, click here.

No, you are not considered a Motor Carrier of Household Goods (HHG), and do not need HHG Operating Authority registration. The term “Motor Carrier of Household Goods” does not include any motor carrier that delivers furniture, appliances, or other furnishings between a factory or a store and an individual's household.  If you are not a moving company, you are not considered a Motor Carrier of Household Goods (HHG).

A Motor Carrier of Household Goods (HHG) is an authorized for-hire Motor Carrier that transports only household goods for the public in exchange for payment based on published tariff rates.  HHG carriers are paid to transport/move someone’s possessions from one “dwelling/office” location to another “dwelling/office” location.
HHG motor carriers also offer some or all the following additional services:  binding and nonbinding estimates; inventorying; protective packing and unpacking of individual items at personal residences; and/or loading and unloading at personal residences.  

Note: Motor Carriers of Household Goods must file proof of both public liability (BI & PD) and cargo insurance with FMCSA to obtain interstate Operating Authority.

First-time broker applicants who don't already have a US DOT number or other operating authority must register online with the FMCSA via the Unified Registration System (URS).

If you already have a US DOT number and/or other operating authority, you must apply by submitting the OP-1 form to FMCSA until URS is fully implemented. Please note: on January 17, 2017, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice suspending the January 14 and April 14, 2017 URS effectiveness dates.

For more information on registering as a broker, click here.

After the MC Number has been assigned, to complete the application process, brokers must also take the following steps:

• For brokers of property: Proof of Insurance Coverage: a Surety Bond or Trust Fund Agreement (Form BMC-85) in the amount of $75,000
• For brokers of household goods: Proof of Insurance Coverage: a Surety Bond or Trust Fund Agreement (Form BMC-84) in the amount of $75,000
• Form BOC-3, Designation of Process Agent Form (brokers may designate themselves as their own process agents in the State in which they are writing contracts)
• Application processing fee: $300 (non-refundable)
• Application processing time: Approximately 4-6 weeks

Note: Effective October 2013 all bonds for brokers increased to $75,000.00.

Your best option is to renew them prior to the expiration date. If your certificate does expire, you must have a new medical examination and obtain a new medical certificate. You must then provide the State Driver Licensing Agency (SDLA) the new medical examiner’s certificate. You are also responsible for applying to FMCSA for a renewal of your variance per CFR§391.51(b)(8)

For a copy of the medical examiner’s certificate, see Medical Examination Report (MER) Form, MCSA-5875 located in CFR§391.43(f)

You can find contact information for your state’s driver licensing agency on the USA.gov website.

To search for a medical examiner, click here.

Carriers and other regulated entities should NOT submit insurance certificates directly to FMCSA. They should request that their insurance company submit the insurance filings online. Please contact your insurance company directly to make these arrangements. 

All insurance companies can contact e-mail the FMCSA Insurance Division at mc-ecc.comments@dot.gov.

Please open a ticket requesting that your password be reset. Include your name, the company name, the account filer name, and phone number. 

You can check to see if a name change or address change has been completed at http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov

• Once in the Safer website, go to “FMCSA Searches”
• Click “Licensing & Insurance”
• Enter MC Number or USDOT Number in the appropriate box and click “search”

It may take approximately 14 days to process the request.

Your SDLA will notify you that you are no longer medically certified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in non-excepted interstate commerce. The SDLA will then downgrade all your CDL privileges. Click here for more information.

The most efficient way to request and track a review of Federal and State crash or inspection data is using the DataQs system, which automatically forwards your Request for Data Review (RDR) to the appropriate office for resolution and collects updates and responses for current requests.

Please note: Entities that are registered in MCMIS (for examples, interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, IEPs, etc.) must log in to the FMCSA Portal to request access to DataQs. If you don't already have a Portal account, you can learn how to set one up by clicking here. Once you have a Portal account, then you can request DataQs access.

If you aren't a registered entity in MCMIS, click here.

To interline a shipment is to transfer the shipment between two or more carriers for movement to final destination. For example, where the point of origin is Washington, DC and the final destination is Los Angeles, CA, Motor Carrier “A” may transport a shipment from Washington, DC and then interline with Motor Carrier “B” in San Antonio, TX. Motor Carrier “B” will then complete the transportation of the shipment to Los Angeles, CA.

Yes. You can dissolve a partnership with an existing MC number by submitting a notarized letter signed by both partners requesting that the partner be removed from the existing authority. 

If the partners cannot agree who should keep the existing MC number:

• They should both file a new application with the required fees and get new MC numbers
• They should request that the existing MC number be voluntarily revoked. See the FAQ “How can I suspend or put my operating authority (MC number) on hold?”