Glossary · FMCSA & freight
Operating authority
Also called: MC authority, For-hire authority, Authority
Definition
Operating authority is FMCSA registration that permits a company to operate as a for-hire carrier, broker or freight forwarder in interstate commerce, identified by a docket number.
FMCSA registers for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities and passengers, surface freight forwarders and property brokers, and these entities may operate only while registered. Authority depends on filings staying on file: insurance for carriers, a $75,000 bond or trust for brokers and forwarders, and a BOC-3 for all of them. If required insurance isn't kept on file, FMCSA revokes or suspends the authority.
A USDOT number and operating authority are different things. A company can have an active USDOT number and no authority to haul for hire. Each authority type, such as carrier or broker, has its own status, and under Motus each new authority gets its own docket number.
For a factor, check that the authority matching your client's role is active and held under the same legal name as your contract and bank account. Note when it was granted and whether it was ever revoked.
Sources
- 01Federal Register: Availability of Motus, FMCSA's New Registration System · FMCSA notice, 2026-04-29
- 0249 CFR 387.307: Property broker surety bond or trust fund · eCFR