An MC number is a docket number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that identifies a company's operating authority for certain interstate for-hire transportation. Motor carriers and freight brokers both receive them, alongside a USDOT number.
How it works in factoring
Freight factors check operating authority as part of due diligence on carriers and when approving freight brokers as customers. Using FMCSA public data, a factor can confirm:
- The carrier's or freight broker's legal name and docket number
- Whether its authority is active, pending or revoked
- Insurance filings on record, and for freight brokers, financial security filings
- Safety information connected to the USDOT number
A carrier with inactive authority generally cannot legally haul regulated interstate loads, and a freight broker with revoked authority is a red flag for payment. Factors may also watch for signs of identity fraud, such as recent changes to contact details on a long-standing authority.
FMCSA has been modernizing its registration system and has announced plans to rely on the USDOT number as the main identifier, phasing out separate MC numbers. Check FMCSA's registration pages for the current status before relying on either number alone.
What to check
- Confirm your own authority and insurance filings are current before applying for freight factoring
- Keep your FMCSA contact details accurate to help prevent misuse of your authority
- Ask your factor how it checks freight broker authority and payment history