If you are a carrier and you transport goods or passengers across states and charge a fee for it, then you will need to have an Interstate Operating Authority in the form of a Department Of Transportation (DOT) number as well as an MC (Motor Carrier) number.

A DOT number is unique to a company, is issued by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and with this number the government can gain access to a company’s intimate details such as their ratings status, compliance reviews and others. It is mandatory that carrier companies whose commercial vehicles haul goods or passengers across state jurisdictions have DOT numbers, which should be clearly displayed.

On the other hand, what is an MC number and who requires it? An MC number is also a unique company number that a moving company needs to haul across state jurisdictions. If a company on a for-hire basis transports federally governed goods or passengers that they do not own across states, they require an MC number. This number should also be clearly displayed.