FMCSA warns truckers not to buy, sell or lease a USDOT or MC number
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a bulletin on Friday warning the trucking community that improperly transferred USDOT numbers and MC numbers will be deactivated.
The March 13, 2026, bulletin issued by FMCSA reaffirms the agency’s policy that USDOT numbers are not transferable and are assigned to only one person. The bulletin comes amid increased federal scrutiny of fraud and chameleon carriers within the trucking industry.
The bulletin tells truckers “DO NOT Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT Number or Operating Authority (MC Number) online or elsewhere from an unknown person or outside of a legitimate corporate transaction.“
Officials warn that the unauthorized buying and selling of a USDOT number or MC number will result in the number being deactivated.
“Upon discovery of attempts to sell, purchase, or lease a USDOT Number or Operating Authority outside of a legitimate corporate transaction, FMCSA will initiate proceedings to inactivate the USDOT Number and revoke all related registrations, including safety registration required under 49 U.S.C. 31134 and any operating authority registration required under 49 U.S.C. 13901-13905,” FMCSA said.
See more from the FMCSA bulletin below.
USDOT Numbers are like a driver’s license or identification card number, and they identify who a motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder, or other entity is. The USDOT Number belongs to the same legal person forever and may not be sold, transferred, rented, or leased. FMCSA will inactivate USDOT Numbers upon discovery that the number is being used by anyone other than the assigned legal person.
Sole Proprietor: If a motor carrier is a sole proprietor (e.g., John Doe d/b/a Doe Trucking), John Doe will always be the owner and only one who can ever use his USDOT Number. If John decides to sell his business, the buyer will need their own USDOT Number because no one else can ever “become” John Doe. If you attempt to purchase, rent, or lease, and use John’s USDOT Number, FMCSA is authorized to inactivate your number and revoke the safety registration associated with the USDOT Number.
Corporation (or any legal Business Organization): If John, however, forms a corporation (e.g., John Doe, Inc.), John can sell the company and the USDOT Number goes with the company – John Doe, Inc., is a separate legal person from John Doe. The new corporate owners should update FMCSA records immediately to note the change in ownership, and any other demographic information that might change as a result of the corporate ownership change. If John Doe, Inc., merges with Jim Smith, Inc., or is acquired by Jim Smith, Inc., the status of John Doe, Inc.’s USDOT Number depends on how the parties decide to continue business operations. If John Doe, Inc. continues operations as a corporation after the transaction, the USDOT Number stays with John Doe, Inc. If, however, John Doe Inc., is dissolved under state law and all operations only continue under Jim Smith, Inc., or another new combined company like Jim and John, Inc., then the continuing company requires its own USDOT Number and may not use the USDOT Number assigned to John Doe, Inc. John Doe, Inc.’s USDOT Number should be deactivated on Form MCS-150 using the reason “out-of-business.”
Operating Authority (MC Number) is required to perform specific for-hire transportation operations by motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Under the Interstate Commerce Commission, operating authority was often transferred because it was limited, i.e., only a certain number of motor carriers were authorized to provide a specific type of transportation along a specific route. With the sunset of the Interstate Commerce Commission, Congress removed the limitations on operating authority, allowing motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders to hold interstate operating authority – meaning separate authority was no longer required for specific routes. Once a carrier holds operating authority, they are permitted to operate along any route across the country. Because of this change, transfers of operating authority are of little benefit and are less common, but there are some circumstances where FMCSA will still record a transfer following a legitimate business transaction.
Sole Proprietor: If a sole proprietor (i.e., John Doe d/b/a Doe Trucking) sells his business, FMCSA may require the purchaser to obtain separate operating authority or may record a transfer of operating authority, depending on the details of the transaction. In every instance, however, John Doe will be required to file an out-of-business notification. FMCSA will initiate proceedings to revoke operating authority, despite the intent of the parties, for failure to make filings to update the company record.
Corporation: In corporate transactions, FMCSA will record a transfer of operating authority only if motor carrier operations will continue with the same safety management oversight and controls after the corporate transaction. In many cases, following a corporate transaction, motor carriers are only required to report ownership or corporate officer changes – no transfer is required. In other cases, if a new entity is formed, a transfer may be recorded or new operating authority may be required. FMCSA will initiate proceedings to revoke operating authority, despite the intent of the parties, for failure to apply for new authority or record a transfer.