Is FMCSA Eliminating MC Numbers?
Short answer: Not yet. FMCSA has discussed stopping the assignment of new MC numbers, but there’s no official date for eliminating them. Multiple trusted industry sources have mentioned Oct. 1, 2025, but FMCSA hasn’t set that as a cutoff.
FMCSA’s current plan under consideration is to use the USDOT number as the primary identifier and add suffixes to show each type of operating authority. Any change like this would go through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and won’t take effect with the first release of FMCSA’s new registration system.
Will existing MC numbers be replaced by USDOT numbers?
No. If FMCSA stops issuing MC numbers, your current MC number won’t become your USDOT number.
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USDOT numbers are required by law (MAP-21). FMCSA already assigns USDOT numbers to carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders that didn’t previously need them.
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MC numbers aren’t required by law; historically they were an internal tracking ID for operating-authority filings.
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Because authority is now nationwide and everyone has a USDOT number, separate MC numbers are largely redundant. FMCSA is considering using USDOT + suffix instead.
(Related: “The Ultimate Overview of DOT Recordkeeping Requirements”)
Why retire MC numbers?
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Simplification: One identifier (USDOT) is easier for registration and compliance.
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Fraud prevention: Removing MC numbers can reduce “churning” (creating new MCs to mask poor histories).
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Stronger oversight: A single, persistent ID helps FMCSA track safety and compliance more effectively.
What would change for you?
If MC numbers are phased out, your USDOT number—with authority suffixes—would be your sole identifier.
The Shifting Industry
FMCSA is in the midst of massive digital transformation. Unfortunately, for DOT-regulated businesses, this has caused confusion on a number of regulations. The elimination of MC numbers would be one of the most significant regulatory shifts in recent years. But the time has not quite come.
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