Full explanation
FMCSA authority refers to the official operating permission granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to entities seeking to operate in interstate commerce. There are several types of authority: Motor Carrier (MC) for hauling freight, Motor Passenger Carrier for transporting passengers, Broker authority for arranging transportation without operating vehicles, and Freight Forwarder authority for assembling and consolidating shipments. Each authority type has specific insurance requirements: property carriers need $750,000-$5,000,000 depending on cargo type, brokers require a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund, and passenger carriers need $1.5-$5 million. Authority can be granted, suspended, or revoked. Common reasons for revocation include insurance lapse, failure to maintain a process agent, serious safety violations, or non-compliant operations. Truck Graph monitors all authority status changes every 4 hours to provide current information.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a carrier operates without FMCSA authority?
Operating without authority is a federal violation punishable by fines up to $25,000 per violation. Shippers and brokers who knowingly use unauthorized carriers may also face penalties.
How do I verify a carrier's authority status?
Use Truck Graph's DOT Lookup or MC Lookup tools to check current authority status in real time. Status is synced from FMCSA records every 4 hours.
Can revoked authority be reinstated?
Yes, but the carrier must address the underlying issue (e.g., obtain proper insurance, resolve safety violations), submit a reinstatement application, and pay applicable fees. The process typically takes 2-4 weeks.
Related terms
A Motor Carrier operating authority number issued by FMCSA that permits carriers...
Operating AuthorityLegal permission to operate as a for-hire carrier, broker, or freight forwarder ...
Surety BondA financial guarantee required by FMCSA that protects shippers and carriers agai...
Freight Broker BondA $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) required by FMCSA for all licensed freight broker...