MC Numbers Are Gone — Here’s What It Means for Freight Brokers

As of October 1, 2025, the FMCSA officially stopped issuing MC Numbers to new carriers and brokers. The Unified Registration System (URS) is now live. Your USDOT Number is your single identifier moving forward.

This is one of the biggest shifts we’ve seen in brokerage compliance in years. If you’re already licensed, you’ll keep your MC Number for now, but everything new (filings, verifications, registrations) now runs through your USDOT record.

Let’s break down what’s changed, why it matters, and what to do next.

⚙️ What’s Changed Since October 1

The FMCSA has merged registration systems under URS to simplify oversight and reduce confusion. Here’s what that means in practice:

No new MC Numbers are being issued. New brokers get a USDOT Number only.
Existing MC Numbers remain valid but are now linked directly to the USDOT record.
Operating authority types (broker, carrier, freight forwarder) now appear as designations under your USDOT profile.
All FMCSA filings (bond, BOC-3, insurance, and trust) now connect through your USDOT Number, not your MC.

This change is about more than data cleanup; it’s about accountability. The FMCSA wants one unified record per business, not multiple identifiers that get lost in the shuffle.

💡 Why It Matters for Brokers

Whether you’re established or just getting started, this shift affects how your brokerage operates and presents itself.

Contracts and compliance documents should now reference your USDOT Number.
Carrier vetting is done via USDOT lookup. The MC Number is no longer the gold standard.
Marketing and public listings should highlight your USDOT Number to reflect current compliance.
If you’re still relying on an MC Number for authority verification, you’re behind the curve.

More than just avoiding penalties, early adoption of the URS system shows shippers you run a serious, future-ready operation.

🧭 What You Should Do Next

Audit your registration. Log into the FMCSA Portal and confirm your USDOT profile (name, address, email, phone) is accurate.
Update your compliance filings. Ensure your BOC-3, BMC-84/BMC-85, and insurance certificates all reflect your USDOT Number.
Adjust your public materials. Update your website, email signature, invoices, and load-board profiles to display your USDOT Number.
Retrain your team (if you have one). When vetting carriers or partners, check authority status using the USDOT system instead of relying on MC data.
Plan ahead for January 2026.The next big rule change (stricter financial security standards, as mentioned in my last post) hits in just two months.

The freight world just turned a corner.

The MC Number era is over, and with it, the days of operating under the radar. Now, every serious broker has one clear identity: your USDOT Number.

Use this transition as your signal to tighten up, modernize, and get fully compliant before the January 2026 financial rule change arrives.

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