What Is Operating Authority (MC#)?
Published by Chris Townsend
What Is Operating Authority (Motor Carrier Number)?
Operating authority is a type of legal regulation that is required by all transporting corporations that transport goods between states on behalf of others for some form of financial compensation. It often goes hand-in-hand with a U.S. DOT number, which is a requirement for state to state shifting firms, though not necessarily required of all in-state movers. There are a few moving companies that may not need, but they are few and far between and most movers will have to maintain to legally operate.
Types
Depending on the type of operating authority, there will be a different letter combination assigned to it. The most common one is an MC number, which stands for “motor carrier” value. An FF number refers to a freight forwarder, which is a firm that arranges for transportation of goods, rather than hauling them itself. An MX amount refers to a motor shifter that is owned by a citizen or resident of Mexico and is obviously less common in the United States. For the most part, moving companies you encounter should have an MC number if they are the company that will be transporting your belongings for you. Those corporations with an FF number are brokers, which means that simply arrange for the transport between you and a carrier.
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All types are specific to a given firm, which makes it easy to look them up and verify information about the corporate. Just as most moving companies you deal with should have an MC number, they should also have a U.S. DOT value if they operate between different states, referred to as interstate transport. A U.S. DOT value is not required in every state if the company only operates in that state, but the majority of states do require a U.S. DOT number in addition to a amount that designates their type of operating authority.
Which Information You Can Find?
Like a U.S. DOT amount, you can look up a moving firm based on their using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Hauling Organization Database. (You can also look up a transporting company based on their name if you are unable to find a registration number for them.) It’s definitely advisable to look up information about a shifting organization before you agree to hire them so that you can verify certain information about them. Once you’re able to find a corporates records on in the relocating database, you can verify that they’re a shifter, meaning they do the transition themselves, rather than operate as a broker. You can also check to see if they have current operating authority to move household goods, find information about their past safety performance and audits, and find out where their headquarters are located.
