Every legitimate motor carrier and broker in the United States operates under numbers issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). For shippers, those numbers are a fast, public way to confirm you’re dealing with a real, authorized, insured company. Here’s what they mean.
What is a USDOT number?
A USDOT number is a unique identifier the FMCSA assigns to a company that operates commercial vehicles in interstate (and certain intrastate) commerce. It’s tied to the company’s safety record — inspections, crash data, audits, and compliance reviews. Think of it as the carrier’s permanent safety file number.
What is an MC number?
An MC (Motor Carrier) number is operating authority — permission to transport regulated freight for hire across state lines, or to broker freight. A company can hold carrier authority, broker authority, or both. The MC number is what tells you a company is legally authorized to do the work, not just registered.
USDOT vs MC: the difference
- USDOT number — identifies the company and tracks its safety record. Required to operate commercial vehicles.
- MC number — grants operating authority (for-hire carrier and/or broker). Required to move regulated freight for hire across state lines.
- Many companies, including Bullseye Logistics, hold both — a USDOT number and one or more MC numbers.
How to verify a carrier
Anyone can look up a carrier for free. Go to the FMCSA SAFER System at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search by USDOT or MC number. You’ll see the company’s legal name, address, authority status (it should say Active), operation type, and safety record. Cross-check that the details match what the carrier told you.
What “active” authority means
Authority must be in Active status, backed by the insurance the FMCSA requires. Inactive, revoked, or “not authorized” status is a red flag. Bullseye Logistics operates under active authority — USDOT# 4548339 and MC# 1806006 — which you can confirm yourself. See our safety & compliance page for our full credentials.