Also known as Interstate Operating Authority.

Excerpted from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

In general...

Any company that operates as “for hire” carrier (for a fee or other compensation) that transport passengers or regulated commodities, or arrange for the transport of such items in interstate commerce are also required to have interstate operating authority.

The Reach of Operating Authority

FMCSA operating authority is also referred to as AUTHORITY an "MC," "FF," or "MX" number, depending on the type of authority that is requested. Unlike the USDOT Number application process, a company may need to obtain multiple authorities to support its planned business operations. Operating Authority dictates the type of operation a company may run, the cargo it may carry, and the geographical area in which it may legally operate.

Financial Responsibility and Exemptions

All of this also dictates the level of insurance/financial responsibilities a company must maintain. Carriers not required to have operating authority include Private carriers, "for-hire" carriers that exclusively haul exempt commodities (cargo that is not federally regulated), or carriers that operate exclusively within a federally designated "commercial zone" that is exempt from interstate authority rules. A commercial zone is, for example, a geographic territory that includes multiple states bordering on a major metropolitan city, such as Virginia/Maryland/Washington, DC.

If you need further assistance with FMCSA authority for trucking, please contact Truckers Accounting and Permitting Service, Inc. at 800-553-8277.