Authority & Registration

Authority is the foundation everything else sits on. File it out of order and you will pay twice — a rejected MCS-150, a missing BOC-3, or an insurance filing sent to the wrong docket can add three weeks to your launch. This silo walks the registration chain in the exact sequence the FMCSA processes it, from entity formation through UCR.

Guides in this silo

1.17 min read · updated 2026-06-02
Form Your Trucking LLC and Get an EIN (Before You Touch the FMCSA)
Why your entity comes before your MC number, how to choose a state, what to name the company so brokers and insurers can find you, and how to get an EIN the same day for free.
• Form the entity first — your legal name and EIN are locked to the FMCSA docket and are painful to change later.
• Register in the state where the truck is domiciled, not a "tax-free" state you have no nexus in.
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1.29 min read · updated 2026-06-10
How to Get Your USDOT and MC Number in Motus, Step by Step
How to register for USDOT and MC authority in FMCSA Motus, complete owner identity verification, pay the $300 authority fee, and avoid data mismatches.
• A USDOT number identifies your vehicles for safety data; an MC number grants for-hire interstate operating authority.
• Both are requested through FMCSA Motus. The company official must first complete Login.gov identity verification, and the filing fee is $300 per authority type.
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1.37 min read · updated 2026-08-01
FMCSA Motus Identity Verification: What Owners Must Complete Themselves
What FMCSA Motus identity verification requires, who may verify a carrier, what cannot be delegated, and how to prepare your ID and company records before filing.
• The owner, officer, or other eligible company official completes identity verification through their own Login.gov account.
• Identity proofing uses Login.gov’s secure flow for ID capture and facial matching; a filing company cannot collect the scan or complete it for you.
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1.45 min read · updated 2026-05-28
BOC-3 Filing Explained: Process Agents in Plain English
A BOC-3 designates a process agent in every state so you can be served legal papers. Only a process agent can file it, it costs $25–$150 once, and your authority will not activate without it.
• A BOC-3 designates a legal process agent in every state where you operate.
• Only a registered process agent (or a broker/forwarder for itself) can submit it — you cannot file your own.
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1.55 min read · updated 2026-06-18
UCR Registration: Who Pays, How Much, and the Deadline That Bites
Unified Carrier Registration is an annual fee based on fleet size, due before January 1 for the coming year. Enforcement is roadside, penalties vary by state, and the official site is free to use.
• UCR applies to interstate carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies.
• Fees are tiered by number of power units — the smallest bracket is roughly $46 for the 2026 registration year.
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