FMCSA Registration Update: Clearing Up the MC Number Rumors

Over the past few weeks, a lot of chatter has surfaced online claiming that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will stop issuing new MC Numbers as of October 1. Understandably, this has raised concerns for carriers, brokers, and logistics businesses wondering if they’ll still be able to register new authorities or complete sales.

We took the time to review FMCSA’s official “Registration Modernization FAQs” so you don’t have to — and here’s what’s really happening.

What FMCSA Actually Says

• MC Numbers are still being issued.
  FMCSA has proposed moving away from MC Numbers in favor of using USDOT Numbers with new suffixes as the primary identifier. However, this change is not part of the first release of the new registration system.

• Timeline is in 2025, not 1st of October.
  FMCSA plans to roll out its new registration system in phases starting in 2025. The initial launch will focus on improving the online registration process, not eliminating MC Numbers.

• Existing MC Numbers remain valid.
  Even if the shift happens in the future, your existing MC Number will not be replaced. The USDOT Number and suffixes would only apply to new registrations once the change is officially implemented.

• No October 1 freeze.
  FMCSA has not announced any suspension of new MC Numbers as of October 1, 2025. Any claims to the contrary are misinformation.