Operating authority (MC number)
The FMCSA authority, tied to an MC number, that lets you haul regulated freight for hire under your own company.
Operating authority is the permission from the FMCSA to haul regulated freight for hire. It comes with an MC number, which is why people say “getting your MC” when they mean going out under their own authority. Without it, you can own a truck but you cannot legally haul for-hire loads on your own.
Getting authority is more involved than a USDOT number. You file for it, you have to carry the required insurance and file proof of it, you designate a process agent in each state through a BOC-3 filing, and there is a waiting period before it goes active. Then you keep it active by keeping the insurance on file.
This is the line between leasing onto a carrier and running your own show. Under your own authority you book your own freight and keep more of the rate, but the insurance, compliance, and back office are all yours.
Related: USDOT number, owner-operator, broker.