Nothing has changed yet, and MC numbers still work. The SAFER Transport Act — H.R.8267 in the House and S.3950 in the Senate — would bar FMCSA from issuing or renewing MC numbers for five years from enactment, but both bills are sitting in committee and neither is law. FMCSA has also said its new Motus registration system will not eliminate MC/FF numbers in its current phase. You can still look a broker up by MC today, and on this site you always see the USDOT number next to it when the record has one.
What the bill would do
The SAFER Transport Act was introduced in February 2026. Section 5, “Securing the Registration System”, contains the provision that would change how everyone looks up a broker:
“During the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary— (1) shall not issue or renew an MC number; and (2) shall take other appropriate steps to phase out reference to MC numbers.”
The stated end state is that after five years no motor carrier, broker or freight forwarder holds an MC number, leaving the USDOT number as the identifier. Two other sections matter for anyone reading a broker’s record:
- Section 8 would set up automated flagging of suspicious registration activity — unusual changes, duplicate identifiers — with temporary suspension during an investigation, and the power to remove a person from the public view of the registration system. That last power would mean some entities disappear from public data without explanation.
- Section 14 would rewrite the statutory definition of a broker to include offering brokerage through “technology”, and prohibit brokerage without registration.
What is actually in force today
FMCSA is replacing its registration systems with Motus, phased in from December 2025. In its April 2026 policy notice the agency was explicit about what Phase II does not include:
“In response to stakeholder feedback, the Phase II release of Motus will not include the implementation of safety registration, the elimination of MC/FF numbers, or changes to the Form BOC-3 filing process.”
So two separate things are true at once: the legacy licensing and insurance system is being retired, and MC numbers are not being switched off. A realistic migration to USDOT-first identifiers is measured in years, and it starts with a law that has not passed.
What it means when you check a broker
- Keep using the MC on your paperwork. It is still the number on rate confirmations and still resolves to a federal record.
- Note the USDOT number too. Every broker page here shows both identifiers when the record has both, so the pairing is already familiar if the identifier changes.
- Match the identifier to the entity, not to the name. Similar company names are common; the number is what ties a rate confirmation to a federal record.
- Expect link churn. As the legacy licensing and insurance system is retired, deep links into it will move. Federal filing data itself is unaffected.
Look up a broker by MC or name →
Sources
- H.R.8267 — SAFER Transport Act, full bill text on govinfo.gov
- S.3950 — Senate companion bill
- Availability of Motus, FMCSA’s new registration system — Federal Register, 29 April 2026
Primary sources only: the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, the Federal Register, and bill text on govinfo.gov. For information only — not legal advice.
Common questions
Are MC numbers going away?
Not yet. The SAFER Transport Act (H.R.8267 / S.3950) would bar FMCSA from issuing or renewing MC numbers for five years from enactment, but both bills are in committee and neither has been enacted.
Does the new Motus registration system remove MC numbers?
No. FMCSA stated that the Phase II release of Motus does not include the elimination of MC/FF numbers, changes to BOC-3 filing, or safety registration.
Should I start using the USDOT number?
It is worth noting both. MC numbers still appear on rate confirmations and still resolve to a federal record; broker pages here show the USDOT number alongside the MC whenever the record has one.
Related guides
- Double brokering: what a carrier can check before booking
- The $75,000 broker bond — and the “$150k increase” myth
- How the CheckMyBroker score is built
Last reviewed Jul 25, 2026. CheckMyBroker is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the FMCSA or any government agency.