The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that oversees commercial trucking and bus companies operating in interstate commerce. For auto transport it is the regulator that matters most: carriers that haul vehicles across state lines for hire, and brokers that arrange those moves, register with FMCSA.
Registration gives each company a USDOT number. Companies that need interstate operating authority also receive a docket number, such as an MC number, and that authority sets the insurance or financial security they must keep. Carriers file proof of liability insurance at federal minimums, and brokers must keep $75,000 in financial security on file.
FMCSA is replacing its older registration tools with a new online system called Motus. The first phase launched in December 2025 for supporting companies such as insurance filers, with a broader rollout to all regulated companies planned after that. The agency has said existing USDOT and docket numbers will not change in the move to Motus.
For dealers, auctions and marketplaces, the practical takeaway is to check that whoever arranges or hauls a shipment shows active registration. AutoTransportVehicle.com works with an FMCSA-licensed fulfillment partner that serves as broker of record. More on the roles in auto transport broker vs. carrier.