Freight glossary / Compliance and authority

What is Operating authority in freight?

Operating authority is the federal permission a carrier or broker needs to transport regulated freight for hire across state lines. It is granted by the FMCSA and can be active, pending, revoked, or inactive. Authority lapses most often because a required insurance filing was cancelled, not because the agency took action first.

Also called: authority, mc authority.

Related terms

• MC number
• USDOT number
• FMCSA
• BIPD insurance
• Common authority