Trucking Glossary

USDOT Number

United States Department of Transportation Number

A unique identifier assigned by the FMCSA to commercial motor carriers operating in interstate commerce, used to track safety information and compliance.

MC Number

Motor Carrier Number

An operating authority number issued by the FMCSA that grants carriers the legal right to transport passengers or regulated commodities for compensation across state lines.

BOC-3

Blanket of Coverage - Form 3

A federal form that designates process agents in every state to accept legal documents on behalf of a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder operating in interstate commerce.

UCR

Unified Carrier Registration

An annual federal registration and fee system required for motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies operating in interstate or international commerce.

IFTA

International Fuel Tax Agreement

An agreement among U.S. states and Canadian provinces that simplifies fuel tax reporting for motor carriers operating in multiple jurisdictions.

IRP

International Registration Plan

A registration reciprocity agreement among U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian provinces for the proportional registration of commercial motor vehicles traveling across jurisdictions.

FMCSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The federal agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for regulating the trucking and bus industries, with a focus on reducing crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

MCS-150

Motor Carrier Identification Report

A form filed with the FMCSA that collects essential information about a motor carrier's operations and must be updated biennially or when business information changes.

Operating Authority

The legal permission granted by the FMCSA that allows a carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to conduct for-hire transportation operations in interstate commerce.

Freight Broker Authority

A specific type of MC operating authority issued by the FMCSA that allows a person or company to arrange the transportation of freight for shippers without owning trucks.

EIN

Employer Identification Number

A unique nine-digit number assigned by the IRS to business entities for tax identification purposes, required for USDOT registration and most business filings.

SAFER

Safety and Fitness Electronic Records

An FMCSA online database that provides the public with access to motor carrier safety data, including company snapshots, inspection results, crash reports, and registration information.

Hazmat Endorsement

A special endorsement added to a commercial driver's license (CDL) that authorizes the driver to transport hazardous materials requiring placarding.

CDL

Commercial Driver's License

A specialized driver's license required to operate large, heavy, or hazardous material vehicles in the United States, issued by individual states under federal standards.

Cabotage

The restriction on foreign carriers from transporting goods or passengers between two points within a country, protecting domestic transportation markets from foreign competition.

Interchange Agreement

A written contract between a motor carrier and an intermodal equipment provider that governs the use, maintenance responsibilities, and liability for intermodal equipment such as containers and chassis.

Unified Carrier Registration

UCR

The full name of the UCR program, a federally mandated annual registration and fee system for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies.