Released March 13, the agency’s message was direct:
“DO NOT Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT Number or Operating Authority (MC Number) online or elsewhere from an unknown person or outside of a legitimate corporate transaction.”

Why USDOT and MC Numbers Matter

For anyone running under their own authority, a USDOT number isn’t just paperwork. It functions much like an identification number that ties your entire operation to a single legal entity. Whether you’re hauling under your own name or operating as a larger carrier, that number is how regulators track safety records, inspections, and compliance.

According to FMCSA, that connection cannot be separated or reassigned informally.

“The USDOT Number belongs to the same legal person forever and may not be sold, transferred, rented or leased,” the agency wrote in the bulletin. “FMCSA will inactivate USDOT Numbers upon discovery that the number is being used by anyone other than the assigned legal person.”

What Happens If You Ignore the Rule

This isn’t a gray area. If FMCSA finds out that a USDOT or MC number is being bought, sold, or leased outside of a proper business transaction, the consequences can shut an operation down fast.

The agency states it will move to deactivate the number and revoke any associated registrations tied to that authority. For drivers and fleets, that means loads stop, revenue disappears, and rebuilding compliance can take time.

Real-World Risk for Owner-Operators

The warning isn’t just theoretical. Industry groups are already seeing the fallout.

Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) says improper transfers have created major legal and financial headaches for drivers.

Brittany Murphy, an agent in OOIDA’s Permits and Licensing Department, shared an example of an owner-operator who sold his authority. Years later, a crash involving the carrier operating under that same number led to the original owner being held responsible because the transfer wasn’t completed correctly.

That kind of situation can expose drivers to liability long after they think they’ve moved on from a business.

Understanding Legitimate Transfers

There is a difference between selling a company and trying to sell a number. FMCSA recognizes that operating authority can change hands as part of a legitimate corporate transaction, such as selling a business entity.

The key is that the legal structure must transfer properly. Simply handing off a USDOT or MC number without completing the correct process does not count as a valid transfer in the eyes of regulators.

The agency also outlines differences between sole proprietors and corporations, which can affect how authority is handled during ownership changes.

What Drivers Should Do Now

If you’ve ever transferred or sold your authority, it’s worth double-checking that everything was completed correctly. Even if the deal happened years ago, your name could still be tied to that number if the paperwork wasn’t finalized through proper channels.

OOIDA advises drivers with questions to contact its Permits and Licensing Department at 816-229-5791 for guidance.

Bottom Line for the Industry

Shortcuts around compliance rarely stay hidden for long. As enforcement tightens, regulators are watching more closely for misuse of USDOT and MC numbers.

For drivers, owner-operators, and fleet managers, the takeaway is simple: your authority is tied to your identity. Treat it that way, and make sure any transition is done by the book.

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On Jan. 30, FMCSA issued an alert describing what it called “a new, aggressive phishing campaign” aimed directly at trucking companies. The agency said the emails are crafted to look official and may appear to come from the U.S. Department of Transportation or FMCSA staff.

According to the agency, these messages often include polished documents and links that look legitimate at first glance. However, FMCSA stressed that the emails “are fake and designed to steal sensitive information or demand illegal payments.”

How the Scam Emails Are Designed to Trick Carriers

FMCSA explained that the fraudulent messages frequently mimic real government notices and may reference compliance, enforcement actions, or required payments to pressure recipients into responding quickly.

One key red flag involves the sender’s email address. Official FMCSA communication almost always comes from a government domain ending in “.gov.” The agency noted that emails from non-government addresses are only used in very limited situations.

Those exceptions include customer satisfaction surveys sent after contacting the FMCSA Contact Center. Even then, FMCSA emphasized that those surveys only request feedback and never ask for personal, payment, or account information.

Another warning sign involves the links included in scam messages. FMCSA said fake emails often direct recipients to suspicious websites that resemble official portals but use non-government domains. An example provided by the agency included addresses such as fmcsa.web.saferwebdattaconnect.pro, which are not legitimate FMCSA sites.

What FMCSA Will Never Ask You to Do

FMCSA made it clear that it does not request sensitive information through unsolicited emails or messages.

The agency stated it will never ask for payment or confidential details such as:

• UCR information
•  PINs
• Social Security numbers
• Employer Identification Numbers
• Bank account details

Any message requesting this type of information should be treated as suspicious.

What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Email

If a truck driver or carrier receives an unexpected message claiming to be from DOT or FMCSA, the agency advises not to interact with it until the communication can be verified.

FMCSA recommends avoiding all links and attachments and confirming legitimacy through official channels, including the FMCSA Contact Center or by calling the agency directly at 1 800 832 5660.

FMCSA Recommended Steps for Reporting Scam Emails

Drivers and carriers who encounter suspected phishing messages are encouraged to take the following actions:

• Do not click on any links or open attachments
•  Do not reply to the sender
• File a complaint with the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center IC3 website
•  Report the email to the FMCSA Contact Center or call 1 800 832 5660
•  Visit the Federal Trade Commission website for guidance on phishing and email verification

FMCSA said maintaining strong personal cyber hygiene remains the most effective defense against scams. Taking a few extra seconds to verify emails can prevent costly disruptions to a trucking business and protect sensitive records.

Source: Overdrive

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According to FMCSA, the study will officially start early next year, with full details to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, August 28. Its stated goal is “to monitor crash trends and identify causes and contributing factors and develop effective safety improvement policies and programs.”

The agency plans to collect detailed data from 3,333 fatal crashes across 30 state jurisdictions. “This effort is aimed at identifying key driver, vehicle, motor carrier, and environmental factors that may contribute to fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks,” FMCSA explained.

Data collection is expected to take a minimum of two years to complete. During this time, the public will have opportunities to submit comments to help shape the findings and recommendations.

This study represents one of the most extensive federal efforts in recent years to better understand the dynamics of commercial truck crashes and to develop actionable solutions that enhance safety for everyone on the road.

Source: Marcus Wrinkler (Unsplash)

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According to the declaration, the urgent need to transport live chickens across state lines from severely impacted regions has prompted this decision.

Several states, including California, Iowa, and Louisiana, had previously issued state-level emergency declarations regarding the bird flu. These states remain hotspots for ongoing concerns about public safety and food security. Additionally, bird flu-related risks have recently emerged in other states, further escalating the situation.

Relief for Emergency Transport Operations

The FMCSA’s declaration provides regulatory flexibility specifically for commercial motor vehicles involved in emergency support efforts. These vehicles are tasked with transporting live chickens from regions hit hardest by the bird flu outbreak to areas unaffected by the disease.

This exemption is solely for emergency transport. Routine commercial shipments, including those with minimal quantities of emergency relief supplies meant to qualify for the declaration, are not covered.

Revised Driving Regulations for Relief Efforts

To prioritize safety while ensuring timely delivery, the FMCSA has outlined specific conditions under which the usual driving time restrictions are suspended for drivers involved in emergency relief operations. These include:

• Motor carriers must secure an agreement from the receiving facility confirming that the live chickens will be accepted prior to dispatch.

• Drivers may not exceed 16 hours of driving within any 24-hour period.

• All driving must cease at 12 a.m. (midnight) each day.

• A minimum rest period of six hours in a sleeper berth is required before resuming driving.

• Drivers must use paper logs for tracking duty status and maintain all supporting documentation.

• Drivers must hold a valid commercial driver’s license and must not be under an out-of-service order or suspended driving privileges.

Additionally, motor carriers or drivers currently under an out-of-service order are not eligible for regulatory relief until their order is rescinded. Compliance with all relevant state and federal regulations is also mandatory.

Before beginning transport, motor carriers and drivers must ensure they have the necessary permits and approvals for the loading, transport, and delivery of live poultry.

Transitioning Back to Normal Operations

Once drivers complete emergency relief efforts, they must take a mandatory 10-hour rest break if their combined emergency and normal operations driving time reaches or exceeds 14 hours.

Declaration Valid Through March 10

The FMCSA’s regional emergency declaration will remain active until March 10, 2025, unless extended or otherwise modified.

Source: Land Line

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The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has officially announced the 18 division winners of its 49th Annual TCA Fleet Safety Awards. Sponsored by Great West Casualty Company and Assured Partners, the awards highlight motor carriers that have achieved exceptional safety performance within their divisions.

Recognition for Dedication to Roadway Safety

“Every year, these submissions and ratios are growing tighter and tighter as a testament to the programs and technology that motor carriers are using to improve upon their safety performance,” stated Dave Heller, TCA’s senior vice president of safety and government affairs. “Involvement in TCA and other industry associations have demonstrated and proven the very notion that there are no secrets in safety and our industry’s fundamental goal of eliminating fleet vehicle accidents and fatalities on our roadways is an objective that we are ultimately striving for. I congratulate these 18 motor carriers that have led the way this year and the tireless efforts of every motor carrier in our industry that constantly strives to improve upon their operations by continuously placing safety first.”

This annual recognition shines a spotlight on carriers that prioritize safety by maintaining the lowest accident frequency ratios per million miles traveled, divided into six mileage-based categories.

Road to Grand Prizes

The 18 winners are now eligible to compete for one of two prestigious grand prizes, which will recognize the safest carriers among different mileage brackets. One prize will honor carriers with under 25 million miles annually, while the other will be awarded to carriers surpassing that threshold.

The grand prize winners will be unveiled at Truckload 2025, TCA’s Annual Convention, happening from March 15-18, 2025, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Additionally, all winners will be celebrated at TCA’s 2025 Safety & Security Meeting, scheduled for June 8-10 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Honoring 2024’s Fleet Safety Division Winners

Division I (Less than 5 million miles)

• 1st Place: Liberty Linehaul West, Inc. – Montebello, CA

• 2nd Place: Meyers Brothers Trucking – Pioneer, OH

• 3rd Place: Next Logistics – Marshfield, WI

Division II (5-14.99 million miles)

• 1st Place: Stallion Transportation Group – Beebe, AR

• 2nd Place: B.R. Williams Trucking – Oxford, AL

• 3rd Place: Transpro Freight Systems – Milton, ON, Canada

Division III (15-24.99 million miles)

• 1st Place: Unlimited Carrier Inc. – Bolingbrook, IL

• 2nd Place: Loblaw Transport, Inc. – Calgary, AB, Canada

• 3rd Place: Lion Force Transport Inc. – Brampton, ON, Canada

Division IV (25-49.99 million miles)

• 1st Place: Erb Transport Ltd – New Hamburg, ON, Canada

• 2nd Place: Johnson Feed Inc. – Canton, SD

• 3rd Place: Trans-West Logistics – Lachine, QC, Canada

Division V (50-99.99 million miles)

• 1st Place: Challenger Motor Freight Inc. – Cambridge, ON, Canada

• 2nd Place: Nussbaum Transportation – Hudson, IL

• 3rd Place: Decker Truck Line Inc. – Fort Dodge, IA

Division VI (100 million or more miles)

• 1st Place: Bison Transport – Winnipeg, MB, Canada

• 2nd Place: CFI – Joplin, MO

• 3rd Place: Prime Inc. – Springfield, MO

Learn More About the TCA Fleet Safety Awards

For additional details about the TCA Fleet Safety Awards, including eligibility criteria and rules, visit the TCA Fleet Safety Awards webpage.

Source: The Trucker

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