Motor carrier

A motor carrier is a company that operates commercial motor vehicles transporting freight or passengers, holding FMCSA operating authority and meeting federal safety, insurance, and registration requirements.

Motor carriers of property hold MC-numbered authority issued via OP-1. They employ or lease drivers, operate equipment, and carry primary auto liability insurance (FMCSA minimum is $750,000 for general property).

Carriers can be single-truck owner-operators or large fleets running hundreds or thousands of power units. The vetting profile differs materially between the two.

Why this matters for freight brokers

The motor carrier is the operating party on every load. Vetting the carrier (not just verifying the broker's contract is in place) is the post-Montgomery standard of reasonable care.

Related terms

• Freight broker — A freight broker is a licensed intermediary that arranges the transportation of freight between shippers and motor carriers without taking possession of the cargo or operating the equipment.
• Shipper — A shipper is the party that owns the freight and tenders it to a freight broker or motor carrier for transportation.
• 3PL (Third-Party Logistics provider) — A 3PL is a company providing outsourced logistics services that may include freight brokerage, warehousing, fulfillment, transportation management, and other supply chain functions.
• FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) — FMCSA is the agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates motor carriers, freight brokers, and freight forwarders operating in interstate commerce.