The letters and calls a new MC gets: which are real

What FMCSA, the IRS and your state really send

Everything below was checked against the official sources at the bottom of this page on November 1, 2026. These are the official steps a new for-hire carrier goes through, in roughly the order they come up:

• Your authority grant. After you apply in Motus and pay the $300 fee, FMCSA publishes your application in the FMCSA Register. Anyone has 10 days to protest. Your MC only becomes active once your insurance filing and your BOC-3 are on file. Get both filed as soon as your application is published. Read how to get your authority.
• Insurance filing. Your insurance company files proof of your liability coverage with FMCSA. You don't file it and nobody else needs to.
• BOC-3. A process agent files it for you, covering every state where you need one. Only one BOC-3 can be on file at a time, so one agent is enough.
• New Entrant Safety Audit. FMCSA checks every new carrier within 12 months of starting, at your place of business or electronically, and watches you for the first 18 months. Get ready with the safety audit checklist.
• UCR. A yearly registration through the UCR Plan at ucr.gov. The 2027 portal opened October 1, 2026.
• MCS-150 update. Every 24 months, even if nothing changed. The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month and the next-to-last digit sets odd or even years. FMCSA says the update is free. See keeping your USDOT and MC active.
• IFTA and IRP. Your base state issues them for a truck with 2 axles over 26,000 lb, 3 or more axles, or a combination over 26,000 lb. IFTA fuel tax returns are due April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.
• Form 2290. The IRS heavy vehicle use tax for trucks at a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lb or more, due by the last day of the month after the month you first use the truck. The tax year runs July 1 to June 30. See the Form 2290 guide.

Why the look-alikes arrive, and what FMCSA says about them

FMCSA publicly displays every motor carrier's name, address and phone number. The moment your USDOT or MC shows up, private companies can find you, and many send letters, emails, texts and robocalls that use words like "DOT compliance", "UCR", "BOC-3", "safety audit" or "action required". Some offer a real service at a price. Some are scams built to steal your PIN or your money.

FMCSA's own fraud alerts say:

• FMCSA will not contact carriers through telemarketers or robocalls, will not ask for a credit card number by phone, and does not charge a fee for its downloadable forms.
• FMCSA will not call you right after you submit your registration application.
• FMCSA will never ask for payment or sensitive information such as your UCR details, USDOT PIN, Social Security number, EIN or bank details through an unsolicited message.
• Real FMCSA email comes from a .gov address. Watch for .com sites dressed up as SAFER, Motus or the FMCSA Portal.
• The government does not endorse, and generally does not require, private service providers. Using one is your choice, not a rule.
• Never buy, sell or lease a USDOT number or MC from someone you don't know.

None of this means every company that writes to you is a scam. It means nothing they send is required, and you can always do the official filing yourself on the .gov site.

The official items at a glance

If a letter mentions one of these, compare it with this table before you pay anything:

Fees as published by FMCSA, the UCR Plan and the IRS on November 1, 2026. IFTA and IRP fees vary by state.

What to do with each one

• Check the sender. A real FMCSA email ends in .gov. A letter that only gives a .com website, a prepaid phone number or a QR code to pay is not from FMCSA.
• Check your own record. Look up your USDOT on SAFER, or put your MC in our MC age checker, to see your real status before you react to an "urgent" notice.
• Do the free and cheap filings yourself. The MCS-150 update in Motus is free, and UCR is done at ucr.gov.
• Never give your USDOT PIN, Login.gov password or bank details to anyone who contacted you first.
• Real safety audit notice? Confirm it on FMCSA's New Entrant site or with the Contact Center, then prepare. Our safety audit prep service can help you get your files in order.
• Report scams to the FMCSA Contact Center (1-800-832-5660 or ask.fmcsa.dot.gov), the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Once your authority is active, the next step is your first loads. Read your first 90 days with a new MC. Fleetorica's dispatch is a simple percentage of each load, quoted for your truck, and your first load is free if you have your own active MC. Call (747) 210-0227.

Questions carriers ask