FMCSA: Top Authority in Auto Transport - Industry

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plays a very important role in regulating the auto transport industry, ensuring safety, accountability, and consumer protection. 

Whether you're shipping a car across the country or hiring an auto transport company, understanding FMCSA’s role can help you make informed decisions.

Key Points: 

• Explaining the duties of the F.M.C.S.A. as the industry's top authority.
• New E.O. Mandates English Proficiency for Truckers and how it works.
• FMCSA’s Transition from MC Numbers to U.S. DOT Numbers. 
  

Duties of the F.M.C.S.A. in Auto Transport

The FMCSA [1] is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) responsible for regulating and overseeing commercial motor carriers, including auto transport companies.

1. Licensing and Regulation of Auto Transport Companies

Auto transport carriers must be registered with the FMCSA and obtain a Motor Carrier (MC) number and a DOT number to legally operate. The FMCSA ensures that only qualified companies are authorized to transport vehicles. 

2. Enforcing Safety Standards

FMCSA sets strict safety regulations for carriers, including:

• Driver qualifications (background checks, training, and licensing)
• Vehicle maintenance requirements to prevent breakdowns and accidents
• Hours of service (HOS) rules to prevent driver fatigue and ensure safe travel

3. Monitoring Insurance Requirements

The FMCSA requires auto transport carriers to carry a minimum amount of liability and cargo insurance to protect customers in case of damage or loss. Consumers can verify a company's insurance status through the FMCSA website.

4. Protecting Consumers from Fraud

One of the biggest risks in auto transport is fraudulent brokers and scam companies. The FMCSA regulates brokers, requiring them to:

• Obtain a broker bond of at least $75,000 to ensure financial responsibility
• Follow truthful advertising practices and avoid misleading customers
• Maintain proper records of transactions to prevent fraud

5. Providing a Complaint Resolution Process

If a consumer experiences issues such as overcharges, vehicle damage, or a carrier failing to deliver, they can file a complaint with the FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB). The agency investigates complaints and takes action against non-compliant companies.

How to Check if an Auto Transporter is FMCSA-Registered

Before hiring an auto transport company, you can verify their credentials on the FMCSA website by searching for their MC and DOT numbers. This ensures you're dealing with a legitimate, licensed carrier or broker. [2]

The FMCSA plays a vital role in ensuring safety, fair business practices, and consumer protection in the auto transport industry. By regulating carriers, enforcing insurance requirements, and preventing fraud, the agency helps customers avoid scams and ensures that vehicles are transported safely. Before booking auto transport services, always verify FMCSA registration to ensure a secure and compliant shipping experience.

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New E.O. Mandates English Proficiency for Truckers

On April 28, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that all commercial truck drivers in the United States demonstrate English proficiency. The order, aimed at enhancing road safety, requires drivers to pass literacy tests and empowers the Department of Transportation to enforce these standards. [3]

Drivers failing to meet the criteria may be placed out of service. This move reinstates stricter language requirements that had been relaxed under previous administrations.

June 25, 2026: English Proficiency Mandatory for Truckers

Effective Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has reinstated English Language Proficiency (ELP) as an out‑of‑service violation during roadside inspections. [4]

NEWS: @SecDuffy has announced new guidelines to enhance enforcement of English proficiency for commercial truckers.

Under @POTUS' leadership, we're improving highway safety by ensuring every driver is qualified and proficient in English—our national language.

Starting June 25,… pic.twitter.com/LmvCDaflMN

— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) May 20, 2025

This rule change is based on a White House Executive Order that reversed a 2016 FMCSA memo and directed enforcement agencies to treat ELP violations with the same severity as other critical safety infractions. 

What is the Out‑of‑Service Penalty for English Proficiency?

Truck drivers can be placed out of service if they fail to meet English language proficiency standards during roadside inspections, per new federal enforcement guidelines. [5]

What is Required to Avoid 'Out of Service' Penalty

Under 49 CFR § 391.11(b)(2), drivers must demonstrate sufficient ability to:

1. Speak and understand English in conversation with the public and enforcement officials.
   
2. Read and comprehend highway traffic signs and signals.
3. Respond to official inquiries and accurately complete reports and records

How the Requirements are Tested

The FMCSA has provided a two‑step roadside assessment for officers:

• Step 1: A direct driver interview conducted in English—without interpreters or assistive devices.
• Step 2: Recognition test involving U.S. road signs and electronic message boards

Possible Outcome of English Proficiency Test

If a driver fails Step 1, an out‑of‑service order is issued immediately. Passing Step 1 is required before proceeding to sign assessment. Notably, drivers operating within U.S.–Mexico border commercial zones may receive citations but will not be placed out‑of‑service or disqualified. 

What Executive Order 14224 means for Trucking

The executive order is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to emphasize the use of English in the U.S. In March 2025, President Trump signed another order declaring English as the nation's official language, rescinding a Clinton-era mandate that required federal agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. While supporters argue that these measures promote unity and safety, critics express concern over potential discrimination against non-English-speaking communities and the impact on immigrant populations. [6][7]

How EO 14224 may cause trucking delays

The auto transport industry is currently facing significant delays due to a combination of factors, including driver shortages, rising fuel costs, and evolving regulations. These challenges are impacting delivery schedules and overall efficiency in vehicle shipping. If you're experiencing delays or have questions about your auto transport needs, please contact us for more information and assistance.

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FMCSA’s Transition to USDOT Numbers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a major change to its registration system: by October 1, 2025, the agency will retire Motor Carrier (MC) numbers and rely solely on USDOT numbers for all carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. Since 2016, Viceroy Auto Transport has proudly operated under USDOT# 2857150 and MC# 956554 [8][9]

What the FMCSA Transition Means for Auto Transport

The move from MC numbers to USDOT numbers will affect every part of the auto transport industry. Here’s what it means:

• For Carriers:
  All authority, safety, and compliance records will be tied to a single USDOT number, making verification more consistent for all carriers.
• For Shippers:
  Customers will use the USDOT number to confirm a carrier’s authority and safety record, reducing confusion with multiple IDs.
  
• For Brokers and Partners:
  Contracts, insurance filings, and compliance checks will reference only USDOT numbers, simplifying paperwork for brokers and partners.
• For the Industry:
  Fraudulent practices like double brokering and carrier “churning” will become harder, protecting both carriers and customers.
• For Viceroy Auto Transport:
  With USDOT# 2857150 established since 2016, our credentials are secure, and our customers can continue to book with confidence.

For customers, the change means they’ll be able to check carrier authority and safety records more quickly using FMCSA’s databases, without the confusion of multiple numbers. For brokers and partners, it streamlines contracts, insurance filings, and compliance checks.

How the transition helps the trucking industry

The FMCSA’s shift to a single identifier aims to:

• Simplify carrier registration under the Unified Registration System (URS)
• Eliminate duplicate records and reduce fraud
• Improve public access to safety and compliance data
• Strengthen accountability across the trucking industry

For our customers, this transition means that carrier verification will soon be tied exclusively to USDOT numbers rather than MC numbers. At Viceroy Auto Transport, we are already prepared for this update and will continue to operate with the same high level of compliance, safety, and reliability that has defined our service since 2016.

□ FMCSA’s new registration system is launching in 2025!
✅ No more MC numbers
✅ USDOT gets upgraded
✅ Streamlined, mobile access
✅ Stronger fraud protection

□ Watch our quick explainer#Truckers #FMCSA #CDL #DOTCompliance #OhioDOTPhysicals pic.twitter.com/HgsdMnt5CJ

— Ohio DOT Physicals (@OhioDOTPhysical) July 9, 2025

                 

References

1. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/insurance-filing-requirements
2. https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx
3. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-391/subpart-B/section-391.11
4. https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-signs-order-announcing-new-guidance-enforce
5. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/enforcing-commonsense-rules-of-the-road-for-americas-truck-drivers/
6. https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/trumps-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-truck-drivers-who-want-share-our-roads
7. https://nypost.com/2025/04/29/us-news/trump-signs-order-requiring-truck-drivers-to-speak-english-pass-literacy-tests/
8. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/modernization-faqs#:~:text=FMCSA%20has%20proposed%20no%20longer,of%20the%20new%20registration%20system.
9. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-it-means-for-the-industry-as-fmcsa-eliminates-mc-numbers-in-2025