Do you need your own DOT or MC authority for courier work?
Updated Nov 2026, with counts from our verified listings.
Short answer
For a car or most cargo vans working under a courier company, usually not: most are under 10,001 lbs GVWR, the federal threshold for a USDOT number in interstate commerce. Box trucks and some heavier vans are rated 10,001 lbs or more, so interstate commercial work generally needs a USDOT number. MC authority depends on the work, not the weight: if you haul for hire across state lines under your own name, you need it in any vehicle. Many carriers let you work under their authority instead ("leasing on"). Your state may have its own rules.
By vehicle
- Car, SUV or minivan: usually no USDOT or MC needed when you work under a courier company. Hauling for hire across state lines on your own needs MC authority in any vehicle.
- Cargo van: usually no USDOT number, since most are rated under 10,001 lbs GVWR. Same MC rule as a car.
- High-roof Sprinter-style van: depends on the model's rating; some are rated 10,001 lbs or more, which brings in the USDOT rules.
- Box truck (16 to 26 ft): rated 10,001 lbs or more, so interstate commercial work generally needs a USDOT number, and for-hire interstate work needs MC authority, unless you lease on to a carrier. Interstate commerce can include in-state final-mile deliveries of goods shipped from another state.
- CDL: needed for a single vehicle rated or loaded to 26,001 lbs or more, or to haul placarded hazmat. Interstate drivers of trucks rated 10,001 lbs or more also need a DOT medical card, CDL or not.
Your own authority vs. leasing on
With your own authority you can contract with any carrier or shipper that accepts it, but you carry the insurance and compliance yourself. Leasing on means a carrier puts you under its USDOT and MC numbers and its liability insurance while you're dispatched; it's the quicker way to start, and many expedite and final-mile carriers work this way. You'll usually still need your own non-trucking liability and physical damage coverage.
Company requirements vary. On this site, each listing shows "Own DOT/MC required" or "No DOT/MC needed" when the company says, and you can filter a metro's list to companies that don't require your own authority.
Check before you apply
- Find your vehicle's GVWR on the sticker in the driver's door jamb.
- Check your state's rules for intrastate commercial vehicles; some states require a state or USDOT number at lower weights.
- Check each company's requirements before buying authority or insurance.
Find companies near you
Enter your ZIP to see companies in your metro. If we don't cover your area yet, we can collect it for you on request.
Questions
Do I need a USDOT number for a cargo van?
Usually not for vans rated under 10,001 lbs GVWR. Vans rated 10,001 lbs or more used in interstate commerce do. Some states have their own rules for in-state work.
What does it mean to lease on to a carrier?
You drive your own vehicle under the carrier's USDOT and MC authority, and its liability insurance while dispatched, instead of your own. You usually still carry non-trucking liability and physical damage coverage. Many expedite and final-mile carriers work this way.
Do I need a CDL for a box truck?
If the truck is rated or loaded to 26,001 lbs or more, or you haul placarded hazmat. Most 16 ft and many 26 ft box trucks are rated at 26,000 lbs or less.