Monthly FMCSA motor-carrier authority grants vs revocations — the cleanest freely-available leading indicator for spot-market tightness and used-truck supply.
As of 2026-03, FMCSA issued 5,700 new motor-carrier authorities and revoked 4,700, a net change of +1,000 carriers. Over the trailing six months, the average net change has been +550 per month. Sustained net negative months typically precede spot-rate firmness by roughly 60 to 90 days as capacity exits faster than it's added; sustained net positive months often precede rate softening. Used-truck dealers should watch for trade-in volume to spike 30 to 60 days after a net-revocations month as displaced owner-operators liquidate equipment.
Motor-carrier (MC) authority is the FMCSA-issued operating authority that allows a for-hire carrier to haul regulated freight in interstate commerce. A carrier with no MC authority cannot legally pick up freight for pay; revocations remove capacity from the market immediately.
When authority revocations exceed new grants for several consecutive months, operating capacity is contracting faster than it's being added. Historically, that pattern precedes spot-rate firming by 60-90 days and used-truck supply surges (displaced owner-ops flooding auctions) within 30-60 days.
Sustained low spot rates, fuel cost spikes, insurance premium surges, and safety-score failures all push marginal owner-operators out. FMCSA revokes authority for non-payment of insurance, safety violations, failed audits, and voluntary surrender. Revocations lag margin pressure by roughly one quarter.
Data is sourced from FMCSA's Licensing & Insurance monthly snapshot at https://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/Downloads.aspx. TruckRadar updates this page monthly after each FMCSA release.
Used-truck dealers should expect trade-in volume to spike 30-60 days after a net-revocations month; price accordingly. Fleet buyers see this as a green light to hold out for better pricing. When net grants are positive for 2+ quarters, dealers tighten inventory and expect retail firmness.