Authority in the context of commercial motor vehicles refers to the legal permission granted to a person or company to operate commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, for transporting goods or passengers for compensation. Authority is usually obtained by obtaining a certificate, permit, or license from the appropriate government agency, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States. There are two types of authority for commercial motor vehicles: Operating Authority : This type of authority allows a company to provide transportation services in the U.S. or between U.S. and foreign points. A company must have operating authority to engage in for-hire transportation, which means transporting goods or passengers for compensation. ICC Authority (Interstate Commerce Commission Authority) : This type of authority was replaced by the FMCSA in 1995, but it is still commonly used as a term to refer to operating authority for commercial m...