---
title: "How long does MC authority take in Minnesota?"
url: "https://rookiefeed.com/guides/mc-authority-time/minnesota"
updated: "2026-10-19"
---

# How long does MC authority take in Minnesota?

> 26 days: that's the median wait from application to active MC authority for a first-time Minnesota carrier in the 30 days ending October 19, 2026, 1 day longer than the national median of 25 and 24th shortest of 35 states, measured on 119 carriers.

## Minnesota vs. the national wait

Minnesota's middle half of carriers took 15 to 40 days, against 16 to 41 for the whole country.

| Days, first filing to grant | Minnesota | United States |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 25th percentile | 15 days | 16 days |
| Median | 26 days | 25 days |
| 75th percentile | 40 days | 41 days |
| 90th percentile | 64 days | 70 days |
| Carriers measured | 119 | 5,409 |

## Share of Minnesota carriers active within FMCSA's estimate

56.3% of measured Minnesota carriers were active within 28 calendar days and 66.4% within 35, against 56.5% and 68.7% nationally. 10.9% were still waiting after 60 days.

| Active within (FMCSA quotes 20 to 25 business days) | Minnesota | United States |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 14 days | 22.7% | 16.8% |
| 28 days (20 business days) | 56.3% | 56.5% |
| 35 days (25 business days) | 66.4% | 68.7% |
| 60 days | 89.1% | 85.9% |

## Wait by Minnesota city

Cities with at least 10 measured first-time grants. Minneapolis carriers had the shortest median (26 days) and Bloomington the longest (42 days).

| City | Carriers measured | Median days |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Minneapolis | 18 | 26 |
| Bloomington | 12 | 42 |

## Minnesota and its neighbors

Among states bordering Minnesota, Wisconsin had the shortest median wait (24 days) and Iowa the longest (25 days).

| State | Median wait | Carriers measured | New carriers, 30 days |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Minnesota | 26 days | 119 | 120 |
| [Wisconsin](https://rookiefeed.com/guides/mc-authority-time/wisconsin) | 24 days | 71 | 72 |
| [Iowa](https://rookiefeed.com/guides/mc-authority-time/iowa) | 25 days | 53 | 54 |
| North Dakota | too few | under 30 | 16 |
| South Dakota | too few | under 30 | 14 |

## What stands out in Minnesota

- The fastest quarter of Minnesota carriers were active within 15 days, quicker than the national 16.
- The slow tail is shorter here: 90% were active within 64 days (nationally 70).
- The average (33 days) runs well above the median (26), so a minority of long waits pulls it up.
- Minneapolis accounted for 15% of new Minnesota carriers in the window.

## Minnesota carriers inside the wait right now

158 Minnesota carriers filed new applications in the last 30 days, while 120 were granted, the 13th most of any state. 99.2% of the granted carriers were first-time authorities and 100% had liability coverage on file. City, equipment and insurer tables are on the [Minnesota page](https://rookiefeed.com/new-trucking-companies/minnesota).

Rookiefeed sends each new Minnesota carrier the morning its authority is granted, with the owner's contact details: [get 25 new Minnesota carriers free](https://rookiefeed.com/list-builder?states=MN).

## Questions

### How long does it take to get MC authority in Minnesota?

In the last 30 days the median Minnesota carrier waited 26 calendar days from application to active authority, and 90% were active within 64 days. Next door, Wisconsin carriers waited a median 24 days.

### Do Minnesota carriers get authority within FMCSA's 20 to 25 business days?

66.4% of measured Minnesota carriers did, counting from the first filing to the active date, and 22.7% were active within two weeks.

## Sources

- [FMCSA FAQ: application processing times](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/how-long-does-operating-authority-or-usdot-number-application-processing-take-if-you-file)