How to Look Up a Trucking Company by USDOT or MC Number

What you need before you start

Every for-hire interstate carrier and freight broker in the United States is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Registration produces a USDOT number, and companies that haul freight for others across state lines also hold operating authority, identified by an MC (motor carrier), MX or FF docket number.

Ask the carrier for its USDOT number and MC number in writing — on the rate confirmation, the W-9 or the carrier packet. A legitimate carrier will give you both without hesitation.

Step-by-step lookup

• Search the USDOT number first. It is unique to one company and never reused, so it is the most reliable key.
• Check that the legal name and any DBA on the record match the company you are talking to.
• Compare the phone number and email on file with the ones the dispatcher is using. A mismatch is the most common sign of an impersonated carrier.
• Confirm the physical address is a real operating location, not a mailbox store.
• Read the operating authority status: it must be active for the type of freight you are tendering (common or contract for carriers, broker for brokers).
• Check liability insurance is on file at or above the federal minimum, and that no cancellation is pending.
• Review the 24-month inspection and crash history and the out-of-service rates against the national average.

Searching by company name

Name searches are useful when a carrier only gives you a trade name, but many companies share similar names. Always finish a name search by confirming the USDOT number, city and phone number, and open the profile rather than trusting the first result.

What the lookup cannot tell you

The census figures — fleet size, drivers and mileage — are self-reported on the MCS-150 form and may be out of date. Insurance and authority change daily. Use the lookup to screen, then confirm authority and insurance with FMCSA and the insurer on the day you tender.

Frequently asked questions