Carrier check: verify a motor carrier before you book
Look up a motor carrier by USDOT number, MC number or company name. Confirm who it is, whether its authority and insurance filings are in place, and what its safety and contact history show.
- Identity
- Authority
- Insurance
- Safety
- Contacts
Type a USDOT number, an MC number with MC in front, or the company name.
Six checks to verify a carrier
Confirm the company is who it says it is
Match the legal name, DBA, USDOT and MC numbers with the carrier packet and the rate confirmation. Two companies can have almost the same name.
Check operating authority
A for-hire carrier moving regulated freight across state lines needs active operating authority. Look at the authority type and status, and at recent grants, suspensions or revocations in the timeline.
Check the insurance filing
Look for a BIPD liability filing on the docket and compare the amount with the required minimum ($750,000 for general freight). These are the filings in FMCSA’s licensing and insurance data. Ask for the certificate for your load as well.
Read the safety record
Safety rating and its date, roadside inspections and out-of-service rates over 24 months, and crashes. Read them together and in proportion to fleet size.
Look at contact details and changes
Compare the phone and address with what you were given. A recent change, or a phone number shared with many other carriers, is a reason to confirm through a second channel.
Save the decision and keep watching
Write down what you checked and why you approved or rejected the carrier. Records change after onboarding, so re-check before new work or monitor it.
Signals worth a second look
None of these proves a problem on its own. Each is a reason to confirm through a second channel before you tender freight.
Authority granted very recently
New authority is normal, but combine it with the other checks, especially for high-value freight.
Contact details changed recently
Identity thieves often change the phone or email on a real carrier’s record. Call the number on file. Do not use the one in the email.
Phone or address shared with many carriers
Shared offices and dispatch services are common. Many unrelated carriers at one address deserves a closer look.
Suspension or revocation notices
Often caused by a lapsed insurance filing. Check that authority is active today.
Conditional or unsatisfactory rating
Read the rating date and the recent inspection record before deciding.
Old MCS-150 update
The registration update is due every two years, so an old date is worth asking about.
Questions
How do I verify a carrier for free?
Enter its USDOT number, MC number or company name above. The result shows the census record with authority, insurance, safety and history. Confirm anything unclear with the official FMCSA sources.
Can I look up a motor carrier by name?
Yes. Type the company name, pick the carrier from the matches, and the check runs on that record.
What is the difference between a carrier check and a DOT lookup?
The DOT number lookup finds the record. A carrier check is the full review: identity, authority, insurance, safety and contacts, in that order.
Does CarrierTrail approve carriers?
No. It shows public records with their dates and keeps your team’s evidence. Your team decides.
Can I check carriers in bulk?
Yes, in a paid workspace: import a CSV of USDOT or MC numbers and monitor them daily. See pricing.
Is this the same as carrier onboarding?
A carrier check covers the public-record part of onboarding. See carrier onboarding checks for how CarrierTrail fits alongside your carrier packet.
Check once, then keep watching
Monitoring re-checks saved carriers every day and puts authority, insurance, safety and contact changes in your review queue.