Free carrier risk check
Enter a USDOT or MC number for an instant risk read from live FMCSA data — authority, safety, and insurance status before you tender a load. No signup.
New broker? This check is step one of a workflow. The Playbook walks it end to end, with screenshots → Or grab the printable vetting checklist.
Common questions
What does the free FMCSA check show?
Enter a USDOT or MC number and the tool pulls that entity's live FMCSA record and returns a green / yellow / red risk read: operating-authority status, out-of-service orders, safety rating, insurance filings on record, registration age, and whether a motor carrier also holds broker authority (a double-brokering signal). The free result shows the verdict plus the top risk flags.
Does it work for brokers as well as motor carriers?
Yes. FMCSA registers motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders under USDOT numbers. The check classifies the entity from its authority record and scores each type on the right rules — a broker-authority DOT is checked for its BMC-84/85 surety bond, not for carrier-only items like safety rating or cargo insurance, and the result says plainly that it is a broker, not a motor carrier.
Is the data live, and do I need an account?
Every check queries FMCSA's public QCMobile API at the time you run it — no cached database of stale records. The check is free and requires no signup. Creating a free account adds the full flag set, document (COI/W-9) reading, a dated decision record, and daily monitoring.
Is a green result a guarantee the carrier is safe?
No. Green means no authority or compliance flags were found in FMCSA's public data at the time of the check. It is a risk read on federal records, not a fraud determination or a safety guarantee — identity and document checks (COI vs. filings, contact mismatches) run in the full vetting product.
More free tools: COI reader · insurance lapse check · vetting checklist