USDOT number
The number FMCSA gives a company that runs commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. Many states require one for intrastate trucks too. It identifies the company in inspections, crashes and audits.
Carrier Lookup
USDOT and MC number lookup
Look up any motor carrier by USDOT number, MC number or company name. One page answers what SAFER spreads over several: operating authority, insurance on file, BOC-3, out-of-service orders, CSA scores and two years of inspections and crashes. Compare up to three carriers side by side. Free, no account.
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From FMCSA public data on data.transportation.gov, updated daily: the Company Census File, licensing and insurance filings, out-of-service orders, the Safety Measurement System, roadside inspections and crash records. FMCSA, not Hemut, owns these records, and Hemut is not affiliated with FMCSA. The red-flag check is a summary, not advice: for a legal or insurance decision, confirm on FMCSA SAFER and with the insurer.
What the numbers mean
Three terms you will see on every carrier record.
MC number
The docket number for operating authority. A for-hire carrier hauling regulated freight across state lines needs one. A private carrier hauling its own goods can have a USDOT number and no MC number.
Out-of-service rate
The share of inspections that put a vehicle or driver out of service. FMCSA publishes national averages of 22.26% for vehicles and 6.67% for drivers (as of 09/25/2026). Lower is better.
Carrier compliance guides
The filings behind the record above, explained in plain steps.
UCR registration
Unified Carrier Registration is a yearly federal fee for companies that run trucks or arrange freight across state lines.
Read the guideMCS-150 update
Every company with a USDOT number has to update its MCS-150 every two years, even when nothing changed.
Read the guideIFTA
IFTA lets an interstate carrier file one fuel tax return each quarter instead of one per state.
Read the guideDOT inspection checklist
A roadside inspection checks the driver, the truck, or both, against the North American Standard.
Read the guideBOC-3 filing
A BOC-3 names a process agent in every state where you operate, someone who can accept legal papers for your company.
Read the guideQuestions
How do I find a carrier by USDOT number?
Type the USDOT number into the search box above. You can also search by MC number, written as MC 123456, or by the first words of the company name.
How do I get a USDOT number?
Apply online through the FMCSA Registration System on fmcsa.dot.gov. The USDOT number itself is free. Operating authority, the MC number, is a separate application with a filing fee.
What is the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?
The USDOT number identifies the company for safety. The MC number is operating authority, which lets a for-hire carrier haul regulated freight across state lines. Many carriers have both.
How often does a carrier have to update its USDOT record?
Every carrier files an MCS-150 update every 24 months, even when nothing changed, and whenever its details change. A carrier that misses it can have its USDOT number deactivated.
Is the out-of-service rate the same as a CSA score?
No. The out-of-service rate counts inspections that ended with a vehicle or driver out of service. CSA scores weigh violations by severity and age across seven categories; the safety scores section shows the five FMCSA makes public.
Is this the same as the FMCSA SAFER company snapshot?
It uses the same FMCSA records, and adds what SAFER keeps on separate pages: authority status and age, the insurance filed with FMCSA, the BOC-3, active out-of-service orders and CSA alerts, summarized into one red-flag check. Hemut is not affiliated with FMCSA.
How do I check a carrier’s insurance?
Look the carrier up above. The insurance section lists each liability policy filed with FMCSA, with the insurer, the coverage and the effective date, and the check flags a filed cancellation or coverage under the federal minimum. Ask the carrier for a certificate of insurance before you book as well.
How do I look up a carrier’s CSA score?
The safety scores section shows the five public CSA categories: unsafe driving, hours of service, vehicle maintenance, drugs and alcohol, and driver fitness. For each it shows whether the carrier is over FMCSA’s intervention threshold and how many inspections had a violation in that category.
What counts as a red flag?
A serious issue is an inactive USDOT number or authority, a pending revocation, liability insurance under the federal minimum, an active out-of-service order or an unsatisfactory rating. Worth a second look: authority under a year old, a filed insurance cancellation, no BOC-3, a conditional rating or a CSA category over threshold.
Where does this data come from, and how current is it?
From FMCSA files published on data.transportation.gov: the Company Census File, roadside inspections and crash records. FMCSA updates them on its own schedule, so a recent change can take time to appear. Hemut shows the records as published and does not edit them.
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