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DOT, USDOT & MC number lookup
Search any registered US trucking company by DOT number, MC number, or legal name. Operating authority, out-of-service status, fleet, safety rating, and linked carriers, from the FMCSA census refreshed every 24 hours.
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What the lookup returns
- Legal name and DBA
- The registered entity and any trade name, so you can resolve a packet that only shows the DBA.
- Operating authority status
- Whether the MC docket is active, inactive, or revoked. This is the field that decides whether they can legally haul for hire.
- USDOT registration status
- Tracked separately from authority, because the two routinely disagree.
- Out-of-service status
- A federal order prohibiting the company from operating, with the date it was entered.
- Fleet and drivers
- Power units, truck and bus units, total and CDL drivers, and reported annual mileage.
- Safety rating
- Satisfactory, conditional, or unsatisfactory, with the date it was assigned.
- Cargo carried and hazmat flag
- What the carrier certified it hauls, including whether it is placarded for hazardous materials.
- Cross-entity links
- How many other carriers share this phone number or address. Most free lookups do not show this at all.
How this compares to the FMCSA SAFER snapshot
Same underlying public data. The differences are in access and depth.
| Feature | This lookup | FMCSA SAFER |
|---|---|---|
| Login or CAPTCHA required | No | CAPTCHA on lookup |
| Search by company name | Yes | Limited |
| Authority and registration status shown separately | Yes | Combined view |
| Carriers sharing a phone or address | Yes | Not shown |
| Change history since last refresh | Yes | Not shown |
| Timestamped record you can keep | Available through onboarding | No |
Checking authority since the MOTUS changeover
FMCSA retired the FMCSA Portal and the Unified Registration System on May 14, 2026 and replaced them with MOTUS. Carriers have reported records disagreeing between systems since, which means an out-of-service flag is worth a second look before you act on it, in both directions. See what changed and check a record.
DOT lookup FAQ
What is a USDOT number?
A USDOT number is the identifier FMCSA assigns to a company operating commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. It stays with the company for the life of the registration, and the entire federal safety system is organized around it: inspections, crashes, audits, and out-of-service orders all attach to the DOT number. It does not by itself mean the company is allowed to haul freight for hire.
What is the difference between a DOT number and an MC number?
The DOT number identifies the company. The MC number is the operating authority, which is permission to transport regulated commodities for hire across state lines. A carrier can have an active DOT number and no authority at all, or revoked authority. If you check only the DOT number you have confirmed who they are, not whether they can legally take your load.
How do I look up an MC number?
Enter it in the search box above with or without the MC prefix. MC-834271, MC 834271, and 834271 all resolve to the same docket. You can also search by DOT number or by company legal name.
Is this a free DOT number lookup? Do I need an account?
It is free and there is no account, no login, and no CAPTCHA. Search results and the carrier record are open. Change monitoring and timestamped compliance records are available through direct onboarding.
Is this the same as the FMCSA SAFER company snapshot?
It is built on the same public FMCSA data, specifically the Company Census file, which we refresh daily. The differences are in presentation and depth: no CAPTCHA, search by company name rather than exact number only, registration status shown separately from authority status, and cross-entity links that the official snapshot does not surface.
How often is the data updated?
Daily. We pull the FMCSA Company Census file every 24 hours and record what changed, which is what powers the change history on each carrier record.
What does out of service mean?
On a carrier record it means a federal order prohibits the company from operating commercial vehicles. That is different from a vehicle or driver being placed out of service at a roadside inspection, which stops one truck or one driver and does not appear on the company record. Tendering freight to a carrier under an active company-level order is the clearest negligent-selection fact pattern there is.
Why does the authority status here differ from MOTUS?
FMCSA retired its legacy registration systems on May 14, 2026 and replaced them with MOTUS, and carriers have reported records disagreeing between systems since the cutover. This lookup reflects the public Company Census file. If your status is disputed, verify with FMCSA directly.
Can I look up brokers and freight forwarders?
The census covers registered entities including brokers and freight forwarders, though the fields that matter differ. For a broker you care about active brokerage authority and the surety bond rather than fleet size and safety rating.
Does an active authority mean the carrier is safe to book?
No. Active authority is a minimum, not a recommendation. It says nothing about inspection history, whether the insurance certificate you were sent is genuine, or whether the company that shows up at the dock is the one you booked. Authority is the first check of several.