Every buyer, broker and insurer looks at the same two public FMCSA sites. Checking them yourself first means no surprises.
SAFER Company Snapshot
Search your USDOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov (Company Snapshot). Key fields:
- Entity type and operating status. Should say Carrier and Active. "Out of service" or "Inactive" is a problem.
- Legal name and DBA. Should match your formation documents.
- MCS-150 form date. You must update the MCS-150 every two years. An outdated form can lead to the USDOT number being deactivated.
- Power units and drivers. What you reported on your MCS-150.
- Operation classification and cargo carried. For example, authorized for hire, general freight.
- Inspections and crashes. Inspection counts and out-of-service rates for the last 24 months, and crash totals.
- Safety rating. Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory or not rated.
L&I (Licensing and Insurance)
Search at li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov using your USDOT or MC number. Key sections:
- Authority status. Shows whether your common or contract authority is active, and its history. The original grant date is what sets your authority's age.
- Insurance on file. Current liability (BMC-91 or BMC-91X) and cargo filings, with the insurer and effective dates.
- Insurance history. Past policies, with cancellation dates. Gaps here count as lapses.
- Pending applications or revocations. A pending revocation date means your insurance is cancelling.
- BOC-3. Shows whether a process agent is on file.
Red flags buyers look for
- Insurance gaps or a pending cancellation
- Inactive status or a pending revocation
- An MCS-150 that's more than two years old
- A Conditional or Unsatisfactory rating
- Several crashes in the last 24 months
- A name on FMCSA that doesn't match the company's legal documents
Fix what you can
Update your MCS-150 if it's out of date, fix name mismatches, and keep insurance in force. Then check your estimate. We read the same records automatically when you enter your USDOT number.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and forms change; check FMCSA and talk to a professional about your situation.