What a USDOT Number Is & How to Check It

At a glance

A USDOT number is a government tracking identifier used by the best moving companies. It's kind of like a license plate number. Yous can blazon a company'southward USDOT number into a regime website and instantly run across its complaint history, safety rating, and blow record.

Nosotros'll have the stress out of your move by showing you how to bank check your visitor's USDOT number—and what to expect for when y'all do.

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What is a USDOT number?

A U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) number is a unique identifier that tracks prophylactic data for commercial motor vehicles like moving trucks. A USDOT agency called the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistants (FMCSA) requires every motor carrier that takes cargo across country lines to have a USDOT number.

Additionally, 38 states require local companies that ship goods within state lines to obtain USDOT numbers from the FMCSA.

Why is a USDOT number of import?

A USDOT number (sometimes called a DOT number or Usa DOT number) is of import because information technology protects customers against fraud. It'southward an piece of cake way to bank check a company's safe record and complaint history—and to verify the company is legitimate.

Some companies try to brim their safety records by creating fake USDOT numbers.

Information technology'south sketchy, and it's rare, but information technology happens. In those cases, y'all tin employ the FMCSA website to see if the USDOT number on your moving company's website is legit.

You lot tin can avoid getting ripped off by checking the company's USDOT number with the FMCSA. We'll testify yous how below.

How to check a USDOT number

FMCSA database

To cheque a USDOT number, go to the FMCSA website and search for a company by proper noun, DOT number, or MC number. Movers should list their USDOT and MC numbers on their websites—though this info isn't always obvious. Otherwise, y'all tin search past name.

Yous can use the results to bank check a visitor's tape for complaints, crashes, safe, and insurance.

What to look for when checking a USDOT number

Information technology'southward easy to practice a DOT number lookup, simply the results can be tricky to sympathize. We'll walk you through what to await for to brand sure your moving company is legit.

How to check for fraud

The easiest way to verify a company is legit is to brand sure the info on its website matches what you see when y'all search the FMCSA's website:

  • USDOT number. If a company website doesn't display its USDOT number, y'all can do an FMCSA search by the company's proper name.
  • Name. Make sure the company name in the FMCSA database is the aforementioned as the visitor y'all retrieve you're hiring.
  • Address and phone number. Check to encounter if the address and phone number from the FMCSA website matches the company's website.
  • Country carrier ID number. If the company isn't required to take a USDOT number, the state carrier ID number verifies that it'southward licensed for intrastate moving.
  • Operating condition. This should say "Agile" if a company is legitimate and safety to hire. Avoid companies that render results of "Inactive USDOT Number," "OUT-OF-SERVICE," or "Not AUTHORIZED."

How to cheque for crashes

Y'all tin can check a company's crash record past clicking on the hyperlinked text that says "Inspections/Crashes In U.s." in the upper left corner of the search results screen.

FMCSA crash record

Crash records include crashes reported by states to the FMCSA for the previous 24 months and are broken downward into three categories:

  1. Fatal. The number of accidents in which at least i person was killed.
  2. Injury. The number of accidents in which someone was injured but didn't die.
  3. Tow. The number of accidents in which a vehicle had to exist towed and nobody was injured or killed.

How to bank check prophylactic rating

You can check a company'due south safety rating by clicking on the hyperlinked text that says "Safety Rating" in the upper left corner of the search results screen. The FMCSA assigns one of three grades to the moving company:

  1. Satisfactory. This is the highest rating and ways the company complies with all USDOT regulations and FMCSA safety requirements.
  2. Provisional. A provisional rating is given if the company is out of compliance with one or more than USDOT regulations and FMCSA safe requirements.
  3. Unsatisfactory. This is the lowest rating and ways the company is substantially out of compliance with USDOT regulations and FMCSA safety requirements.

How to check insurance

Insurance records aren't included in the main FMCSA search results, but you can access them by clicking on "Licensing & Insurance" in a blue box in the meridian right corner of your screen.

Enter the company's USDOT number or name to search for licensing and insurance info. We'll warn you: the report may non tell you much, but you'll be able to cross-check the company's basic data and discover out whether its insurance is pending or has been revoked.

How to check for complaints

The FMCSA is surprisingly unhelpful when it comes to customer complaints. Many times, a USDOT search won't reveal whatever complaint information. Rather than rely on the FMCSA for complaint details, nosotros recommend yous spend 5–10 minutes reading reviews online. Google and Yelp are good places to start.

USDOT number FAQ

Which companies need USDOT numbers?

A USDOT number is necessary for commercial motor vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more and engage in interstate commerce. Many states besides require USDOT numbers for intrastate commerce (when a company doesn't cross state lines).

How can I do a USDOT number search?

If you don't have a visitor'south USDOT number, you can practice a DOT number search past inbound the company's name or MC number into the FMCSA database. Y'all can as well ofttimes find the USDOT number on the moving company's website.

How tin can I come across a trucking company's safe audit?

To see the FMCSA safe inspect for your moving company, get to the FMCSA website, search for the company'due south record, and click on the hyperlinked text that says "Safety Rating" on the results page.

Is it hard to do a USDOT check?

To see the FMCSA safety audit for your moving company, become to the FMCSA website, search for the visitor's tape, and click on the hyperlinked text that says "Safety Rating" on the results page.

What if a company doesn't follow USDOT regulations?

A visitor's condom rating is negatively affected if it doesn't follow USDOT regulations. A company that doesn't accept any violations has a rating of satisfactory, while dangerous companies receive ratings of provisional or unsatisfactory.

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Kurt Manwaring

Written by

Kurt Manwaring

Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade'southward worth of enquiry experience as a concern consultant to the Movement.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a style that everyone tin can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, Land Living, Skilful Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He brings a BS in folklore and an MPA (masters of public administration) to the Move team. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.