What Is a DOT Number?
A DOT number, or USDOT number, is the unique identifier the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) assigns to a company that registers to operate commercial motor vehicles. It links the company to its registration, operating authority, insurance filings, inspections and crash history.
A company needs a USDOT number when it operates a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce. Under 49 CFR 390.5, that means a vehicle that:
- has a gross vehicle or combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more;
- is designed or used to carry more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation;
- is designed or used to carry more than 15 passengers, including the driver, without compensation; or
- carries hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placards.
Many states also require a USDOT number from carriers that only drive inside the state, so a DOT number lookup turns up intrastate trucking companies as well as interstate ones.
The number stays with the company that registered it. Names, logos and phone numbers are easy to copy; a USDOT registration record is not. That is why a DOT number lookup is the most reliable first step when you need to confirm who you are dealing with.
FMCSA’s census currently lists 2,243,830 active and pending carriers, and in the last 30 days FMCSA issued 9,667 new USDOT numbers (CallerTracer count of FMCSA records, data as of Nov 3, 2026). Each of them turns up in the DOT number lookup above within a day of FMCSA publishing it.
How to Do a DOT Number Lookup in 3 Steps
- Enter the number or name. Type the USDOT number into the search box at the top of this page. You can also paste an MC, FF or MX docket number, or switch to Name and type part of the company name.
- Open the carrier profile. A number opens the carrier’s profile straight away. A name search lists the matching carriers, with active carriers and the largest fleets first.
- Check status, authority and insurance. Read the status line first, then the operating authority and insurance sections, then the FMCSA history at the bottom of the profile.
The search box accepts a plain number (1234567), a number with leading zeros (01234567) or a number with a "USDOT" prefix. If you paste a docket number such as MC-123456, the DOT number lookup finds the USDOT number behind it and opens the same profile. A name search matches any part of the legal name or the DBA name, so "freight" finds every carrier with that word in its name.
Every profile has its own address, such as callertracer.com/dot/1234567, so you can bookmark a carrier or share it with a colleague.
What a DOT Number Lookup Shows
A DOT number lookup on CallerTracer combines FMCSA’s census record with the carrier’s authority and insurance filings on one page. Here is what each part of the profile tells you and what to look for.
| Part of the profile | What it shows | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active, inactive or pending USDOT registration | Only dispatch an active carrier |
| Operation and entity | Interstate or intrastate, for-hire or private | For-hire interstate freight needs operating authority |
| Operating authority | Each authority (MC, FF or MX) and its status | The authority that matches the job is active |
| Insurance on file | Coverage type, insurer, amount, policy number, effective date | Liability meets the minimum for your load |
| Cancellation and suspension notices | Policies with a cancellation date still ahead, and FMCSA suspension notices | A replacement policy is filed before that date |
| Safety record | Inspections and out-of-service rates for 24 months, recordable crashes, safety rating, out-of-service orders, linked carriers | Out-of-service rates well above the national figure, or an active order |
| Fleet and drivers | Power units and drivers from the last MCS-150 | The fleet fits the work you are offering |
| Registration dates | When the USDOT number was issued, last MCS-150 update | A record not updated for years is a warning sign |
| Cargo carried | Commodity classes the carrier reported | The carrier hauls your kind of freight |
| FMCSA history | Applications, grants, suspensions and reinstatements, with dates | Recent suspensions, or many of them |
Every DOT number lookup shows the business phone and address for free. The email address, cell phone and officer names that carriers also report to FMCSA unlock for 1 credit, or come free with a plan that covers the carrier’s state.
7 Checks to Run After a DOT Number Lookup
A DOT number lookup takes a minute. These seven checks, in this order, catch most problems before a load leaves the dock.
- The USDOT status is active. An inactive USDOT number means the carrier should not be operating. Note that FMCSA stopped deactivating USDOT numbers for missed MCS-150 updates due on or after June 1, 2026 while carriers move to its new Motus system, so an active status no longer proves the record is current (FreightWaves).
- The right authority is active. Most for-hire carriers that haul freight across state lines need operating authority, shown as an MC number. A carrier with a USDOT number but no active authority cannot legally haul your load for hire between states. A company that only holds broker authority is a broker, not a carrier.
- Liability insurance meets the minimum. The profile lists the liability amount FMCSA requires for each authority next to the amount on file. For general freight the federal minimum is $750,000; the full table is below.
- No cancellation is pending, or a replacement is filed. Insurers must notify FMCSA before a required policy ends. If no replacement is filed by the cancellation date, FMCSA suspends the authority. Our profiles flag these policies at the top and say whether a replacement is already on file.
- The MCS-150 is recent. Carriers must update their MCS-150 every 24 months under 49 CFR 390.19; the last digit of the USDOT number sets the month and the next-to-last digit sets whether it is an odd or even year. A record that has not been updated for several years often means stale contact details.
- The contact details match. Fraudsters pose as established carriers by using a real USDOT number with their own phone and email. Compare what you were given with the DOT number lookup result, and call the number on file before you hand over a load.
- The history makes sense. A carrier granted authority in the last few months is new, and FMCSA monitors new entrants for 18 months under 49 CFR 385.307. New is not bad, but repeated insurance suspensions and reinstatements are worth a question.
In the last 30 days alone, FMCSA suspended 2,641 operating authorities because the required insurance lapsed. A quick DOT number lookup is how you avoid booking one of them.
FMCSA Insurance Minimums by Carrier Type
These are the federal minimum levels of financial responsibility. A DOT number lookup shows the amount on file, so you can compare it with this table.
| Carrier type | Federal minimum | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire carrier of non-hazardous property, vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more | $750,000 liability | 49 CFR 387.9 |
| Carrier of oil, hazardous waste or other hazardous materials not listed below | $1,000,000 liability | 49 CFR 387.9 |
| Carrier of specified hazardous materials in bulk, such as certain explosives, gases and radioactive materials | $5,000,000 liability | 49 CFR 387.9 |
| Passenger carrier, vehicles seating 15 or fewer including the driver | $1,500,000 liability | 49 CFR 387.33 |
| Passenger carrier, vehicles seating 16 or more including the driver | $5,000,000 liability | 49 CFR 387.33 |
| Property broker or freight forwarder | $75,000 surety bond (Form BMC-84) or trust fund (Form BMC-85) | 49 CFR 387.307 |
Many shippers and brokers write higher limits into their contracts. Check the amount on file against your own requirement, not only against the federal minimum.
DOT Number Lookup vs FMCSA SAFER
FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot is the official record, and every CallerTracer profile links to it. Our DOT number lookup is built for speed: the facts you need to vet a carrier sit on one page, with the history that is spread across several FMCSA pages.
| FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot | CallerTracer DOT number lookup | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | FMCSA | CallerTracer, from FMCSA’s public files |
| Freshness | Live FMCSA records | Refreshed from FMCSA every day |
| Search by | USDOT number, MC or MX number, name | USDOT number, MC, FF or MX number, part of the name |
| Authority and insurance | On separate FMCSA pages | On the profile, with insurer, amount and policy |
| Pending cancellations and suspension notices | On separate FMCSA pages | Flagged at the top of the profile |
| Authority history | On separate FMCSA pages | One dated timeline |
| Inspections, crashes and out-of-service rates | Yes | Yes, with national rates for comparison |
| New carrier leads and alerts | No | Daily lead emails with a plan |
When a decision has legal weight, such as a claim or a contract dispute, rely on FMCSA’s own record. For a fast check before you book, the DOT number lookup above gives you the same core facts in one place.
What Changed When FMCSA Moved to Motus
In May 2026 FMCSA replaced its Unified Registration System with a new platform called Motus (DAT). Four changes matter when you run a DOT number lookup:
- MC numbers are still here. Motus kept the MC, FF and MX docket numbers; dropping them would need a formal rulemaking with public comment.
- New numbers look different. FMCSA now randomizes newly issued USDOT and docket numbers to make fraud harder, while existing numbers stay the same (NGWA, citing FMCSA). An unfamiliar eight-digit MC number on a new carrier is expected, not a red flag on its own.
- Authority changes are recorded in Motus. New applications, grants and suspensions appear only in the Motus files, which is where our FMCSA history comes from.
- Older insurance records lag behind. The legacy insurance file still lists some policies that were cancelled after the move, so our profiles show Motus filings first and mark the legacy records when they are all FMCSA has.
DOT Number Lookup FAQ
Is the DOT number lookup free?
Yes. Searching by USDOT number, MC number or company name and opening carrier profiles is free, with no account and no daily limit. Only a carrier’s email, cell phone and officer names cost 1 credit to unlock, unless your plan covers the carrier’s state.
Do I need an account to look up a DOT number?
No. Anyone can run a DOT number lookup and read the full profile: status, authority, insurance, fleet, cargo and history. You need a free account only to unlock contact details with credits or to save lead searches.
What is the difference between a DOT number and an MC number?
The USDOT number identifies the company that registered to operate commercial vehicles. The MC number is the docket number of its operating authority, which for-hire interstate carriers and brokers need. Many companies have a USDOT number and no MC number, for example private fleets that only haul their own goods.
Can I do a DOT number lookup by company name?
Yes. Switch the search box to Name and type at least three letters of the legal name or the DBA name. You get up to 20 matching carriers, with active carriers and the largest fleets listed first.
Why does a carrier show as inactive, or not show up at all?
An inactive status means the carrier or FMCSA deactivated the USDOT number, for example because the company stopped operating. Profiles cover carriers that are active or pending in FMCSA’s census, so a number that has been inactive for a long time may not appear; check it on FMCSA’s SAFER site.
How current is the DOT number lookup data?
We pull FMCSA’s census, authority and insurance files every day, and each profile shows the date of the FMCSA data behind it. Company details are self-reported by carriers, so they are only as current as the carrier’s last MCS-150 update.
Can I see a carrier’s email or cell phone?
The business phone and address are free on every profile. Email, cell phone and officer names, when the carrier reported them to FMCSA, unlock for 1 credit and re-open free for 30 days. Every CallerTracer plan shows them free for the states it covers.
What should I do if a carrier’s record looks wrong or fraudulent?
If it is your own company, update your MCS-150 in FMCSA’s Motus system and our profile follows within a day. If someone is using a carrier’s USDOT number to pose as that carrier, call the phone number on the FMCSA record before you book, and report the fraud to FMCSA through its National Consumer Complaint Database.