Carrier authority lookup

Look up a motor carrier by USDOT number to see what is on file with the FMCSA: legal name, physical state, self-reported fleet size band, and the date the record was captured. This covers the largest active carriers by fleet size and reports public federal registration data only. It is not a safety rating and not a substitute for verifying authority and insurance before you dispatch anyone.

5,000 carriers. the 5000 carriers with the most self-reported power units, excluding records above the sanity ceiling.

By state

Largest by reported fleet

How to look up a carrier by USDOT number

Get the USDOT number from the carrier. It's usually in their packet, their email signature, or on the side of the truck. Then pull up their record here and read four things: the legal name, the physical state, the self-reported fleet size band, and the date the record was captured.

If the carrier only gave you a company name, ask for the USDOT number. Plenty of carriers have similar names, and the number's what ties you to one record.

USDOT number vs MC number

They're two different numbers and brokers usually ask for both.

When you're vetting, you want the two to point at the same company. A USDOT record with one name and an MC tied to another is worth a phone call before anything else happens.

What a carrier lookup tells you and what it doesn't

It tells you who the carrier says they are and roughly how big they are, as of the date the record was captured. That's a good first filter.

It doesn't tell you:

So treat a lookup as step one, not the decision.

What brokers commonly check after the lookup

Most brokers run the same short list once the record looks right:

Before a rate is discussed, Cover checks authority, insurance that fits the freight, a truck that matches the load, and an identity that matches the record. The full process is in carrier vetting for freight brokers.

Carrier lookup FAQ

How do I look up a carrier by DOT number?

Get the USDOT number from the carrier and pull up their record. You'll see the legal name, physical state, self-reported fleet size band, and the date the record was captured. If they only gave you a name, ask for the number.

What's the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?

The USDOT number identifies the company on its federal registration record. The MC number is the docket number most brokers tie to a for-hire carrier's operating authority. Brokers usually collect both and check that they point at the same company.

Does a carrier lookup mean the carrier's safe to book?

No. A lookup shows what's on the federal record as of a date. It isn't a safety rating, and it doesn't confirm insurance, the truck, or that the person you're talking to works for that carrier. Brokers still vet the carrier before booking.

Why can't I find a carrier here?

This lookup covers the largest active carriers by self-reported fleet size, and the data's captured on a set date. A small fleet, a newly registered carrier, or a recent change may not show up yet.

Is a fleet size on the record a live truck count?

No. It's self-reported by the carrier and only updates when they file again. Brokers use it as a sense of scale and confirm the actual truck for the load.

This record was captured from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census on 2026-08-07. It reflects what was on file with the FMCSA on that date and not necessarily the carrier's situation today.

Fleet size and driver counts are self-reported by the carrier to the FMCSA and are updated on the carrier's own filing schedule. They are an indication of scale rather than a current count of equipment.

This page reports public federal registration data. It is not a safety rating, not a recommendation, and not a substitute for verifying authority and insurance before dispatching a carrier.

The FMCSA census is refreshed on the agency's own schedule, so a very recently registered carrier or a very recent change may not appear here yet.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (az4n-8mr2), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Captured 2026-08-07.

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