USDOT Number: What is it and How to Check It?

October 16, 2023

USDOT Number: What is it and How to Check It?

One of the most effective ways to check that the company you employ is authentic is to conduct a USDOT number lookup online. The last thing you want to worry about when you have a lot on your plate is a moving company stealing your possessions. These things can happen if you’re not careful.

Anyone who has relocated across the nation understands how difficult it is. There are many preparations, and we usually forget at least one vital detail until it is brought to our attention. If you’re planning to move internationally, you’ll almost certainly require assistance. It is important to hire a reputable moving company.

Moving Soon?
Here are the best moving companies you can trust:
College Hunk
Two Men and a Truck
All My Sons Moving and Storage
U-Haul
College Hunk
Portable On Demands
Budget Truck Rental
1-800-PACK-RAT
Penske
Best Interstate Moving + Storage

To begin with, what is a USDOT number?

To identify moving companies, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) gives formal numbers. Each USDOT number is specific to a single business. A license is required for any moving company that transports people or commodities over state lines. These businesses are registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and their USDOT number may be found on the FMCSA website.

The USDOT number is used by the FMCSA to track the company’s performance and safeguard consumers from bad actors. When relocating over state borders, you should never use a moving company without a USDOT. Because this number is necessary for all business interstate transportation, any commercial interstate moving company that does not have one is breaking the law.

Why should you look up a moving company’s USDOT number?

A USDOT (Department of Transportation) check is a vital aspect of your due diligence before moving. Your USDOT search can give you information that will help you decide whether or not to choose the moving company based on their previous performance.

Aside from the USDOT number, it’s a good idea to look up the company’s Better Business Bureau rating and other internet reviews. However, if a company promotes cross-country moving services but lacks a USDOT number, you should not call them for assistance.

You can use a USDOT number to check for:

Fraud

Although there is no “fraud” section in a company’s profile in the FMCSA database, looking up a company’s USDOT number in the database can assist you to avoid moving businesses that aren’t properly licensed. It’s a red signal if the company gives you a USDOT number that doesn’t match their profile. The functioning status of the company will be listed in their profile, which should be something like “active” or “approved for HHG” (household goods). If the company is labeled as “out of service” or “not authorized” for HHG, you should be hesitant to hire them.

Safety rating

Satisfactory: There is no evidence of significant non-compliance with safety requirements, according to the records.
Conditional: Records show that the carrier was in violation of one or more safety requirements.
Unsatisfactory: Records reveal widespread noncompliance with safety requirements.
Previous crashes: The company’s history of crashes is listed on the FMCSA page. The section is divided into four columns: “Fatal,” “Injury,” “Tow,” and “Total.” The figures in these columns will tell you how many fatal or injury crashes the company has been in, as well as whether or not company vehicles have ever been towed. These statistics for the United States and Canada are listed in this section.

Complaint history

Unfortunately, a search of the DOT database in the FMCSA database turns up no complaints against moving companies. Because the FMCSA’s primary goal is to ensure public safety and industry compliance, this is the case. We recommend checking out other professional services that list client complaints, such as the Better Business Bureau, to learn more about a company’s complaint history.

What is the procedure for looking for a DOT number?

Visit the FMCSA’s website for more information. The SAFER system is available on the official website and can be searched in a variety of ways. We’ll show you how to discover a company’s DOT number so you can make sure they’re respectable before hiring them to move your belongings.

USDOT number lookup in 4 easy steps

Go to the SAFER System search website of the FMCSA.

The SAFER System (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) is a database that keeps track of moving businesses’ safety and complaint records. You can look up a company by its USDOT number, MC/MX number, or name. We’ll search by name because we’re seeking the company’s USDOT number. Once we have that information, we can conduct a DOT number search.

Search for a company by its name.

We’ll utilize Elite Moving & Storage, a Lincolnwood, Illinois-based company, as our example. Make sure to adjust the search filter to “Name” before searching the company. Remember that the businesses are listed under their legal names, not the ones they advertise. Because so many moving businesses have similar names, it’s crucial to pay attention to make sure you choose the right one. I used the phrase “Elite Moving & Storage” in my search.

Select the correct company.

There are three results for the name “Elite Moving & Storage.” We can identify the correct ad in the second search result since we know the company we’re looking for is in Illinois. It’s easy to make a mistake and pull up the wrong company when searching, so be sure you know where the company is located. The location of a corporation can typically be found on its website or by conducting a quick online search.

The USDOT can be found on the company profile page.

You’ll be taken to the company’s snapshot page after clicking on the correct company name. This page contains useful information such as the company’s complaint history and previous traffic accidents. The company’s USDOT number can be found in two places on this page. The company’s legal name and USDOT number can be found in the upper right corner of the page under “Company Snapshot.” Elite Moving & Storage Inc’s USDOT number is 1567283.)

The DOT number can also be found after “Phone” and “Mailing Address” in the company information section below. You can easily search this website in the future without having to go through any extra procedures now that you have the company’s USDOT number. On the SAFER System home page, modify your search criteria to “USDOT Number,” enter in the number, and click “Search.”

Conclusion

A USDOT number is a unique identity provided by the FMCSA to moving companies that traverse state lines to transport people and commodities. This number protects people in need of movers from selecting a shady company. You can obtain the number by contacting the company or searching the FMCSA database. The FMCSA database will contain vital information about the company’s safety and compliance history