COMPLIANCE
USDOT Number
The unique federal identification number assigned by the FMCSA to every commercial motor vehicle operator registered for interstate commerce.
A USDOT number is the unique identifier assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators who are required to register with the federal government. Registration is required for carriers that operate CMVs in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more, transport hazardous materials in interstate commerce, or transport 8–15 passengers for compensation.
Every drayage carrier operating at US seaports and intermodal terminals holds a USDOT number. It is the primary public identifier for the carrier's safety record in the FMCSA SAFER database. You can look up any carrier by USDOT number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov to verify their operating authority status, insurance, safety rating, and inspection history.
The USDOT number is distinct from the MC (Motor Carrier) number: the USDOT number identifies the entity's safety record, while the MC number authorizes for-hire interstate freight transport. Carriers that operate their own freight (private carriers) may have a USDOT number without an MC number. For-hire drayage carriers require both.