Carrier vetting guide
FMCSA safety ratings & out-of-service rates, explained
A carrier’s safety rating and out-of-service rates tell you a lot — if you know how to read them. Here’s what each rating means, why “unrated” is normal, and how to use the national averages.
Check a carrier now
MC or DOT number — free, no account. We show the safety rating plus operating authority, insurance on file, and out-of-service status. On paid plans, we add the driver and vehicle OOS rates against the national average.
Just the number works — with or without the MC/DOT prefix, and spaces are fine. Tip: prefix an MC number with “MC” (e.g. MC123456) so it isn't read as a DOT number.
The four safety ratings
- Satisfactory. FMCSA reviewed the carrier and found adequate safety management controls. The strongest rating.
- Conditional. Controls were found lacking at the last review, but not severely. A caution sign — dig into the inspection and OOS history.
- Unsatisfactory. Serious safety deficiencies. A carrier operating with this rating is a hard stop.
- Unrated. No compliance review on file — common for newer and smaller carriers. Not a verdict either way; read the rest of the record.
Out-of-service rates vs. the national average
When a roadside inspection finds a serious enough violation, the driver or vehicle is placed out of serviceuntil it’s fixed. FMCSA tracks each carrier’s OOS rate and publishes a national average. The number alone doesn’t mean much — the comparison does. A carrier below the national average is performing better than typical; aboveit is worse. On paid plans, CarrierClear puts the carrier’s driver and vehicle OOS rates right next to the national average so you don’t have to look it up.
Read the whole picture
No single field decides it. Combine the safety rating, OOS rates, crash counts, and inspection volume — and weigh them against active authority and insurance on file. A carrier with no rating but clean OOS rates and active authority can be perfectly bookable; a “Satisfactory” carrier whose insurance just lapsed is not.
The four things to read on any carrier → or monitor a carrier for changes →
Common questions
- What does a 'Conditional' safety rating mean?
- Conditional means FMCSA found the carrier didn't have adequate safety management controls at its last compliance review, but not enough to be rated Unsatisfactory. It's a caution sign — worth looking at the inspection and out-of-service history before you book, and asking the carrier what's changed.
- Why is a carrier 'Unrated'?
- Most carriers are Unrated — it simply means FMCSA hasn't conducted a compliance review that assigns a rating, which is common for newer or smaller carriers. Unrated is not the same as unsafe. When there's no rating, lean on the out-of-service rates, crash history, and inspection counts instead.
- What's a good out-of-service (OOS) rate?
- Lower is better, and the meaningful comparison is against the national average. FMCSA publishes national averages for driver and vehicle OOS rates; a carrier below the average is doing better than typical, above it is worse. On paid plans, CarrierClear shows the carrier's rate next to the national average so you can read it at a glance.
- Should I refuse a carrier with no safety rating?
- Not automatically — that would rule out most legitimate small carriers. Instead, treat 'unrated' as a prompt to check the rest of the record: active authority, insurance on file, OOS rates vs. national, and crash history, and keep a record of what you reviewed.
CarrierClear displays public FMCSA records and records your own verification. Ratings and rates reflect the federal record, which can lag real events. It is not legal advice and not a certification of any carrier’s fitness or insurance. Verify independently.