Carrier vetting guide
MC number lookup: how to check a carrier’s authority for free
Enter an MC or DOT number below to pull the full FMCSA record — operating authority, insurance status, safety rating, and more. Free, no account required. Below the lookup: what the numbers mean and how to read what you get back.
Look up an MC or DOT number
Enter the MC number (with or without “MC-”) or the USDOT number. Free, no account. We pull operating authority status, insurance on file, safety rating, and out-of-service status from the federal record. Paid plans add the full dossier — OOS rates vs. the national average, crash history, and inspection counts.
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.
MC number vs. DOT number: what's the difference?
These are two separate federal identifiers that often get confused.
- USDOT number. Assigned to any commercial motor vehicle operator subject to federal safety regulations — safety audits, inspections, crash reporting. Required whether you're for-hire or private, interstate or intrastate above certain weight thresholds. It's the primary safety identifier.
- MC number (operating authority). Grants the right to transport regulated passengers or property for hire in interstate commerce. A carrier can have a DOT number without an MC number if they're private or intrastate-only. But to legally haul your freight across state lines for hire, they need both — and the MC authority must be active.
When you enter either number into CarrierClear, we pull the full carrier record including both identifiers.
Where to find a carrier's MC or DOT number
Any legitimate for-hire carrier will give you their MC and DOT numbers on request. You can also find them on:
- Rate confirmation or BOL. Standard freight documents include the carrier's MC or DOT number. If it's missing, ask — it's required to be on file.
- The truck cab. Federal regulations require commercial vehicles to display the USDOT number on the door or cab. If you see a truck and want to verify: write down the number and look it up.
- The carrier's email or letterhead. Legitimate carriers list their MC/DOT on company documents. Omitting it is unusual and worth noting.
What to read in the FMCSA record
Once you have a result, here are the fields that matter most before you book:
- Operating authority status. Active common or contract authority means they're authorized to haul freight for hire. Inactive or none is a stop sign. Broker-only authority means they can re-broker your load but can't legally haul it — the classic setup for double-brokering.
- Insurance on file. Active insurance must be filed with FMCSA. If there's no active filing, the carrier may be operating uninsured regardless of what they tell you.
- Safety rating. Satisfactory is the strongest. Conditional means deficiencies were found. Unsatisfactory is a hard stop. Most carriers are Unrated — that's normal, not a red flag on its own.
- Out-of-service status and rates. The free check shows whether the carrier is currently under an out-of-service order. On paid plans, CarrierClear shows the carrier's driver and vehicle OOS rates next to the national average — above the national average means more violations than typical.
See the full guide: free carrier vetting — the four things to check →
Checking multiple carriers
If you vet carriers regularly, entering each MC number one at a time adds up. CarrierClear paid plans let you add carriers to a watchlist and monitor them daily — so a carrier whose authority lapses or insurance drops after you onboard them doesn’t catch you off guard. You’re notified the day it changes, not the day the load is already dispatched.
Common questions
- What is an MC number?
- An MC number (Motor Carrier number) is a unique identifier issued by FMCSA to for-hire carriers that transport regulated commodities in interstate commerce. It's sometimes called a USDOT operating authority number. Not every carrier has an MC number — many operate only on intrastate authority — but any carrier moving goods across state lines for hire needs one.
- What's the difference between an MC number and a DOT number?
- A DOT number (USDOT number) is assigned to any commercial motor vehicle operator subject to federal safety regulations — including carriers that don't need operating authority. An MC number specifically grants for-hire authority to transport passengers or regulated property in interstate commerce. A carrier can have a DOT number without an MC number, but they need an MC number (and active operating authority) to haul freight for hire across state lines.
- How do I find a carrier's MC or DOT number?
- Ask the carrier directly — any legitimate for-hire carrier will provide their MC or DOT number on request. You can also find it on their rate confirmation, bill of lading, or the cab of the truck (federally required to be displayed). Once you have it, enter it above to pull the full FMCSA record.
- What shows up in a MC number lookup?
- The FMCSA record behind an MC number includes operating authority status (active, inactive, none — broken out by type), insurance on file, safety rating, out-of-service history, crash data, inspection counts, and company address and contacts. CarrierClear's free check shows the four basics you need before tendering: operating authority status, insurance on file, safety rating, and out-of-service status. Paid plans add the full dossier — out-of-service rates vs. the national average, crash and inspection history, fleet size and location, and phone/address fraud signals.
CarrierClear displays public FMCSA records and records your own verification. It is not legal advice and not a certification of any carrier’s fitness, legitimacy, or insurance. Verify independently before relying on any record.