USDOT number
A USDOT number is the unique identifier assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to companies operating commercial vehicles in interstate commerce.
Last reviewed · by the fleetchart dispatch desk
It is used to track a carrier's safety record, inspections, crash investigations and compliance reviews. It appears on the side of the vehicle and on filings.
It is distinct from operating authority: the DOT number identifies the company, while an MC number grants authority to transport regulated freight for hire.
The number is public, and so is what sits behind it. Anyone — brokers, shippers, insurers, other carriers — can pull your inspection history, crash record and safety rating from the FMCSA's SAFER system using it. That works both ways: check the DOT number of anyone offering you freight, and check your own periodically, because errors in the record affect your insurance pricing and which brokers will tender to you.