How to Check a Trucking Company's Safety Record Before Hiring
Whether you're shipping freight across the country or hiring movers for your home, verifying a trucking company's safety record should be your first step. This guide shows you exactly how to check any carrier's federal credentials in minutes.
Why Checking Safety Records Matters
Every year, there are thousands of accidents involving commercial vehicles on American roads. While most trucking companies operate safely, some have concerning histories of crashes, violations, and safety failures.
Before trusting a carrier with your cargo, household goods, or anything of value, you should verify:
- Operating authority – Are they legally authorized to operate?
- Insurance status – Do they carry adequate coverage?
- Crash history – How many accidents have they had?
- Safety rating – What does the federal government say about them?
- Inspection results – How often do their vehicles fail inspections?
⚠️ Consumer Alert
Fraudulent moving companies and unlicensed carriers are a real problem. Always verify credentials before paying any deposit or allowing a company to load your belongings.
Step 1: Get the USDOT Number
Every legitimate commercial carrier should have a USDOT Number displayed on their vehicles and available upon request. This number is your key to accessing their federal safety record.
Ask the company directly for their USDOT Number, or look for it:
- On the side of their trucks (legally required to be displayed)
- On their website's "About" or "Legal" page
- In any written quote or contract they provide
Red flag: If a company refuses to provide their USDOT Number or claims they don't need one, walk away. This often indicates an unlicensed operator.
Step 2: Search the FMCSA Database
Once you have the USDOT Number, you can look it up in the federal database. There are two main options:
Option A: Official FMCSA SAFER System
The government's official database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov provides raw safety data. However, the interface can be technical and difficult to interpret.
Option B: Trucking Record (Recommended)
Our carrier search tool pulls the same federal data but presents it in an easy-to-understand format, including:
- Plain-language safety summaries
- Visual risk indicators
- Proprietary Safety Score™
- Crash counts by severity (fatal, injury, tow-away)
Step 3: Evaluate the Safety Record
When reviewing a carrier's profile, pay attention to these key indicators:
Safety Rating
The FMCSA assigns one of three safety ratings:
- Satisfactory – Adequate safety management controls
- Conditional – Some deficiencies that need improvement
- Unsatisfactory – Serious safety violations (AVOID)
Note: Many carriers have "Not Rated" status, which simply means they haven't undergone a formal compliance review.
Crash History
Look at the crash data for the past 24 months:
- Fatal crashes – Any fatalities are a major concern
- Injury crashes – Incidents causing bodily harm
- Tow-away crashes – Vehicles disabled and towed from scene
Consider crash rates in context of fleet size. A large carrier with 1,000 trucks may have more total incidents than a small operator, but a lower rate per vehicle.
Out-of-Service (OOS) Rates
Roadside inspections sometimes result in vehicles or drivers being placed "out of service" for safety violations. Compare the carrier's OOS rate to the national average:
- Vehicle OOS Rate – National average is around 20-21%
- Driver OOS Rate – National average is around 5-7%
Carriers with OOS rates significantly above these averages may have maintenance or compliance issues.
Step 4: Verify Insurance Coverage
Federal regulations require carriers to maintain minimum insurance coverage. For interstate general freight carriers, this is typically $750,000 in liability insurance.
Carriers hauling hazardous materials or passengers may be required to carry $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 in coverage.
You can verify insurance status through the carrier's FMCSA record or by requesting a Certificate of Insurance directly.
Step 5: Check Reviews and Complaints
In addition to federal records, check online reviews and the Better Business Bureau for customer complaints. For moving companies specifically, review sites can reveal patterns of damage, delays, or pricing disputes.
✅ Quick Checklist
- ☐ Valid USDOT Number provided
- ☐ Operating authority is "Active"
- ☐ No "Unsatisfactory" safety rating
- ☐ Crash history reviewed and acceptable
- ☐ OOS rates near or below national average
- ☐ Insurance coverage verified
- ☐ Online reviews checked
Search Now
Ready to verify a carrier's safety credentials? Enter their USDOT Number or company name to get their complete federal safety profile:
Trucking Record Editorial Team
Our team analyzes FMCSA data to provide accurate, up-to-date information about motor carrier safety. We are committed to transparency in the trucking industry.