Check a carrier by MC number
Beta: CarrierVet is in active testing. Verify critical decisions against FMCSA SAFER, and report anything that looks wrong to hello@carriervet.dev.
No key yet? Get a free API key: 50 lookups a month, no card. Without a key, the form builds the curl command for you. USDOT 53467 is a free example.
An MC number is the docket number FMCSA assigns with interstate for-hire operating authority. Brokers and shippers use it to confirm that the company offering to haul a load is allowed to haul it. CarrierVet takes an MC number (or FF or MX number) and returns one answer: PASS, REVIEW or FAIL, with the reasons behind it. Verified against official FMCSA records.
What you get back
- One verdict: PASS, REVIEW or FAIL with the reasons, so you do not have to read a raw record.
- Risk signals: new authority, recent phone, email or address changes, and contact details shared with other carriers, plus a 0–100 risk score with reason codes.
- Change history: dated authority, insurance and contact changes for the carrier.
- Alerts: put a carrier on a watchlist and get an email or signed webhook when its record changes (paid plans, open after the beta).
- Lookup receipts: every lookup returns a
receipt_id, a dated, saved copy of the response with its SHA-256, so you can show what you checked and when. - Reliability: stored copies keep answering when FMCSA systems are slow, and every response says how fresh and complete its data is.
How the verdict works
| Verdict | When |
|---|---|
| FAIL | Any check fails: carrier authority revoked, inactive or missing; broker-only or intrastate-only entity; insurance missing or lapsed; an out-of-service order; inactive USDOT number; Unsatisfactory safety rating. |
| REVIEW | Any check is flagged: authority pending or under 90 days old, insurance status unknown, Conditional rating, or incomplete data. The risk endpoint also flags recent or shared phone, email or address changes. |
| PASS | Every check passed. A PASS is a reason to proceed with your normal process, not a guarantee. |
Authority is judged on the docket you looked up. If the MC number belongs to a broker-only or freight-forwarder-only docket, the verdict is FAIL with not_a_carrier: that company cannot haul the load itself.
From a terminal
curl -s https://carriervet.dev/v1/carriers/mc/MC123456 -H "authorization: Bearer $KEY"
Use /v1/carriers/mc/MC123456/risk for the 0–100 risk score with reason codes, including recent and shared contact details. Formats such as MC123456, mc-123456 and 123456 are accepted.
FAQ
What is the difference between an MC number and a USDOT number?
The USDOT number identifies the company's registration with FMCSA. The MC number is the docket for its interstate for-hire operating authority. A company can have one USDOT number and one or more MC, FF or MX dockets. CarrierVet accepts either; use the USDOT page if that is the number you have.
Does a PASS mean the carrier is safe to use?
No. PASS means every check CarrierVet runs passed at the time of the lookup. It is an informational signal, not a guarantee, a safety rating or a consumer report. Keep your own onboarding steps, such as a certificate of insurance and a signed carrier agreement.
How current is the data?
The first lookup of a carrier is checked against official FMCSA records at request time. Repeat lookups use a stored copy refreshed at least daily, and out-of-service orders are checked on every lookup. Each response carries an x-data-freshness header and a data_quality block.
Is it free?
The free plan includes 50 lookups a month with no card. Your key works for 5 lookups right away; confirm your email to unlock the rest. Lookups of the example carrier, USDOT 53467, do not count.
Can I check many MC numbers at once?
Batch lookups of up to 500 identifiers per call are on the Pro and Business plans, which open after the beta. On the free plan, look carriers up one at a time.
Get a free API key 50 lookups a month, no card. Paid plans open after the beta.
Related
Not a consumer report. Carrier data is derived from records maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is provided as-is, may be delayed or incomplete, and is not a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not use it to evaluate a natural person for credit, insurance, employment, or any other purpose covered by the FCRA. Carriers can request a review of a record or flag. Questions: hello@carriervet.dev.