Example assessment, explained
Beta: CarrierVet is in active testing. Verify critical decisions against FMCSA SAFER, and report anything that looks wrong to hello@carriervet.dev.
One real lookup, explained. This is what CarrierVet returned for USDOT 53467 (WERNER ENTERPRISES INC), the documented example carrier (free to look up), captured 2026-10-31. Phone and email are omitted on this page; the API returns them.
Verdict: PASS · risk score 0 (low) · snapshot 2026-10-31
Request
curl -s https://carriervet.dev/v1/carriers/53467 -H "authorization: Bearer $KEY"
The checks behind the verdict
The verdict combines these checks: FAIL if any check fails, REVIEW if any is flagged, PASS otherwise. Each one is explained below with what a broker would usually do.
| Check | Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| authority | PASS active, 12608 days | Is the carrier's motor-carrier operating authority active, and how old is the current period? | FAIL: don't tender. Under 90 days or unconfirmed: REVIEW — call the carrier and confirm the MC on SAFER before booking. |
| insurance | PASS on_file | Is the required BI&PD (and cargo, where FMCSA requires it) on file, and not cancelled? | FAIL: ask for a current certificate and wait until the filing shows up. Unknown: retry or confirm with the insurer. |
| out_of_service | PASS no order | Is there an active FMCSA out-of-service order against the carrier? | FAIL: the carrier may not operate. Don't tender. |
| operating_status | PASS allowed to operate | Is the USDOT number active, and is the carrier allowed to operate? | FAIL: don't tender until FMCSA shows it active. |
| safety_rating | PASS Satisfactory | FMCSA's safety rating, if one exists. Unsatisfactory fails; Conditional flags; not rated is normal for most carriers. | Conditional: apply your own policy (many brokers require extra review). |
| data_quality | PASS all sources answered | Did every source answer, and how fresh is the record? | A data_stale or data_incomplete flag means retry in a few minutes before relying on a PASS. |
Key fields
| authority | carrier active, broker active; current period since 1992-04-24 (12608 days) |
|---|---|
| insurance | on_file: BI&PD on file $5,000,000 (required $1,000,000); cargo required: false |
| safety | out of service: false; rating S; USDOT status A |
| data_quality | complete; sources census, motus_carrier, qcmobile |
Risk score
GET /v1/carriers/53467/risk adds a 0–100 score with reason codes (levels: low 0–24, elevated 25–49, high 50–74, severe 75–100). Hard failures are listed in gates and keep the score at 50 or more. This carrier has no risk reasons, so the score is 0.
{
"verdict": "PASS",
"verdict_reasons": [],
"verdict_basis": [
"authority",
"insurance",
"out_of_service",
"operating_status",
"safety_rating",
"contact",
"risk_level"
],
"dot_number": "53467",
"score": 0,
"level": "low",
"gates": [],
"reasons": [],
"rules_version": "2026.10.27",
"snapshot_date": "2026-10-31",
"last_updated": "2026-10-31T06:16:48.664Z",
"meta": {
"disclaimer": "(see below)"
}
}
What REVIEW and FAIL look like
Two other real carriers, captured the same day (names omitted):
REVIEW USDOT 4324906
[
{
"code": "authority_unconfirmed",
"check": "authority",
"result": "FLAG",
"message": "Operating authority shown as active but no authority record on file; confirm before tendering."
}
]
FAIL USDOT 4510103
[
{
"code": "insurance_missing",
"check": "insurance",
"result": "FAIL",
"message": "Required insurance is not on file with FMCSA."
}
]
Reason codes in plain words
| Code | Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
inactive_authority / revoked_authority / no_authority | FAIL | No active motor-carrier operating authority (inactive, revoked or suspended, or never granted). |
not_a_carrier | FAIL | Broker or freight-forwarder authority only; it can't haul the load itself. |
intrastate_only | FAIL | No interstate authority; check state authority for loads that stay in one state. |
insurance_missing / insurance_lapsed | FAIL | Required insurance is not on file, or was cancelled without a replacement. |
out_of_service | FAIL | An out-of-service order is active. |
usdot_inactive / not_allowed_to_operate | FAIL | FMCSA lists the USDOT number as inactive or the carrier as not allowed to operate. |
unsatisfactory_rating | FAIL | FMCSA safety rating is Unsatisfactory. |
authority_under_90_days | REVIEW | The current authority period is less than 90 days old. New authority is a common pattern in fraud and also in honest new carriers, so a human should look. |
authority_unconfirmed | REVIEW | FMCSA sources disagree about the authority (for example an active status with no authority record, or a recorded suspension). Confirm on SAFER and with the carrier. |
pending_authority | REVIEW | Authority application is still pending. |
conditional_rating | REVIEW | FMCSA safety rating is Conditional. |
insurance_unknown | REVIEW | Insurance status could not be confirmed on this lookup. |
data_stale / data_incomplete | REVIEW | A source was slow or did not answer. Retry before relying on a PASS. |
The risk route can add signals such as shared_phone or multiple_contact_changes; see the API reference.
Full profile response
{
"verdict": "PASS",
"verdict_reasons": [],
"verdict_basis": [
"authority",
"insurance",
"out_of_service",
"operating_status",
"safety_rating"
],
"checks": {
"authority": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "active, 12608 days"
},
"insurance": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "on_file"
},
"out_of_service": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "no order"
},
"operating_status": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "allowed to operate"
},
"safety_rating": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "Satisfactory"
},
"data_quality": {
"result": "PASS",
"detail": "all sources answered"
}
},
"carrier": {
"dot_number": "53467",
"legal_name": "WERNER ENTERPRISES INC",
"dba_name": null,
"entity_type": "motor_carrier",
"mc_numbers": [
{
"number": "MC138328",
"type": "Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods)",
"status": "active",
"authorities": [
{
"type": "Broker of Property (Except Household Goods)",
"kind": "broker",
"status": "active",
"source": "motus"
},
{
"type": "Motor Carrier of Property (Except Household Goods)",
"kind": "carrier",
"status": "active",
"source": "motus"
}
]
}
],
"authority": {
"status": "active",
"carrier_status": "active",
"broker_status": "active",
"freight_forwarder_status": "none",
"grant_date": "1992-04-24",
"original_grant_date": "1992-04-24",
"age_days": 12608,
"age_source": "auth_grant",
"matched_docket": null,
"matched_status": null,
"matched_docket_kind": null
},
"insurance": {
"status": "on_file",
"bipd_on_file": 5000000,
"bipd_required": 1000000,
"cargo_on_file": false,
"cargo_required": false,
"bond_on_file": true,
"bond_required": true,
"effective_date": null,
"cancel_date": null,
"policy_number": null
},
"safety": {
"out_of_service": false,
"oos_date": null,
"oos_reason": null,
"safety_rating": "S",
"safety_rating_date": "1995-08-08",
"allowed_to_operate": "Y",
"usdot_status": "A"
},
"fleet": {
"power_units": 9863,
"drivers": 9107
},
"address": {
"street": "14507 FRONTIER ROAD",
"city": "OMAHA",
"state": "NE",
"zip": "68138",
"country": "US"
},
"phone": "(omitted on this page)",
"email": "(omitted on this page)",
"carrier_operation": "A",
"prior_revocation": false,
"undeliverable_mail": false,
"last_updated": "2026-10-31T06:16:48.664Z",
"snapshot_date": "2026-10-31",
"sources": [
"census",
"motus_carrier",
"qcmobile"
],
"data_quality": {
"completeness": "complete",
"stale": false,
"missing": [],
"sources": {
"census": "ok",
"motus": "ok",
"authhist": "ok",
"qcmobile": "ok",
"qcmobile_oos": "ok",
"oos_orders": "ok"
},
"checked_at": "2026-10-31T06:16:48.664Z"
},
"meta": {
"disclaimer": "(see below)"
}
}
}
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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. Questions: hello@carriervet.dev.