Guides
Short, plain-language explanations of the FMCSA records shown on company pages.
- How to Verify a Trucking Company Before Tendering a LoadA step-by-step check of a carrier’s authority, insurance, safety record, out-of-service orders, registration and contact details using public FMCSA records.
- USDOT Number vs MC Number: What Is the Difference?What a USDOT number and an MC number each identify, who needs which, and why a company can have one without the other.
- Freight Broker Bonds: BMC-84 and BMC-85 ExplainedWhat the BMC-84 surety bond and BMC-85 trust fund are, how much financial security a freight broker must file, and how to check a broker’s filing.
- FMCSA Out-of-Service Orders: What They MeanWhat an FMCSA out-of-service order is, the most common reasons, and how to read the order date and rescind date on a carrier record.
- FMCSA’s 2026 Move to Motus: What Changed in Licensing DataIn May 2026 FMCSA moved its licensing and insurance records to a new system, Motus. What that means for authority and insurance lookups, and how this site handles the transition.