Once you’ve confirmed that the carrier is properly licensed and certified, you should focus on the company’s inspections summary and safety ratings in order to obtain greater detail on their performance and find out how reliable they are: Good to remember: Check if the company’s identification and contact information match the ones provided by the mover and make sure the company has an active USDOT number and is not ordered out of service. The type of cargo the company is authorized to transport – there should be an X before “Household Goods”.The carrier’s range of operation – interstate or intrastate.The carrier’s operation classification – there should be an X before “Auth.The number of power units (vehicles registered under the company’s name) and drivers the company has.The company’s registration numbers – USDOT number, MC/MX/FF number(s), State Carrier ID number and/or DUNS number (as applicable).The company’s identification and contact information – the carrier’s legal name, DBA name (the trade name under which the company does business), physical address, phone number, and mailing address.The company’s operating status – it should say AUTHORIZED FOR HHG.The type of operations the company is authorized to perform – it should say CARRIER. ![]() Take a close look at the displayed report and pay attention to: What to look for during a USDOT number check? You will get access to the company’s profile in the MCMIS and will see a report with all the available data on the carrier in question. Enter the mover’s name, USDOT number, or MC/MX number and click the “Search” button.Find the “FMCSA Searches” menu (located in the middle lower section of the home page) and click the “Company Snapshot” link.In order to get this information you need to: ![]() Searching the DOT number of a motor carrier on the SAFER database (The FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records System) gives you access to the company’s licensing and safety information, so that you can learn more about the people you’re dealing with and make an informed decision about your move.Ī USDOT number lookup will provide you with a lot of useful information about the movers you’re interested in – their identification, type and range of operations, operating status, safety rating, etc. ![]() The number must be displayed on every commercial vehicle the company uses for transportation purposes. (The abbreviation USDOT stands for the United States Department of Transportation.) The number is unique for each company and allows the government to track carriers on their system.Īll companies that transport passengers or haul cargo across state lines must be registered with the FMCSA and have a valid USDOT number in order to operate legally. ![]() What is a USDOT number?Ī USDOT number is a carrier identifier issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and assigned to a census record in the Motor Carrier Management Information System. If you’re looking for interstate moving companies, the fastest, easiest, and surest way to verify their licensing status is to check their USDOT number. There are some foolproof ways to make sure your movers are qualified professionals, but the most important thing to do when researching your potential moving partners is to confirm that they’re properly licensed and authorized to transport household goods and provide moving services. They will say that they’re trustworthy professionals, of course, and will promise to do a good job for you, but how can you know if this is true? How to make sure you’ve found reliable and experienced moving specialists who will handle your relocation with professionalism, efficiency, and care? How to know that you’re not dealing with rogue or incompetent movers? This is especially true in the event of moving house – you’re supposed to trust your movers with all your earthly possessions – just like that, without knowing anything about them. Even if you’re taking their word for it, it is always important to fact check before making a decision – or you may deeply regret it. Although President Reagan’s signature phrase “ Trust, but verify” is usually used in a political context, it applies to many aspects of life – you need to remember it every time you’re expected to place belief in or act upon information or claims another person presents to you.
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