USDOT number checker.

What this does and does not tell you

A USDOT number is the identifier FMCSA gives a motor carrier, broker, freight forwarder or intermodal equipment provider when it files Form MCSA-1, the Unified Registration System online application. There is no public algorithm that proves a number is real, so no website can validate one by arithmetic. What the regulation does fix is when each number must be refreshed, and that schedule is computable from the number itself. This page applies it and then hands you straight to SAFER, FMCSA's own company snapshot, to confirm the carrier behind the number.

The schedule rule

Under 49 CFR 390.201(d)(3), a person assigned a USDOT number must file an updated Form MCSA-1 every 24 months. The last digit of the number picks the month: 1 is January through 9 for September, and 0 is October. The update is due by the last day of that month. The next-to-last digit picks the year: if it is odd, the update is due in every odd-numbered calendar year, and if it is even, in every even-numbered year. Worked example: 1234567 ends in 7, so July, and its next-to-last digit is 6, which is even, so the update falls due by July 31 of each even year. Counting from October 19, 2026, July 2026 has already passed, so the next deadline is July 31, 2028. A number ending in 0 whose next-to-last digit is 6, such as 1234560, is due October 31, 2026.

Why it matters

Section 390.201(c)(1)(ii) says a person who fails to complete the biennial update is subject to penalties and to deactivation of its USDOT number. Separately, a carrier may not mark a vehicle until FMCSA has written to say the number is active, and must display a valid USDOT number on each self-propelled commercial motor vehicle (390.201(c)(2) and (c)(3)). A change of legal name, form of business or address must be reported within 30 days (390.201(d)(4)), and that does not replace the 24-month update. If you are vetting a carrier rather than your own number, a missed update month is a reason to look harder in SAFER, not proof of a problem.

How to check a carrier properly

Use the link in the result, which opens the SAFER company snapshot for that number. SAFER also accepts MC/MX numbers and company names. Match the legal name and address to the paperwork you were given, and check that the operating status and authority are what you expect. This site does not query or copy FMCSA data; the link opens FMCSA's own page in a new tab.

Sources (each opened 2026-10-19): eCFR, 49 CFR 390.201 USDOT Registration (up to date as of 2026-10-01; filing schedule in paragraph (d)(3), penalties and deactivation in (c)); FMCSA SAFER Web, Company Snapshot (search by DOT number, MC/MX number or name). The FMCSA registration pages refused automated access, so the rule text was read from the eCFR.

FAQ

How do I look up a USDOT number?

Open the FMCSA SAFER company snapshot and search by DOT number. The link in this tool fills the number in for you. SAFER shows the legal name, address, operating status and authority. This page does not retrieve any carrier data itself.

How do I tell which month my USDOT number must be updated?

Use the last digit: 1 is January, 2 February, 3 March, 4 April, 5 May, 6 June, 7 July, 8 August, 9 September and 0 October. The update is due by the last day of that month, under 49 CFR 390.201(d)(3).

Which year is my USDOT update due?

Look at the next-to-last digit. If it is odd, the update is due in every odd-numbered calendar year, and if it is even, in every even-numbered year. The filing repeats every 24 months.

What happens if a USDOT number is not updated?

The regulation says a person who fails to complete the biennial update is subject to penalties and to deactivation of its USDOT number. A deactivated number should not be used to operate.

Does this tool prove a USDOT number is real or active?

No. There is no checksum for USDOT numbers, so this tool only reads the schedule from the digits. Confirm existence, status and the carrier name in SAFER.

Is a USDOT number the same as an MC number?

No. They are different identifiers. SAFER can search by USDOT number or by MC/MX number, but this tool only works with USDOT numbers.