How Can You Verify a Carrier's FMCSA Rating Before Booking Auto Transport?

You're shipping a car cross country. Maybe from Houston to Los Angeles. Or relocating to Florida from Texas. Scams lurk everywhere in auto transport. Fraudsters promise cheap rates. They vanish with your deposit. Don't be the next victim. Check the carrier's FMCSA rating first. It's your shield.

As Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co., a Texas-based auto transport broker, I see this daily. We broker nationwide vehicle shipping door to door. Our parent, AMG Endeavors, runs carriers. I know both sides. Carriers haul. Brokers handle sales, coordination, backend headaches. Roads are rough. Carriers dodge customer drama. And payments. That's where we step in.

Verify FMCSA data. It's free. Quick. Essential. Let's break it down.

What Is the FMCSA Database and Why Check It Before Booking?

FMCSA stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It's the DOT's watchdog. They track every carrier's safety record. Crashes. Violations. Inspections. All public.

Why check? Legit carriers register here. Scams don't. Or they use stolen numbers. A clean record means reliability. Bad ratings scream risk. Your car could end up damaged. Delayed. Or lost.

Brokers like us vet carriers upfront. We pull FMCSA reports. Check insurance. But DIY checks protect you. Especially from shady direct deals.

Where Do You Find a Carrier's USDOT and MC Numbers?

USDOT is the base number. Every interstate carrier has one. MC is for freight authority. Brokers have MC too.

Hunt them here:

• Quote or contract email.
• Carrier's website footer.
• Truck door dots (black and white decal).
• Bill of lading.
• Ask directly. Legit ones share freely.

No numbers? Walk away. Scammers hide.

At AMG, we provide these upfront. With VIN scans and Stripe deposits for trust.

How Do You Search FMCSA for a Carrier's Safety Record?

Head to fmcsa.dot.gov. Click "Safety & Compliance" then "Company Snapshot."

Enter USDOT or MC. Hit search.

Results show:

• Basic info.
• Operation status.
• SMS scores.
• Crash data.
• Inspections.

Print it. Save it. Date it.

Pro tip: Cross-check with safer.fmcsa.gov. Deeper dive.

We do this for every load. Vetted, insured carriers only. 72-hour pickup windows standard.

What Do SMS Scores Tell You About Reliability?

SMS is Safety Measurement System. Scores carriers on behavior. Not just violations. Percentiles from 0-100. Higher is worse.

Key categories:

| Category | What It Means | Good Threshold |

|---------------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------|

| Vehicle Maintenance | Brake issues, tires, lights | Under 20% |

| Hours of Service | Driver fatigue violations | Under 20% |

| Driver Fitness | Qualifications, drugs | Under 20% |

| Controlled Substances | Drug/alcohol tests | Under 10% |

| Crash Indicator | At-fault accidents | Under 10% |

Above 50%? High risk. Avoid. Even 20-50% warrants caution.

SMS updates monthly-ish. But acute issues flag fast.

Reliable carriers score low. Period.

What Red Flags in FMCSA Data Mean Avoid That Carrier?

Spotted trouble? Bail.

Red flags:

• High SMS percentiles. Over 20% in any category.
• Recent crashes. Especially at-fault.
• Out-of-service orders. OOS hits mean ignored violations.
• Inactive authority. "Not Authorized" status.
• Multiple acute violations. Like unsafe driving.
• Poor inspection ratio. Low out-of-service rate good (under 5%).

Carriers game numbers sometimes. New ones look clean. Experience matters. That's why brokers build carrier relationships. We ensure they're invested in our clients.

Does Out-of-Service Status Affect Your Booking?

Yes. Big time.

OOS means FMCSA shut them down. For safety fails. They can't operate legally until cleared.

Even past OOS? Risky. Patterns show disregard.

Check "SMS Acute/Critical Violations." Fresh ones kill deals.

AMG skips these entirely. Our carriers pass rigorous checks. Full insurance proof required.

How Current Must FMCSA Data Be for Your Transport Decision?

Check within 7-14 days of booking. Data lags slightly. SMS refreshes monthly. Crashes update faster.

Book fast? Re-check day of.

Carriers change. Double-check trailer too if listed.

Brokers monitor ongoing. We flag issues pre-pickup.

Why AMG Transport Co. Handles This for You

Direct carrier deals sound cheap. They're not. Most won't touch retail customers. Payment risks. Logistics nightmares.

Brokers buffer that. We negotiate rates. Vet carriers. Coordinate door-to-door.

At AMG Transport Co., Texas-based auto transport broker nationwide:

• FMCSA vetted, insured carriers only.
• Honest quotes, no hidden fees.
• VIN scans at pickup/delivery.
• Stripe deposits, secure.
• 72-hour pickup guarantee.

What affects car shipping cost per mile? Fuel, distance, season. We keep it reasonable. Open car carrier or enclosed for luxury cars? Your call.

Shipping a non-running vehicle? Multi-car for families? We got it.

Don't risk it. Get a quote today. Safe shipping starts here.

Written by Mike Matthews, Logistics Manager at AMG Transport Co.