Verify FMCSA USDOT/MC numbers to confirm licensed brokers/carriers. Avoid scams with step-by-step checks before paying deposits or booking transport.

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How Do I Verify an Auto Transport Company's FMCSA Authority Before Booking?

You're about to ship your car cross country. Maybe from Houston to Los Angeles. Or relocating to Florida from Texas. Excitement builds. Then doubt hits. Is this auto transport company legit? Scams lurk everywhere in this industry. Roads are dangerous enough without fraud. Don't hand over a deposit blindly.

Verify FMCSA authority first. It's your shield. FMCSA stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They regulate brokers and carriers. Every legit operation has USDOT and MC numbers. Skip this? You risk your vehicle and money.

At AMG Transport Co., a Texas-based auto transport broker, we live this daily. Our parent, AMG Endeavors, runs carriers. We know both sides. Brokers handle sales, coordination, backend headaches. Carriers drive trucks. They hate dealing with deadbeats who don't pay. Brokers buffer that. But shady outfits fake authority. Here's how to check. Real steps. No fluff.

What FMCSA Authority Do I Need to Check?

FMCSA tracks all interstate movers. Brokers need broker authority. Carriers need operating authority. Both get USDOT numbers. MC numbers for for-hire ops.

Brokers like us don't own trucks. We connect you to carriers. Check both if they claim carrier status. Most people can't work carriers directly. Carriers avoid public hassle. They charge more to individuals anyway.

What's the Difference Between USDOT and MC Numbers for Brokers vs Carriers?

USDOT Number: Unique ID for all. Safety tracking. Required for interstate.
MC Number: Motor Carrier number. For authority to operate for-hire. Brokers get 'broker authority' under it. Carriers get 'carrier authority.'

Brokers: Active broker authority. Shows they can arrange transport.

Carriers: Active carrier authority. Confirms they haul legally.

Example: AMG Transport Co. has broker authority. AMG Endeavors has carrier. We vet carriers. You get door-to-door nationwide vehicle shipping.

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Where Can I Access the Official FMCSA Database?

Only use official site. No third-party scams. Go to FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance database. Free. Fast.

Avoid Google traps. Fake sites mimic official ones. They steal data.

How Do I Search for a Company's Authority Step-by-Step?

1. Visit safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.

2. Enter USDOT or MC number. Or company name.

3. Hit search.

4. Review results.

5. Check status: Active? Good. Inactive? Run.

Pro tip: Use exact numbers from quote. Companies give them upfront. Honest ones do.

What Information Should I Look For in FMCSA Records?

Don't skim. Dig.

Entity Type: Broker or Carrier?
Operating Authority Status: Must be \"Active.\"
Out of Service Date: None.
Phone/Address: Matches quote?
Docket Number: Links to full file.

Click through to SMS (Safety Measurement System). See crash rates. Inspections.

How Do I Spot Inactive, Revoked, or Suspicious Authorities?

Inactive: Expired. No good.
Revoked: Violated rules. Fines unpaid.
Suspicious: New authority. No history. Or mismatched name/DBA.

Red flags: Multiple USDOTs. Foreign addresses. No MC.

Scammers use revoked carrier numbers. Pose as brokers. We see it weekly.

Should I Verify More Than Just FMCSA Authority?

FMCSA is start. Not end. Roads kill. Fraud bites.

Check insurance. $750k minimum cargo. Proof on demand.

Safety ratings. CSA scores. Reviews on BBB, Transport Reviews.

AMG? Vetted insured carriers only. VIN scans pre-load. Stripe deposits. Secure. 72-hour pickup windows. Honest quotes. No hidden fees.

Why Check Insurance, Safety Ratings, and Reviews Too?

FMCSA misses gaps. Insurance lapses. Bad drivers.

Insurance: Ask for CO (Certificate of Insurance). Broker files BMC-91X.
Safety: Low out-of-service %. Under 5% vehicles.
Reviews: Real ones. Not paid.

Compare quotes? Factor this. Cheap often means risky. Like open vs enclosed auto transport for luxury cars.

Final Word: Ship Smart with Proven Brokers

Verification saves headaches. FMCSA first. Then full checks. Industry's fraud-filled. Brokers like AMG Transport Co. guide you. We're the buffer carriers need. Texas auto transport broker nationwide. Door-to-door car shipping how it works: We coordinate. Carriers haul.

Why us? Experienced car shipping broker you can trust. Vetted carriers. Honest quotes. No scams. Ship a car from Houston to Los Angeles? We got it.

Get your free quote today. Sleep easy.

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