# Check a carrier against FMCSA records

> On Smart Loads, open Carrier lookup and type a USDOT number, "MC" and the MC number, or a company name. When you book from a lead or the dispatch page, the Carrier check box in the booking window compares the carrier with FMCSA records and your agency's history. It's advice only. You decide whether to book.

Source: https://help.smartloads.io/check-a-carrier · Updated 2026-10-12

SmartLoads reads FMCSA's public carrier records. You can look up any carrier, and you get a Carrier check when you book.

## Look up any carrier

1. In the left menu, click **Smart Loads**.
2. On a computer, click the truck icon on the right edge of the page. Its tooltip says **Carrier lookup**. If the side panel is already open, click the **Carrier** tab.
3. Type a USDOT number, **MC** and the MC number, or a company name, then press Enter. For example: `1234567`, `MC 123456` or `Example Trucking`.
4. If more than one carrier matches a name, pick the right one from the list.

A plain number of 5 to 8 digits is read as a USDOT number. Type **MC** first when you have an MC number.

The result shows the carrier's name, its USDOT and MC numbers, and a status: **Active**, **Inactive** or **OUT OF SERVICE**.

## Read the Carrier check when you book

When you book from a lead, a call or the dispatch page's **Book load**, the **Confirm booking** window has an **MC#** field. Once it has five digits, a Carrier check box appears under **Dispatcher or driver email**. On the board, **Book** doesn't open this window, so the check shows under **Booking Information** once the load is booked.

The top line gives the overall answer:

| Top line | What it means |
|---|---|
| **Looks right** | FMCSA shows the carrier active, and the phone matches FMCSA or has booked for this MC with you before. |
| **Check before booking** | Something needs a second look, like new authority, no grant date on file, or a phone that hasn't booked for this MC. |
| **Warning** | FMCSA has no such MC, the authority isn't active, the carrier is out of service, the phone or email booked under a different MC, or a teammate saved **Highway check doesn't match**. |

Under it, the box lists up to three reasons, then:

- **FMCSA**: legal name, USDOT, authority status and age, and the phone and email on file, with whether they match.
- **Our history**: loads this MC has run with your agency, and which phones it used. Only your agency's records count.
- **Highway**: SmartLoads doesn't connect to Highway. If you checked the carrier there yourself, click **Highway check matches** or **Highway check doesn't match** to save your answer for your team.

The same box shows on a lead and on a booked load under **Booking Information**. The Outlook panel's **Carrier** tab has a similar check.

The Carrier check is advice only. It never blocks booking, and it never books or covers a load. A person makes that call.

## Frequently asked questions

### Where does the carrier data come from?

From FMCSA's public QCMobile service and FMCSA's public data files. SmartLoads keeps each lookup for up to 24 hours.

### My MC number found the wrong carrier. Why?

A plain number of 5 to 8 digits is searched as a USDOT number. Type **MC** before the number, like `MC 123456`.

### Does a Warning stop me from booking?

No. If the caller's number isn't the phone on file, call the carrier back on the FMCSA number before you book.

### Can other agencies see my Highway notes or history?

No. **Our history** and your saved Highway answers belong to your agency only.