SAFER Web: Trucking Company Insurance Review Simplified! (2024)

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Liability is a continuously changing part of logistics management. However, understanding who carries the liability burden can be confusing at best, and navigating the trucking data within the SAFER Web Snapshot, operated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), is still tricky. Let’s take a deeper look at why a broker would need this FMCSA data information and how it amounts to both a DOT Authority check and protection against liability.

Why Would a Broker Want to Confirm a Trucking Company Has Proper Interstate Insurance?

Many brokers have asked, “How do I know if a trucking company has insurance,” but it’s not only about verifying the data. It’s about verifying the data is accurate and accessible more regularly than the initial onboarding of a new trucking company.

The answer comes down to liability and protecting their business against potential litigation due to negligent selection.

In 2011, DC Velocity reported how a shipper, broker or other third-party entity may retain liability when hiring truckers and other carriers to transport a load. “The March 30 ruling by a 3rd District Illinois Appellate Court panel is the latest setback in C.H. Robinson’s efforts to avoid culpability for the incident. It also sends a strong and disturbing message to shippers and brokers that they could be held accountable for accidents involving a trucker they hire to move goods, even if they contend the trucker and driver were not employees and were hired to simply transport a shipment.”

Such risk is the exact reason why more companies continue to rely on The Federal Licensing and Insurance Systems (L&I) database, a subset of the SAFER trucking website.

How Does the Licensing and Insurance Public Database Differ From SAFER Snapshot?

The SAFER trucking Snapshot does a world good in providing a first-line view of a trucking company’s safety profile and authorization to operate. It includes the basic contact information, it’s granted classification operating authority, and the type of cargo it carries. The SAFER Snapshot is the US DOT safety and status review, but understanding the granularities of authority, including its insurance history and status, is found within the L&I database.

As shown in this L&I examplebelow, an individual can evaluate the common carrier, contract, and broker authority granted by the DOT.

SAFER Web: Trucking Company Insurance Review Simplified! (1)

The page is accessed in the same way as the SAFER company Snapshot, but it requires a careful eye to review the types of cargo it can transport, broken into five overarching categories, including:

  • Property.
  • Passenger.
  • Household Goods.
  • Private.
  • Enterprise.

Furthermore, the data within the listing shows what insurance is required for the Bodily Injury Property Damage requirement (BIPD), Cargo for Household Goods carriers, or Bond for the respective authorized company. If a user wishes to dig deeper, accessing the specifics of the dataset, reviewing the insurance underwriter and stipulations on this page is possible too.

Download a sample dataset from Carrier Details now

The Benefits of Improved Insurance and Authority Review via Digital Data Sharing

While having the data to understand a company’s insurance and authority is a great start to sourcing transportation, manual review of the data is overwhelming.

Reviewing data and keying it into your systems becomes a balancing act between time and effort versus risk. How much time can you truly devote to reviewing the data regularly? It’s your choice to explore the legal liability that lurks should a freight brokerage or shipper hire negligently, and if you’re on the wrong side of an incident, you will endure a higher operating cost.

Companies that wish to improve the management of third-party companies and service providers can further reduce their liability by automating the process with intuitive data feeds that offer:

  • Streamlined integration to your transportation management system.
  • Accessibility via the interface without the added risk of human error.
  • Creating a searchable record for review upon request.
  • Maintaining integrity and regularity of data updates.

But how do you achieve that goal without building an endless code stream to the FMCSA or L&I site? It’s much easier than many realize.

Boost Trucking Insurance Analysis With Carrier Details

The true reality is that manually reviewing the L&I data is as troublesome as looking up an individual carrier and reviewing its authority within the SAFER Web database. It’s time for a better approach to combing through this treasure trove of information. Grow your business with a faster way to approach FMCSA insurance look-ups, working with Carrier Details. Connect with a Carrier Details team member to get started.

SAFER Web: Trucking Company Insurance Review Simplified! (2)

Tel. (701) 645-3252

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Discover how we can help you eliminate all your challenges messing with messy data and provide you with an “easy-to-consume” dataset just the way you want it.

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SAFER Web: Trucking Company Insurance Review Simplified! (2024)

FAQs

How do you know if a trucking company is legit? ›

Verify USDOT Number

A USDOT (United States Department of Transportation) number is a specific identifier issued by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) for commercial vehicles. It provides the ability to check an organization's legitimacy, safety rating, and previous complaints.

How to check safer score? ›

Motor carrier safety ratings are available at http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and motor carrier licensing and insurance status are available at http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/.

What is company snapshot safer web? ›

Access is provided free of charge to the Company Snapshot, a concise electronic record of a company's identification, size, commodity information, and safety record, including the safety rating (if any), a roadside out-of-service inspection summary, and crash information.

How can I view my MCS-150? ›

The Motor Carrier Identification Report, Form MCS-150, and the Combined Motor Carrier Identification Report and HM Permit Application, Form MCS-150B, with complete instructions, are available from the FMCSA website: (Keyword "MCS-150" or "MCS-150B"); from all FMCSA Service Centers and Division offices nationwide; or by ...

How do I check my CSA score for free? ›

You can access your CSA score by registering for a PIN with your USDOT or MC number. It's important to note that your composite CSA report isn't public information. Individual BASIC scores, however, are accessible with a basic DOT number search.

What is safer fmcsa dot gov? ›

The FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System offers company safety data and related services to industry and the public over the Internet.

How do I lower my safer score? ›

How to Lower Your CSA Score
  1. Regular Vehicle Inspections. Conduct thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections of your truck and trailer to identify and address any mechanical issues promptly. ...
  2. Driver Training and Education. ...
  3. Address Violations Promptly. ...
  4. Implement Safety Programs. ...
  5. Utilize Technology. ...
  6. Monitor Your CSA Score.

What is a good dot rating? ›

Satisfactory - Satisfactory is the best possible outcome when it comes to safety ratings. It means that your company or driver is in good shape and that you have adequately followed safety protocols.

How to check if a dot is active? ›

You can determine the status of your USDOT number in these ways:
  1. Online: Go to the SAFER website and search by name, USDOT number or MC number.
  2. Submit a ticket: Visit our website at: ask.fmcsa.dot.gov. ...
  3. Chat: Initiate a live chat with FMCSA Customer Service.
  4. Phone: Call 800-832-5660 to speak to FMCSA Customer Service.
May 20, 2023

What is the reason for safer web? ›

Safer Web filters the internet to protect you and your family from privacy trackers, inappropriate content and malicious websites.

Why is my dot number not authorized? ›

A lack of updates, MC number issues, and tax compliances are three of the most common causes of DOT number deactivation. Suspending your authority doesn't require the government to identify a DOT number issue, however. Suspensions due to failed inspections and even substance misuse happen frequently.

What happens if I don't update my MCS-150? ›

What Happens If You Don't Update Your Department of Transportation (DOT) Number With the MCS-150? If you fail to update your MCS-150 in a timely and accurate fashion, you face a fine of up to $1,000 per day.

What should I put for mileage on a MCS-150? ›

What mileage do you put on MCS-150? A carrier should use the combined annual mileage from all commercial vehicles in its fleet and round the number to the closest 10,000. This number will be used to determine a carrier's safety liability and determine whether an intervention may be necessary.

Is there a fee for biennial mcs-150 update? ›

There are several ways to update your company information with the FMCSA (there is no charge for USDOT number updates): Online: You can update your USDOT number company information on the Licensing and Insurance (L&I) web site by filing an MCS-150 (Motor Carrier Identification Report).

How do I know if a transport company is legit? ›

Check That the Carrier Is Licensed and Registered

You absolutely want the car carrier to be registered with the FMCSA. These numbers should be prominently displayed on a reputable carrier's website, so move on if you can't find them.

How to check if a freight broker is legit? ›

They're fully licensed, bonded, and insured

In the U.S., freight brokers must be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). To confirm the legitimacy of a broker, always request their license and registration details and run a quick check on the FMCSA's website.

How to verify a dot number? ›

You can determine the status of your USDOT number in these ways:
  1. Online: Go to the SAFER website and search by name, USDOT number or MC number.
  2. Submit a ticket: Visit our website at: ask.fmcsa.dot.gov. ...
  3. Chat: Initiate a live chat with FMCSA Customer Service.
  4. Phone: Call 800-832-5660 to speak to FMCSA Customer Service.
May 20, 2023

How do I find information on a trucking company? ›

The FMCSA has several online resources for obtaining safety information on trucking companies. All you need is a trucking company's name, their DOT number or the motor carrier number in order to search the records.

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