How to Check a Carrier's Safety Record Before Hiring

Whether you are a freight broker, a shipper, or a logistics coordinator, verifying a carrier's safety record before tendering a load is not just good practice — it is a critical part of your due diligence. A carrier with a poor safety history puts your cargo, your liability exposure, and your reputation at risk. Here is how to perform a thorough carrier safety check using publicly available FMCSA data.

Step 1: Verify Operating Authority

Before checking safety, confirm the carrier is legally authorized to operate. Search for the carrier on Carrier Lookup by DOT number, MC number, or company name. Verify that their operating status shows "AUTHORIZED" and that their operating authority (MC number) is active rather than pending, revoked, or not granted. A carrier without active authority cannot legally haul freight for hire.

Step 2: Check the Safety Rating

Look at the carrier's FMCSA safety rating. A "Satisfactory" rating is ideal. "Conditional" means the carrier has known compliance issues. "Unsatisfactory" means the carrier should not be used — they may be facing an out-of-service order. Many carriers are "Not Rated," which means they have not had a formal compliance review. For unrated carriers, you will need to rely more heavily on the other data points below.

Step 3: Review Insurance Coverage

Confirm the carrier has adequate insurance. FMCSA requires minimum levels of BIPD (Bodily Injury and Property Damage) coverage based on the type of cargo. General freight carriers need at least $750,000, while hazmat carriers need $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 depending on the commodity. Verify the insurance is on file and not expired or pending cancellation.

Step 4: Examine Crash History

Review the carrier's crash records for the past 24 months. Look at both the number of crashes and their severity — DOT-reportable crashes involve fatalities, injuries, or towed vehicles. A carrier with a pattern of crashes relative to its fleet size is a red flag. On Carrier Lookup, the carrier profile page shows crash totals, timelines, and individual crash details.

Step 5: Check Inspection and OOS Rates

Inspection data reveals how well the carrier maintains its equipment and manages its drivers. Pay attention to the out-of-service (OOS) rate — the percentage of inspections that result in a vehicle or driver being taken out of service. National averages are around 21% for vehicles and 6% for drivers. A carrier significantly above those averages is not managing maintenance or driver compliance well.

Step 6: Look at BASICs Scores

The FMCSA's BASICs scoring system evaluates carriers across seven safety categories. Scores above the intervention threshold (generally 65th-75th percentile) indicate areas of concern. Check whether the carrier has elevated scores in Unsafe Driving, Crash Indicator, or Hours-of-Service Compliance — these are the most directly related to on-road safety risk.

Vet Any Carrier in Seconds

Search over 500,000 carriers and get instant access to safety ratings, crash data, and inspection records.

Search Carriers Go Unlimited