FMCSA carrier compliance
Check whether a motor carrier has an active or historical FMCSA out-of-service order. Search by USDOT number, carrier name, or company identifier. All records are linked by USDOT number — no name-only matching.
An out-of-service (OOS) order is issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or a state enforcement officer during a roadside inspection or safety compliance review. It prohibits the carrier, driver, or vehicle from operating until cited safety violations are corrected and the OOS condition is cleared.
For procurement and compliance teams, an active carrier-level OOS order is a disqualifying condition: the carrier is legally prohibited from operating. A history of repeated OOS orders — even without a current active order — signals systemic safety management problems and should be flagged in your vendor screening process.
Vehicle OOS
The vehicle itself has been placed out of service due to safety violations found during a roadside inspection. The carrier cannot operate that specific vehicle until the defects are corrected.
Driver OOS
A driver has been placed out of service due to hours-of-service violations, medical disqualification, or other safety concerns. The driver cannot operate a commercial vehicle until the condition is resolved.
Carrier OOS Order
The carrier's authority to operate has been suspended. An active carrier OOS order is the most serious outcome: the carrier is legally prohibited from operating any commercial motor vehicles.
The most reliable lookup is by USDOT number. Every FMCSA-registered carrier has a USDOT number that is stable across name changes and entity restructuring. A name search may return multiple carriers with similar names in different states — a USDOT lookup is unambiguous.
Find the USDOT number
The USDOT number should be on the carrier's vehicle markings, bill of lading, or procurement documents. If you only have a company name, search KnowVendor to find the associated USDOT number.
Search by USDOT number
Enter the USDOT number in the KnowVendor search to retrieve the carrier profile. The profile shows OOS event history, safety rating status, and source coverage.
Check OOS history and current status
Review whether any OOS orders are active. An active carrier-level OOS order means the carrier cannot legally operate. Review historical OOS events to assess frequency and pattern.
Document the check
Use the printable report to keep a timestamped copy of the FMCSA compliance check for your procurement records. Include the USDOT number, OOS status, and date of check.
KnowVendor covers over 334,000 FMCSA-registered motor carriers with at least one confirmed out-of-service event. Each carrier profile is linked by USDOT number. Records include OOS event date, violation category, and FMCSA source confirmation.
Carrier identity is resolved using the USDOT number, not carrier name. This means a name change, reorganization, or DBA does not affect the lookup: the USDOT number stays with the operating authority. KnowVendor records USDOT numbers as a first-class identifier with confidence 1.00 in the FMCSA context.
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Carriers with OOS records
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Data refresh from FMCSA
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Identity confidence by USDOT
Before awarding a freight, logistics, or transportation subcontract, verify the carrier's FMCSA compliance status. An active OOS order means the carrier is legally prohibited from hauling. Awarding to an OOS carrier creates safety liability and potential contract performance risk.
For federal subcontracts involving transportation, FMCSA compliance is part of the broader federal contractor due diligence process. Include the USDOT OOS check alongside the SAM exclusion check for any carrier subcontract.
What is a USDOT number?
A USDOT number is a unique identifier issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to motor carriers that operate commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. It is used to track safety records, compliance reviews, and out-of-service orders. All commercial carriers operating across state lines are required to have one.
What does an out-of-service order mean?
An out-of-service (OOS) order prohibits a carrier, driver, or vehicle from operating until the cited safety violations are corrected. An active carrier-level OOS order means the entire operation is grounded. A history of OOS orders signals systematic compliance problems even if no current order is active.
How is an OOS order different from a safety rating?
A safety rating (Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory) is issued after a full compliance review and reflects the carrier's overall safety management. An OOS order is issued during a specific roadside inspection or investigation. A carrier can have a Satisfactory safety rating and still accumulate OOS orders — check both.
Can a carrier with an OOS order receive a federal subcontract?
An active carrier-level OOS order means the carrier is legally prohibited from operating. Awarding a transportation subcontract to a carrier with an active OOS order creates legal and safety liability. Always verify FMCSA status before awarding freight or logistics subcontracts.
How current is the FMCSA data in KnowVendor?
KnowVendor imports FMCSA OOS records daily from the FMCSA public data feed. Records include the carrier name, USDOT number, OOS event date, and violation category. Each record is linked to the carrier by USDOT number, not by name, which eliminates false-positive matches.