Quick checklist
- Authority status confirmed active in current FMCSA records.
- Insurance filings present and current.
- Reinstatement verified at the source, not by the carrier's claim.
Revoked vs. out of service
Revoked authority means FMCSA has withdrawn the carrier's permission to operate for hire — often for an insurance lapse or failure to maintain required filings. 'Out of service' is a safety order that prohibits operation. Either status means you should not tender a load until it's reinstated.
Common causes
The most frequent cause is a lapse in required insurance filings. Others include failure to complete a new-entrant safety audit, unpaid civil penalties, or a serious safety violation.
What to do
If a carrier you booked shows revoked authority, pause the load and confirm reinstatement in FMCSA records — not just the carrier's word. Monitoring alerts you the day authority changes so you find out before dispatch, not after.
Verify a carrier now
Run a free FMCSA lookup by USDOT, MC number or company name. Then put the carriers you book on watch and get alerted the moment one changes.
Data sourced from public FMCSA/SAFER records. CarrierSentry is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. DOT or FMCSA. Verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before making business decisions.