01
Enter the USDOT
Paste any active USDOT number (e.g. 264184 — Schneider National).
← Free toolsFree, no signup
Authority & insurance,
straight from the FMCSA L&I file.
Paste a USDOT. Get current authority status, every active BMC-91 / BMC-34 / BMC-82 filing on file, the insurer and policy number, and the full authority history — in one card.
How it worksThree datasets, one card.
Three datasets, one card.
About five seconds.
FMCSA splits Licensing & Insurance into separate files. We fan out the three you actually need, reconcile them on the DOT, and resolve the cryptic status and BMC form codes so an underwriter can read it without a decoder ring.
02
We pull the L&I file
We hit three FMCSA datasets in parallel — current authority, active insurance filings, and authority action history — and shape them into one card.
03
See the carrier
Common/Contract/Broker authority status, every BMC-91/34/82 filing on file, the insurer and policy number, and the authority grant/revocation timeline.
FAQ
The honest answers.
Where does the FMCSA DOT authority and insurance data come from?
The Native Base free DOT authority & insurance tool pulls live from FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I) datasets hosted on data.transportation.gov. Specifically: the Carrier file (Socrata resource 6eyk-hxee) for authority status, the Active & Pending Insurance file (qh9u-swkp) for current BMC-91/34/82 filings, and the Authority History file (9mw4-x3tu) for the grant/revocation timeline. The data is never stored or modified — every lookup returns the current federal record for that USDOT number.
What is the difference between DOT authority status and insurance filings?
Operating authority (issued via MC, MX, or FF docket numbers) is a carrier’s legal permission from FMCSA to operate as a for-hire motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder. Insurance filings (forms BMC-91 for BI/PD liability, BMC-34 for cargo, BMC-82 for surety bond) are the proof of insurance the carrier’s insurer files directly with FMCSA to keep that authority active. Without an active insurance filing on record, FMCSA will move the authority into Inactive or Revoked status — which is why insurance brokers and risk managers check both together.
What does an “Inactive” common authority status mean on the DOT lookup?
An “Inactive” common authority status means FMCSA has the operating authority on file but the carrier is currently not authorized to operate under it. The most common cause is a lapse in required insurance — when the insurer files a cancellation (BMC-35), FMCSA moves the authority from Active to Inactive after the cancellation effective date. Reinstatement typically requires a new BMC-91 filing from a new or returning insurer.
How many DOT authority and insurance lookups does the Native Base free tool allow?
The Native Base free DOT authority & insurance tool allows 5 lookups per IP address per minute. There is no daily cap and no signup required. Insurance agencies and brokers that need higher-volume programmatic access can request the same federal L&I data via API by contacting Native Base.
Pricing a trucking submission?
Authority status is a yes/no.
A pre-filled ACORD 125 is a workflow.
L&I powers the Prior Carrier block on ACORD 125 and the default liability limit on ACORD 137. If your team is keying that data by hand into submissions, we can wire it directly into your AMS and pre-fill the packet before the producer opens it.
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