What Is the FMCSA SAFER System?

Before a broker hands you a load or an insurer writes your policy, there is a good chance they look you up on SAFER first. It is one of the most used tools in trucking, and it is free and open to everyone. Here is what SAFER is and what it shows about a carrier.

What is the SAFER system?

SAFER stands for Safety and Fitness Electronic Records. It is a web system run by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that publishes safety and registration information about motor carriers. Anyone can use it, at no cost, to pull up a company and see how it stands with the federal agency.

What information does a SAFER Company Snapshot show?

The core of SAFER is the Company Snapshot. It typically shows the carrier's legal and doing business as name, its USDOT and MC numbers, its operating status, the type of operation and cargo it carries, the size of its fleet, and a summary of its safety record, including inspection and crash history and out of service rates. In short, it is a quick, official profile of a carrier.

How do you look up a carrier on SAFER?

You search the SAFER Company Snapshot by USDOT number, MC number, or company name. It is often used to confirm that a carrier is authorized and active before doing business, to check a potential partner's safety history, or simply to verify your own record looks right. Because it is public, your own snapshot is visible to the brokers and shippers who screen you.

Where does SAFER data come from?

The information flows from a carrier's own registration and from the field. Registration details come from filings such as the carrier's application and its periodic MCS-150 update, while the safety numbers come from roadside inspections and reported crashes. Because it is built from your filings, keeping those filings accurate and up to date is what keeps your snapshot accurate.