What Is the FMCSA?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for regulating and overseeing the moving and trucking industry. Any company that moves household goods across state lines must be registered with the FMCSA.
Why FMCSA Registration Matters
FMCSA registration means a moving company:
- Has passed federal safety requirements
- Carries minimum required insurance
- Is authorized to operate as an interstate carrier
- Can be held accountable through the federal complaint system
Hiring an unregistered mover puts your belongings — and your legal protections — at risk.
What Are DOT and MC Numbers?
DOT Number (U.S. Department of Transportation)
This is a unique identifier assigned to every commercial motor carrier. It’s used for safety audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections.
MC Number (Motor Carrier)
This is the operating authority number that grants a company permission to transport household goods for compensation across state lines.
Both numbers must be active and in good standing for a mover to legally operate.
How to Verify a Mover’s FMCSA Status
- Ask the mover for their DOT and MC numbers
- Visit the FMCSA’s SAFER database at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov
- Enter the DOT or MC number and check:
- Operating Status: Must be “AUTHORIZED”
- Out of Service: Must be “NO”
- Insurance: Must show active coverage
How Extra Help Moving Handles FMCSA Verification
We don’t leave verification up to you. Every mover on our platform is automatically verified in real-time against the FMCSA federal database. Before a mover can even access our job board, their DOT and MC numbers must:
- Exist in the FMCSA system
- Show “Allowed to Operate” status
- Not be flagged as “Out of Service”
This means every mover who contacts you through Extra Help Moving is federally licensed, insured, and authorized to handle your move.
Your Protection, Built In
When you submit a free service order on Extra Help Moving, you’re only contacted by movers who have passed real-time FMCSA verification. Combined with our AI-calculated moving quote for price comparison, you get both safety and value.