A USDOT search can identify a public registration record, but it does not establish who caused a crash or who may be responsible.

Start with the number and its source

  • Record the number exactly as shown, along with a photograph or document, date, vehicle or trailer, and location
  • Keep a note of whether the number came from a vehicle marking, report, photograph, or another person
  • Do not fill in missing digits or treat a similar company name as a confirmation
  • Save the search date and result because registrations can change

Use the federal record for identification only

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provides public registration information. The record can be a useful starting point for identifying an entity, but it is not a conclusion about the event.

Questions arising from a collision with a commercial vehicle may be considered in a North Carolina trucking-accident claim, which requires a fact-specific review.

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