Got a call about your DOT number? Here's how to tell if it's legit.
Yes, we're one of the companies that calls carriers. So are a lot of others, and some of them lie about who they are. FMCSA has warned carriers about this publicly. Here's the checklist we'd want you to use on anyone who calls you, us included.
Who you're actually talking to
FMCSA doesn't sell you anything over the phone. It doesn't call carriers through telemarketers or robocalls, it doesn't ask for card numbers by phone, and it doesn't charge for forms you can download free from fmcsa.dot.gov. If someone says they're from FMCSA or DOT and asks for payment, hang up.
DOT Compliance Partner is a private company. We're not FMCSA, USDOT or the UCR Plan, and we tell you that in the first 30 seconds of every call.
Seven red flags
- 1They say they're "calling from DOT" or use a name built to sound like a government office.
- 2They say your DOT number gets deactivated today unless you pay right now.
- 3They won't tell you the government fee and their service fee separately.
- 4They ask for your Login.gov, FMCSA Portal or Motus password. A real service never needs your login.
- 5They send an "invoice" or "past-due notice" for something you never ordered.
- 6They won't give you a company name, website and callback number you can check.
- 7They get angry or pushy when you say you'll do it yourself.
What's free and what costs money
| Filing | Government cost | Where to do it yourself |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT number | Free | FMCSA (Motus) |
| MCS-150 biennial update | Free | FMCSA (Motus) |
| Operating authority (MC) | [VERIFY current fee] | FMCSA (Motus) |
| UCR | [VERIFY current tiers] annual fee by fleet size | ucr.gov |
| BOC-3 | Set by the process agent | A registered process agent |
Everything on this list, you can file yourself. People hire us when they'd rather not spend the time, want it done right the first time, or want someone tracking every deadline for them.
What we'll always do
- Tell you we're a private company before anything else.
- Show our service fee and the government fee as separate lines, in writing, before you pay.
- Never ask for your government login.
- Record calls and tell you we're recording.
- Send you confirmation of every filing we make for you.
Already paid someone you're not sure about?
Call your bank or card company and ask about a chargeback. Check your record on FMCSA's SAFER system to see if anything was actually filed. You can also report the company to FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.