Every legitimate long-distance moving company is required to have a USDOT number — a unique identifier assigned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. If a company can't give you their USDOT number, or if the number doesn't check out, walk away.
What Is a USDOT Number?
A USDOT number (U.S. Department of Transportation number) is a unique identifier issued to commercial motor carriers that operate in interstate commerce. Any moving company that transports household goods across state lines is required to register with FMCSA and obtain a USDOT number. Operating without one is illegal.
How to Look Up a USDOT Number
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and enter the company's name or USDOT number. You'll see their registration status, insurance information, safety rating, and complaint history. This takes about two minutes and is the single best two-minute investment you can make before hiring a mover.
What to Check When You Look It Up
- Operating status: Active — if it shows "inactive" or "out of service," the company is not authorized to operate
- Operation classification: Carrier — if it shows only "broker," they will sell your move to another carrier
- Insurance: Active — verify that cargo and liability insurance is current
- Household goods authority — confirm they're authorized to transport household goods specifically
AEY Moving's USDOT Information
AEY Moving LLC is a USDOT-licensed carrier authorized to transport household goods across all 48 contiguous states. You can verify our registration at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. We are a direct carrier — we do not sell jobs to subcarriers.