Due-diligence checklist: buying a trucking company

Use this list before you pay for a trucking company — the LLC or corporation that holds its own USDOT and MC. Each line says what to check and where to check it, most often in a free FMCSA tool or a company document.

TruckBiz Team · Last reviewed: October 6, 2026

A fleet yard of parked semi trucks, seen from above

1. Company & ownership

0 of 7 checked

	What to check	Where
	The seller is a company (LLC or corporation), not a sole proprietor. FMCSA says a sole proprietor’s USDOT number never passes to a buyer.	Your state’s business entity search + the Articles of Organization
	The company is active with the state, and the owners or managers on file match the seller.	Your state’s business entity search (often the Secretary of State)
	The Articles of Organization show the company’s legal name.	Seller’s document: Articles of Organization
	The IRS EIN letter (tax ID letter) matches the company’s legal name.	Seller’s document: IRS EIN letter
	The owner’s ID, the EIN letter, the state record and the FMCSA record all name the same company and owner.	Owner’s ID + the documents above + SAFER
	You are buying the whole company, not “an MC number”. For an LLC, that is its membership interest. For a corporation, its shares.	Your purchase agreement
	You know that trucks and trailers do not come with the company.	The listing and your agreement

2. FMCSA record

0 of 5 checked

	What to check	Where
	USDOT status and operating authority status.	SAFER Company Snapshot
	The MCS-150 form date. Carriers must update the MCS-150 every 24 months. Missing it can lead to USDOT deactivation.	SAFER Company Snapshot → “MCS-150 Form Date”
	Authority history and insurance filing history.	FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I) carrier search
	The phone number of the person you deal with matches the FMCSA record. FMCSA tells people to verify phone numbers in SAFER.	SAFER Company Snapshot
	Revocation actions or name changes printed for the company.	FMCSA Register — public users can view it in Motus

3. Safety

0 of 5 checked

	What to check	Where
	Safety rating and rating date: Satisfactory, Conditional, Unsatisfactory or Unrated. Unrated means no rating has been assigned — it does not mean unsafe.	SAFER Company Snapshot
	US inspections in the last 24 months, and the out-of-service rate compared with the national average.	SAFER Company Snapshot → “Inspections”
	Crashes in the last 24 months. SAFER lists crashes without deciding who was at fault.	SAFER Company Snapshot → “Crashes”
	Public SMS (CSA) results by BASIC (safety category). Two BASICs — Crash Indicator and Hazardous Materials — are not public. SMS results are not a safety rating.	SMS website
	Whether the company is a new entrant. New carriers are under FMCSA safety monitoring for 18 months.	L&I authority history (dates) + 49 CFR 385.307

4. Insurance

0 of 6 checked

	What to check	Where
	A liability filing is on file now. The insurer files it with FMCSA on Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X.	L&I carrier search → insurance
	Past cancellations. An insurer must give FMCSA 30 days’ written notice before a filing is cancelled.	L&I carrier search → insurance history
	Insurance history and loss runs (the insurer’s claims report) from the seller.	Seller’s documents: insurance history, loss runs
	Your own policy is ready. In a TruckBiz deal, the seller’s policy is cancelled at handover. You put your own policy and FMCSA filing in place, with no gap.	Your insurance agent
	Your coverage meets the federal minimum for your freight. For-hire, interstate general freight in vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more: $750,000.	49 CFR 387.9
	No truck runs under the company until the required insurance is in effect.	49 CFR 387.7

5. Money & debts

0 of 4 checked

	What to check	Where
	UCC liens. A UCC financing statement is notice that a creditor has a security interest in the debtor’s personal property.	The state’s UCC filing records (often the Secretary of State)
	Factoring (selling invoices for cash). Ask whether the company sells its invoices to a factoring company. A sale of accounts (invoices) is covered by UCC Article 9.	Ask the seller; check the UCC search above
	A factoring release, where there is factoring.	Seller’s document: factoring release letter
	All debts listed in writing by the seller. Some debts never appear in a public record.	Your purchase agreement

6. Accounts & handover

0 of 10 checked

	What to check	Where
	A written transfer checklist that lists every item you get.	Your deal documents
	Which items come with this company — for example company phone and e-mail, corporate papers, load-board and broker setups (Highway, RMIS), platform accounts, a bank account. It depends on the listing.	The listing; each line shows its source
	A Highway screenshot, and Amazon Relay only if the company has it.	Seller’s screenshots, reviewed by TruckBiz
	You know that outside platforms decide whether to approve a new owner.	Each platform’s own rules
	Company accounts are handed over under the written transfer checklist. Where an account is tied to a person’s own identity, the new owner sets up their own access under that service’s rules. Never give your passwords or 2FA codes to anyone — TruckBiz never asks for them.	Your written transfer checklist
	After closing: update FMCSA records. FMCSA says new owners should update records immediately. Its FAQ says to file an updated MCS-150 within 30 days of the change.	FMCSA registration (Motus)
	After closing: claim the company in Motus. The new owner claims the company in Motus with their own Login.gov identity. Never use the seller’s login. Ask FMCSA how.	Motus
	After closing: be ready for Motus identity checks — a government ID and face capture, plus business verification.	Motus
	After closing: your insurer files BMC-91 or BMC-91X for the company.	Your insurance agent
	After closing: a current BOC-3 (process agent filing) covers all required states.	Your process agent

Disclaimer: General information only, as of the “Last reviewed” date — not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules change; check the official source we link. TruckBiz is a marketplace, not a law firm, insurance agency or escrow company. TruckBiz is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escrow.com, FMCSA or the U.S. DOT. TruckBiz is not affiliated with Highway, RMIS or Amazon Relay. This checklist is not a complete list for every deal. Talk to your own lawyer, accountant and insurance agent about your deal.

Last reviewed: October 6, 2026

Sources

https://truckbizusa.com/guides/due-diligence-checklist · October 6, 2026

Due-diligence checklist: buying a trucking company

11. Company & ownership

22. FMCSA record

33. Safety

44. Insurance

55. Money & debts

66. Accounts & handover