Truck check — connect the VIN, MC, and COI
You're holding three things: a cab card with a VIN, a photo of the truck with an MC number, and a COI. Paste them here. KnowHaul answers one question against the public FMCSA record — do these connect to the same coherent operator, or is the MC freshly painted on a truck that runs under someone else?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the truck check verify?
Three things, one line each. Whether the VIN has been inspected under the carrier you were handed, under other carriers, or never at all. Whether that carrier's MC is newly issued and its authority is active. And whether the insurer and policy on the COI match the liability filing the carrier currently has with FMCSA.
Does it catch a freshly painted MC number?
That is the scenario it is built for. If the VIN has only ever been inspected under other DOT numbers, the check names those carriers. An MC granted within the last 180 days is flagged for a second look, and a COI that doesn't match the filed insurer is called out.
What data does the truck check use?
Public FMCSA records — roadside inspection history, operating authority, and insurance filings — plus the vehicle year, make, and model decoded from the VIN with NHTSA's vPIC database.
Do I need the VIN, the MC, and the COI to run it?
Only the VIN is required. The MC or DOT number and the COI insurer and policy are optional — leave them blank to see where the VIN has been inspected, or add them to check whether all three connect.