Solicitation and Data Mining in the Trucking Industry Using FMCSA Records

[MikePhua]

The Role of FMCSA and Its Data Dissemination Program
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), established in 2000 under the U.S. Department of Transportation, oversees safety regulations for commercial motor vehicles. As part of its transparency mandate, FMCSA maintains extensive public datasets on registered carriers, including safety records, insurance filings, operating authority, and inspection history. These datasets are made available through platforms like the SAFER system and DataHub, intended to support safety oversight, public awareness, and industry compliance.
However, the accessibility of this data has also created a secondary market: companies mining FMCSA records to generate sales leads, validate carrier identities, and feed solicitation campaigns. While the data is public, its use for aggressive marketing has raised concerns among small fleet owners and independent operators.
Terminology Annotation

• MC Number: Motor Carrier number assigned by FMCSA to identify interstate carriers.
  
• BOC-3 Filing: A legal document designating process agents for carriers in each state.
  
• Operating Authority: FMCSA-issued permission for carriers to transport regulated commodities.
  
• Solicitation: The act of contacting businesses for commercial purposes, often unsolicited.
  

How Solicitation Companies Leverage FMCSA Data
Data brokers and lead-generation firms routinely scrape FMCSA databases to build contact lists of newly registered carriers. These lists include company names, addresses, phone numbers, and authority status. Once compiled, the data is used to:

• Target carriers with factoring services, insurance offers, and compliance tools
  
• Feed automated email and SMS campaigns
  
• Populate load boards and transportation management systems (TMS)
  
• Validate carrier identity for brokers and 3PLs
  

One such firm, Carrier Details, offers customized datasets with over 350 fields per carrier, including safety scores and insurance expiration dates. Their clients include brokers, insurers, and software vendors seeking granular insights into the trucking ecosystem.
Anecdote from a New Authority Holder
In 2023, a first-time owner-operator in Texas received over 40 calls within a week of activating his MC number. The solicitations ranged from fuel card offers to dispatch services and DOT compliance packages. Many callers referenced details only available through FMCSA filings, such as his operating region and insurance carrier. He later learned his contact info had been pulled from a “daily difference” dataset used by lead vendors to track new authorities.
Benefits and Risks of Open Data Access
While FMCSA’s data transparency supports safety and accountability, it also exposes carriers to:

• Unwanted solicitations and spam
  
• Misuse of data by unverified vendors
  
• Confusion among new entrants unfamiliar with regulatory filings
  
• Potential phishing attempts disguised as compliance outreach
  

On the other hand, legitimate uses of FMCSA data include:

• Verifying carrier credentials before load assignment
  
• Monitoring safety scores for insurance underwriting
  
• Supporting enforcement and roadside inspection planning
  
• Enabling public access to crash and violation records
  

Recommended Protective Measures for Carriers
To reduce exposure to unsolicited contact:

• Use a business phone number separate from personal lines
  
• Register a PO box or virtual address for filings when permitted
  
• Monitor filings for accuracy and avoid unnecessary public disclosures
  
• Report misleading solicitations to the Better Business Bureau or FMCSA
  
• Consider using a compliance service that shields direct contact info
  

Suggested Policy Enhancements
FMCSA could improve data privacy and integrity by:

• Offering opt-out mechanisms for marketing use of contact data
  
• Flagging commercial data brokers and requiring usage disclosures
  
• Limiting access to sensitive fields like personal phone numbers
  
• Providing educational resources for new carriers on data exposure
  

Conclusion
The trucking industry’s reliance on FMCSA data for safety and compliance has inadvertently fueled a wave of commercial solicitation. While the data itself is public and legally accessible, its use for aggressive marketing raises ethical and operational questions. Carriers must navigate this landscape with caution, balancing transparency with privacy. As technology and regulation evolve, so too must the safeguards that protect operators from exploitation while preserving the benefits of open data.