The FMCSA publishes safety data on interstate carriers, including movers. Knowing how to read it turns a company's federal record into a genuine risk check. Here's what the ratings mean and how to use them.
After a compliance review, the FMCSA can assign a carrier one of three safety ratings:
Not every carrier has been rated, so an "unrated" company isn't automatically bad — it just means the deeper review hasn't happened. In that case, lean harder on the other checks.
Beyond the formal rating, the FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) scores carriers across categories called BASICs — including Unsafe Driving, Hours-of-Service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, and Driver Fitness. Percentiles compare a carrier against peers; higher percentiles flag more concern. A pattern of high scores across categories is a meaningful warning.
Safety data is a strong signal, not a crystal ball. A clean record dramatically lowers risk; a troubled one is a reason to walk away. But complaint history, insurance status, and licensing all matter alongside it — no single number decides everything.
Read the rating, scan the BASIC categories, and weigh them alongside licensing and insurance. A mover that clears all of it — and carries our Vetted & Verified badge — is a safe bet. Start your search in our directory.
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