Two developer-focused ways to get FMCSA carrier data over a JSON API. Here's the honest version: SaferWebAPI sells flat-rate unlimited access; VerifyCarrier starts free and layers risk scoring and web tools on top of the same public data. Which one fits depends on what you're building.
SaferWebAPI: $30/mo flat, unlimited
VerifyCarrier: free tier forever, one paid plan at $49/mo
Same public FMCSA data
VerifyCarrier adds a 0–100 risk score on top
API + free web tools
Our DOT & MC lookups are free for your whole team, no subscription
Prices checked against SaferWebAPI's own site. Check their site for current terms.
| Feature | VerifyCarrier | SaferWebAPI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | $0–$49/mo Free account or one paid plan, per account | $30/mo flat Single Pro plan |
| Free Option | 100 API calls/month, forever | 15-day free trial No credit card; then $30/mo |
| Unlimited Requests | Metered: up to 1,000/mo | Advertised as unlimited |
| Carrier Risk Score (0–100) | Computed from FMCSA data, on every plan | Not advertised |
| FMCSA Company Snapshot Data | DOT/MC lookup, authority & insurance status | USDOT snapshot + name lookup |
| SMS BASIC Safety Scores | In every lookup, free included | SMS safety scores endpoint |
| Free Web Lookup Tools | Free DOT, MC & SAFER lookups — no account needed | With subscription Browser interface included in trial/Pro |
| Carrier Monitoring | $49/month, 50 carriers | Not advertised as of October 4, 2026 |
| Per-Seat Fees | None — one account, whole team | None advertised |
Before wiring SAFER data into an integration, read which carrier verification API fields to keep as evidence and how often each FMCSA source updates.
Yes, we just told you when a competitor is the better deal. Honest comparisons are the only kind worth publishing.
Same public FMCSA data, plus a transparent risk score your code can act on directly — no need to build your own scoring model.
# Verify carrier by DOT number
curl https://verifycarrier.com/api/lookup/dot/12345 \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
# Response
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"dot_number": "12345",
"legal_name": "ACME TRUCKING LLC",
"authority_status": "AUTHORIZED",
"risk": {
"score": 35.2,
"tier": "Medium",
"description": "Review recommended",
"factors": ["New authority", "Limited inspection history"]
},
"safety": {
"rating": "S",
"out_of_service": false
}
}
}It depends on your volume. As of October 4, 2026, SaferWebAPI's Pro plan is $30/month flat with unlimited API requests — at high request volumes that is genuinely hard to beat on price alone. VerifyCarrier's free tier is $0 for up to 100 API calls per month with no trial expiry, so at low volume VerifyCarrier costs nothing. Every lookup, free included, adds a computed 0–100 risk score and BASIC safety scores (when FMCSA publishes them) on top of raw FMCSA fields. The one paid plan is $49/month to watch 50 carriers, with 1,000 API calls a month included.
As of October 4, 2026, saferwebapi.com advertises company snapshot lookup by USDOT number, carrier name lookup, and SMS safety scores, with a 15-day free trial (no credit card) and a single $30/month Pro plan with unlimited requests. Check saferwebapi.com for current details.
A permanent free API tier (100 calls/month, no credit card, no trial clock), a transparent 0–100 carrier risk score computed from FMCSA safety data, free web lookup tools your ops team can use without any subscription, and per-account pricing with no per-seat fees. Carrier monitoring is $49/month for 50 carriers.
No. VerifyCarrier API use is metered: 100 calls/month on a free account, and 1,000 calls/month included in the $49/month plan. If you need truly unlimited raw FMCSA passthrough at a flat price, SaferWebAPI's model may fit you better — we'd rather tell you that than have you find out later.
Yes — FMCSA offers its own QCMobile API with a free developer webkey, and the official SAFER website is free to use. Third-party services like VerifyCarrier and SaferWebAPI exist because the official interfaces can be harder to integrate; VerifyCarrier adds a normalized JSON shape, risk scoring, and web tools on top of the same public data.
Yes. Watch 50 carriers for $49/month. The API is included. We email you when FMCSA posts a filing, with the date it takes effect.
100 free API calls every month. No credit card. Upgrade only if you outgrow it.
Need one record rather than an API? Look up a carrier's SAFER record for free.