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data.transportation.gov

query-safer-data

Installation

Adds this website's skill for your agents

 

Summary

Extract the FMCSA SAFER (Safety and Fitness Electronic Records) Company Snapshot for a motor carrier by USDOT number, MC/MX number, or name — returning identity, operating authority, fleet size, inspection/out-of-service summary, crash totals, and safety rating. Read-only.

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SKILL.md
185 lines

Query and Extract SAFER Data

Purpose

Extract a motor carrier's SAFER Company Snapshot — the FMCSA Safety and Fitness Electronic Records summary — given a USDOT number, MC/MX docket number, or company name. Returns carrier identity (legal/DBA name, address, phone, DUNS), USDOT status, operating-authority status, MC/MX numbers, fleet size (power units, drivers), MCS-150 update date/mileage, operation classification & cargo carried, a 24-month US/Canada roadside inspection + out-of-service summary, 24-month crash totals (fatal/injury/tow), and the carrier's safety rating. Read-only — it only queries and reads; it never submits MCS-150 updates, orders fee-based Company Safety Profiles, or files DataQs challenges.

Important honesty note: data.transportation.gov is the requested anchor domain, but it does not host the SAFER data as a dataset. Every SAFER entry in its Socrata catalog is an external-link ("href") landing page that points at the live FMCSA SAFER system on safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. The actual query and extraction happen there.

When to Use

  • Look up a single carrier's safety/identity record by USDOT#, MC/MX#, or name (broker/shipper carrier vetting, freight onboarding, compliance checks).
  • Pull the out-of-service inspection summary and crash counts for a carrier.
  • Confirm a carrier's USDOT operating status (ACTIVE / INACTIVE / OUT-OF-SERVICE) and operating authority.
  • Resolve a carrier name to its USDOT number when only the name is known.
  • Anywhere you'd otherwise scrape the SAFER web UI — a single HTTP GET returns the full snapshot as static HTML.

Workflow

The optimal path is a single JS-less HTTP GET against safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp. The Company Snapshot page is fully server-rendered static HTML — all data lives in HTML tables, so no browser, JavaScript execution, cookies, session state, or anti-bot stealth is required (verified: a bare browse cloud fetch with no --proxies/--verified returns the complete record; the "This page requires scripting to be enabled" banner is just a fallback message and does not gate the data). A residential proxy is not required.

  1. (Optional) Discover the SAFER entry points from data.transportation.gov. The Socrata catalog API lists them:

    GET https://data.transportation.gov/api/catalog/v1?q=SAFER&domains=data.transportation.gov&search_context=data.transportation.gov&limit=40

    Each results[].resource has type: "href" and backend: "not_a_dataset"; the external target is in the view metadata (GET https://data.transportation.gov/api/views/<id>.json → metadata.accessPoints["text/html"]). Known targets:

    • 4kcp-cfmm → https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx (Company Snapshot — the main data surface)
    • ktzy-94pf / xean-25kh → https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/ (SAFER front page)
    • rj9z-7m2d → https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/CSP_Order.asp (fee-based Company Safety Profile order)
    • 7tvk-w6cf → https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/...prc_oos_search (Out-of-Service order search)
    • cvr3-j8yp / ycdf-ukwt → Cargo Tank Facility records

    You can skip this step entirely and go straight to step 2 — the query endpoint below is stable.

  2. Query the Company Snapshot. Pick the search mode that matches your input:

    • By USDOT number (deterministic, preferred — one carrier, direct result): 
      GET https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=<USDOT#>
    • By MC/MX docket number (resolves to the carrier's USDOT snapshot — pass the numeric part only, no "MC-" prefix): 
      GET https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=MC_MX&query_string=<docket#>
    • By name (returns a multi-result list — see step 3): 
      GET https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=NAME&query_string=<name>

  3. Handle the NAME-search redirect. A NAME query returns 302 → keywordx.asp?searchstring=*<NAME>*&SEARCHTYPE= (note the wildcard * wrapping). Fetch that URL; it returns a "Select Company" page listing candidate carriers. Each candidate is an <a href="query.asp?...&query_param=USDOT&query_string=<USDOT#>...">CARRIER/DBA NAME</a> row paired with a LOCATION cell (City, ST). Pick the intended carrier (disambiguate by location) and follow its query.asp USDOT link to land on the snapshot. If you can't disambiguate, return the candidate list rather than guessing.

  4. Detect "not found". A USDOT/MC query for a non-existent record returns HTTP 200 with a short page containing "RECORD NOT FOUND" / "No records matching ... were found in the SAFER database." Branch to the not-found output shape.

  5. Parse the snapshot tables. From the returned HTML extract the fields below. Reliable text anchors (label cells end in :):

    • USDOT INFORMATION: Entity Type:, USDOT Status:, Out of Service Date:, USDOT Number:, MCS-150 Form Date:, MCS-150 Mileage (Year):
    • OPERATING AUTHORITY: Operating Authority Status:, MC/MX/FF Number(s):
    • COMPANY INFORMATION: Legal Name:, DBA Name:, Physical Address:, Phone:, Mailing Address:, DUNS Number:, Power Units:, Drivers:
    • Operation Classification / Carrier Operation / Cargo Carried: each checkbox row marked X indicates a selected category.
    • Inspections (US, 24 months): a table with rows Inspections, Out of Service, Out of Service %, Nat'l Average % across columns Vehicle | Driver | Hazmat | IEP, plus Total Inspections: and Total IEP Inspections:.
    • Crashes (US, 24 months): row Crashes: across columns Fatal | Injury | Tow | Total.
    • Canada Inspections/Crashes: same shape under the Canada section (often all zeros for US-only carriers).
    • Safety Rating: Rating, Rating Date, Review Date (e.g. "Satisfactory", "08/03/1999", "02/17/2026"). Many carriers show no rating ("None"/"Not Rated").
    • The page also states the data currency: "The information below reflects the content of the FMCSA management information systems as of MM/DD/YYYY."

Browser fallback

If the HTTP path is ever blocked or the HTML layout changes, drive a browser to the same query.asp URL — no stealth needed:

sid=$(browse cloud sessions create --keep-alive | node -e "let s='';process.stdin.on('data',c=>s+=c).on('end',()=>process.stdout.write(JSON.parse(s).id))")
browse open "https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/query.asp?searchtype=ANY&query_type=queryCarrierSnapshot&query_param=USDOT&query_string=21800" --remote --session "$sid"
browse wait load --remote --session "$sid"
browse snapshot --remote --session "$sid"      # ~745 a11y refs; same data as the raw HTML
browse cloud sessions update "$sid" --status REQUEST_RELEASE

This costs ~$0.09 / 4 turns and returns identical values — use it only as a fallback; the GET is strictly cheaper.

Site-Specific Gotchas

  • data.transportation.gov hosts NO SAFER dataset. Every SAFER catalog entry is type: "href" / backend: "not_a_dataset" — an external link to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Do not try GET https://data.transportation.gov/resource/<id>.json (SODA) for SAFER data; there is none. The Socrata catalog API is only useful to discover the external link targets.
  • The "requires scripting" banner is a red herring. Despite the page printing "This page requires scripting to be enabled," the actual Company Snapshot tables are server-rendered static HTML present in the raw response. A JS-less browse cloud fetch returns the full record. Don't reach for a JS-rendering browser unless the raw fetch fails.
  • No anti-bot, no proxy, no auth. Verified against the host pre-run probe (none detected) and direct fetches: plain GETs succeed with no cookies, stealth, or residential proxy. Keep verified: false / proxies: false.
  • NAME search 302-redirects with wildcard wrapping. query_param=NAME redirects to keywordx.asp?searchstring=*<NAME>*&SEARCHTYPE= — the *…* wildcard is added automatically. The result is a list (often hundreds of rows for common surnames), not a single snapshot. Always disambiguate by the LOCATION (City, ST) column before following a row's USDOT link.
  • MC/MX queries take the numeric docket only. Pass query_string=115495, not MC-115495. The snapshot resolves to and displays the carrier's USDOT number.
  • "Record Not Found" is HTTP 200, not 404. Detect the literal "RECORD NOT FOUND" / "No records matching" text; don't rely on status code.
  • http:// vs https://. The catalog stores the legacy http://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/... scheme; the site serves fine over https:// — prefer https.
  • Data currency lags. SAFER reflects the monthly MIS snapshot; the page states its "as of" date. Inspection/crash counts are rolling 24-month windows. National-average OOS rates carry their own "as of" date (e.g. 05/15/2026).
  • Total ≠ sum of parts. The page explicitly warns total inspections may be less than vehicle+driver+hazmat (an inspection can span multiple types). Don't recompute totals from the columns.
  • Fee/auth-walled surfaces (do not attempt for free extraction): the Company Safety Profile (CSP_Order.asp) is a paid order, and Licensing & Insurance details are often shown as "Currently Unavailable" on the snapshot. SMS (Safety Measurement System) results live on a separate FMCSA site (csa.fmcsa.dot.gov), not in the snapshot.

Expected Output

Carrier found (USDOT/MC query, or a resolved NAME pick):

{
  "success": true,
  "query": { "param": "USDOT", "value": "21800" },
  "data_as_of": "06/07/2026",
  "usdot_number": "21800",
  "legal_name": "UNITED PARCEL SERVICE INC",
  "dba_name": "UPS",
  "entity_type": "CARRIER",
  "usdot_status": "ACTIVE",
  "out_of_service_date": null,
  "operating_authority_status": "AUTHORIZED FOR Property",
  "mc_mx_numbers": ["MC-115495", "MC-116200"],
  "physical_address": "55 GLENLAKE PARKWAY NE, ATLANTA, GA 30328",
  "phone": "(404) 828-2525",
  "duns_number": "17-568-9926",
  "power_units": 112321,
  "drivers": 128806,
  "mcs_150_form_date": "02/16/2026",
  "mcs_150_mileage": "3,221,711,602 (2025)",
  "us_inspections": {
    "total": 18882,
    "vehicle": { "inspections": 11814, "out_of_service": 1461, "oos_pct": 12.4 },
    "driver":  { "inspections": 18595, "out_of_service": 163,  "oos_pct": 0.9 },
    "hazmat":  { "inspections": 258,   "out_of_service": 4,    "oos_pct": 1.6 }
  },
  "us_crashes": { "fatal": 47, "injury": 802, "tow": 1413, "total": 2262 },
  "canada_inspections": { "total": 5, "vehicle_oos": 0, "driver_oos": 0 },
  "canada_crashes": { "fatal": 0, "injury": 0, "tow": 0, "total": 0 },
  "safety_rating": "Satisfactory",
  "safety_rating_date": "08/03/1999",
  "safety_review_date": "02/17/2026",
  "error_reasoning": null
}

Record not found:

{
  "success": false,
  "query": { "param": "USDOT", "value": "999999999" },
  "error_reasoning": "RECORD NOT FOUND — No records matching USDOT Number = 999999999 were found in the SAFER database."
}

Ambiguous NAME search (multiple candidates — return the list, do not guess):

{
  "success": false,
  "query": { "param": "NAME", "value": "SCHNEIDER" },
  "error_reasoning": "ambiguous_name",
  "candidates": [
    { "name": "AL J SCHNEIDER COMPANY", "location": "MILWAUKEE, WI", "usdot_number": "123907" },
    { "name": "A- SCHNEIDER CONSTRUCTION LLC", "location": "CADOTT, WI", "usdot_number": "1261876" }
  ]
}
Query and Extract SAFER Data · browse.sh