Check a carrier's cargo classification (commodities carried) via the FMCSA QCMobile API
domain: mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Steps
Obtain a WebKey following the FMCSA Developer Quick Start Guide (Login.gov account, then 'My WebKeys').
Call GET https://mobile.fmcsa.dot.gov/qc/services/carriers/{dotNumber}/cargo-carried?webKey=YOUR_WEB_KEY.
Confirm 'household goods' appears among the listed cargo classifications before treating the carrier as authorized for HHG moves specifically (versus general freight).
Pair this with the /operation-classification endpoint (same base path) to see whether the carrier operates as interstate, intrastate hazmat, or private/exempt.
Store the raw JSON response alongside the DOT number for audit purposes if this check feeds a vendor-approval workflow.
Known gotchas
A carrier can be DOT-registered for freight generally without household goods being listed in its cargo classification — don't assume HHG authority from registration alone.
Cargo-carried data is self-reported by the carrier on its MCS-150 update and may lag real operations by months.
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