The Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulate the Interstate Transportation of all companies. To transport horses across state lines for hire the Company must be licensed by the DOT and have a DOT number displayed on the vehicle, and if they are transporting Show or Race Horses they must also have a Motor Carrier Number MC on the vehicle.

Companies not properly licensed when stopped will be placed out of service until they obtain proper authority. During this time they cannot move their vehicle and it could tak in excess of 7 days the obtain if all of their documents and insurance are in compliance. During this time you would have to have your horses picked up by a licensed transporter or have them taken to a local barn for board until your transporter is authorized.

In addition should you contract an unlicensed transporter and they have an accident, their insurance should cover any damages but if they are not insured to a proper amount you as the shipper could be liable for any damages since you contracted them to cross state lines . Additionally any broker for transport like those on the internet are also regulated by MC numbers and if they are not licensed they too are liable.

Companies providing for transportation broker services, ie: taking your request and forwarding it to a transporter listed on their site, must be licensed and must verify that any transporter contracted is fully licensed and insured. Most of the web sites do not have the MC authority and therefore cannot legally provide the service.

You as an individual may also check out any company by going to www.safersys.org and select company profile. Once you do this a screen will appear where you can enter a DOT or MC number or the Name of the company. If licensed a profile will appear which will identify their authority, cargo authority, MC and DOT numbers. If you cannot find the licenses they are not licensed.

It should be understood that Florida and Alabama require Livestock Hauler permits in addition to DOT/MC to transport within those states. If no permit the transporter is not licensed.