Purchasing an RV is a major investment. Whether you’re moving a newly purchased fifth wheel across the country or relocating your travel trailer to a seasonal campsite, choosing the right transporter matters.
Unfortunately, not everyone advertising RV transport services is operating legally or carrying the proper insurance. Before handing over your keys and trusting someone with your RV, there are a few simple steps every owner should take.
Step 1
Ask for Their USDOT Number
Any company operating commercially in interstate transportation is required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and carry a USDOT number.
A legitimate transporter will gladly provide this information. If a carrier refuses or becomes evasive when asked, treat it as a significant red flag. You can verify any USDOT number for free using our carrier lookup tool at missionreadyrv.com/verify.
Step 2
Verify Their Operating Authority
Having a truck and trailer is not the same as having legal authority to transport property for hire.
In addition to a USDOT number, a for-hire transporter operating across state lines must hold active Motor Carrier (MC) authority with the FMCSA. This authority can lapse, be revoked, or simply never have been obtained. Always confirm the carrier’s operating status is active before booking.
Step 3
Confirm Insurance Coverage
Ask for proof of insurance — both liability and cargo coverage.
A professional transporter should carry commercial liability insurance and cargo insurance sufficient to cover the value of your RV. Do not assume that a driver’s personal auto policy covers commercial transportation activities — it almost certainly does not.
Ask the carrier to provide a Certificate of Insurance (COI), and request that their broker list you as a certificate holder at no charge. This ensures you will be notified if the policy is cancelled or lapses before your transport is complete.
Step 4
Be Cautious of Prices That Seem Too Good To Be True
Every RV owner wants a fair price, but extremely low quotes often indicate that something is being skipped — usually insurance, compliance costs, or proper equipment.
Professional transportation involves fuel, commercial insurance premiums, FMCSA compliance costs, maintenance, permits, and other legitimate expenses. If one quote is dramatically lower than every other quote you receive, take the time to understand why before committing.
Step 5
Check Their Safety and Compliance History
The FMCSA maintains public records that allow anyone to verify a transportation company before hiring them. These records include:
- Company identity and operating status
- USDOT and MC numbers
- Insurance filings
- Vehicle inspection history
- Crash history
- CSA safety scores
Watch for These Red Flags
Consider proceeding with caution if a transporter:
- Refuses to provide a USDOT number
- Cannot provide proof of insurance or a COI
- Requests unusually large upfront payments
- Communicates only through social media or text message
- Cannot provide references or verifiable reviews
- Has company information that does not match government records
Verify Before You Hire
At Mission Ready Transport, we believe every RV owner should verify any transporter before making a decision — including us. We hold active USDOT authority (4552953), active MC authority (MC 1808432), and carry full commercial cargo and liability insurance on every haul. We provide a Certificate of Insurance on request.
To make verification easy, we built a free carrier lookup tool that pulls live data directly from the FMCSA. Enter any transporter’s DOT number and instantly see their operating status, insurance on file, crash history, and safety scores.
A few minutes spent verifying a transporter can protect one of your largest investments and give you real peace of mind before your RV begins its journey.
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