Scout+
The Authority & Compliance section of the Overview tab tells you whether the carrier is currently authorized to operate, how they're rated by FMCSA, and whether their paperwork is current. Compliance issues are not red flags — they're often the best outreach signals.
Operating Authority Status #
Default lists are filtered to active
Lead Scout's default search excludes Inactive, Not Authorized, and Out-of-Service carriers. You can include them with the All Statuses filter when needed.
Safety Rating #
S — Satisfactory
Passed a compliance review. Established, well-run carrier.
C — Conditional
Has compliance issues but can still operate. Strong outreach signal.
U — Unsatisfactory
Failed review. Often paired with Out-of-Service status — check before reaching out.
Unrated carriers are opportunities
Most active carriers have no rating at all — FMCSA simply hasn't reviewed them yet. Treat unrated carriers the same as Satisfactory for outreach purposes.
MCS-150 Filing & Freshness #
- Recent (under 2 years) — up-to-date and active
- Stale (over 700 days) — overdue for biennial filing. DOT Lead Scout flags these as a compliance opportunity
- Very old (3+ years) — the carrier may be inactive or may need help getting compliant
Stale MCS-150 = perfect outreach pitch
Carriers overdue on their MCS-150 are at risk of having their authority revoked. Reach out with a friendly "hey, your filing is stale — we can help with the physicals you'll need to stay compliant" angle.
Authority Date & New Entrant Flag #
Why new entrants matter
Brand-new carriers are still building their compliance program. They almost always need a DOT-physical partner and are far less likely to already have a long-term relationship with another clinic. New entrants score +10 on the opportunity model.
