--- title: Creating Your First Lead List description: "Table of contents - [What is a lead list?](#0-toc-title) - [How to create a list](#1-toc-title) - [Choosing the right radius](#2-toc-title) - [Daily update notifications](#3-toc-title) - [What happens after you click Create](#4-toc-title) - [Tips for a great first list](#5-toc-title) This guide…" url: "https://dotleadscout.com/docs/creating-your-first-lead-list/" updated: "2026-04-28" category: Finding Leads (Lead Scout) --- # Creating Your First Lead List Table of contents - [What is a lead list?](#0-toc-title) - [How to create a list](#1-toc-title) - [Choosing the right radius](#2-toc-title) - [Daily update notifications](#3-toc-title) - [What happens after you click Create](#4-toc-title) - [Tips for a great first list](#5-toc-title) This guide walks through creating your first **lead list** in DOT Lead Scout — from picking a ZIP code and radius, to enabling daily notifications, to making sense of what happens after you click Create. Most users finish in under a minute. ## What is a lead list? A **lead list** is a saved collection of motor carriers within a defined geographic area. Each list is anchored by a ZIP code and a radius, and it pulls every active and inactive motor carrier from the FMCSA database that falls inside that radius. Once a list is created, it stays in your account, refreshes automatically with new FMCSA data, and serves as the foundation for everything else in DOT Lead Scout — from the lead detail view, to the map, to your CRM pipeline. ##### Each list is a territory snapshot You can think of a list as a saved search. Most users create one list for the area immediately around their clinic, then add additional lists if they expand to other markets. ## How to create a list Creating a list takes about 30 seconds. Here is the full flow: ##### Open the Lead Scout tab From the portal sidebar, click **Lead Scout**. This is where every list you create lives. ##### Enter a ZIP code Type any 5-digit US ZIP code into the search box. This is the center point of your search — usually your clinic's ZIP, but it can be any ZIP you serve. ##### Select your search radius Pick the distance you want to search out from that ZIP. Available radii depend on your plan (see the radius section below). ##### Click "Find DOT Leads" The system runs a live query against the FMCSA database, geocodes your ZIP, and pulls every carrier within range. Most lists generate in 5–15 seconds. ##### Name your list (optional) By default, your list is named after the ZIP code and radius (for example, "97201 — 15mi"). You can rename it any time by clicking the pencil icon next to the list name. ## Choosing the right radius Your search radius determines how far from the ZIP center the system will look. Each plan unlocks a different maximum range: #### Trial **15 miles** Testing the platform with a focused, walkable territory. #### Scout **15 miles** Solo clinics with a tight neighborhood reach. #### Engage **50 miles** Practices serving a regional market and using drop-in visits. ##### Start small, then expand For your first list, pick a radius you can realistically work in 30 to 60 days. A 10-mile list with 200 carriers is far more useful than a 100-mile list with 4,000 carriers you will never call. For a deeper breakdown of radius behavior and locked options, see [Understanding Search Radius Limits](/docs/finding-leads/search-radius-limits). ## Daily update notifications When you create a list, you can turn on **Daily Updates** using the bell icon. With updates enabled, you will get an email any day a new motor carrier registers with FMCSA inside your list's radius. #### New Lead Alerts Email the moment a brand new carrier shows up in your territory. #### Auto Refresh Lists pull updated FMCSA data daily — new carriers, status changes, and fleet updates. #### Toggle Anytime Click the bell icon next to the list name to turn notifications on or off. ##### New entrants are the best leads Brand new carriers often have not chosen a DOT physical provider yet. Daily notifications get you in front of them before competitors find them. ## What happens after you click Create When you click **Find DOT Leads**, several things happen behind the scenes: - **The ZIP gets geocoded.** Your ZIP code is converted to a precise latitude/longitude pair using Google Maps. - **The database is queried.** Every motor carrier with a known location inside the radius is matched into your list. - **Quality scores are calculated.** Each lead gets a 0–100 opportunity score based on fleet size, distance, contact info, safety rating, and more. - **Badges are assigned.** Hot, High Value, New Entrant, HAZMAT, and other badges are applied automatically. - **You are redirected to your list.** The new list opens immediately with all carriers ready to view. You will also receive a confirmation email summarizing how many leads were found, with a quick link back to the list. ## Tips for a great first list ##### Use your clinic's ZIP Search radii are calculated as straight-line distance from the center ZIP. Putting your clinic at the center gives the most accurate distance numbers for every lead. ##### Add your clinic address first If you have not yet saved your clinic in the Profile tab, do that before creating your first list. It unlocks distance-from-clinic calculations and the map view's territory rings. ##### Create multiple lists for different strategies You can build separate lists for different markets, different radii, or different focus areas. For example: "Local 5mi Walk-In", "Regional 25mi Mailers", and "Hot Leads 50mi".