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.
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".
