---
title: Operating Authority Status Codes
description: "Table of contents - [The Five Status Codes](#0-toc-title) - [Where Status Shows Up](#1-toc-title) - [What Each Status Means for Outreach](#2-toc-title) - [The Reactivated Change Signal](#3-toc-title) - [Status Code vs. Safety Rating](#4-toc-title) All Plans Every carrier in FMCSA's registry has an…"
url: "https://dotleadscout.com/docs/operating-authority-status-codes/"
updated: "2026-04-29"
category: Understanding the Data
---

# Operating Authority Status Codes

Table of contents

- [The Five Status Codes](#0-toc-title)
- [Where Status Shows Up](#1-toc-title)
- [What Each Status Means for Outreach](#2-toc-title)
- [The Reactivated Change Signal](#3-toc-title)
- [Status Code vs. Safety Rating](#4-toc-title)

All Plans

Every carrier in FMCSA's registry has an **operating authority status**: a single letter that tells you whether they're cleared to haul. DOT Lead Scout shows this status as a colored badge throughout the platform, and you can filter your pipeline by it. This article covers all five codes and how to think about each one for outreach.

## The Five Status Codes

   FMCSA assigns each carrier exactly one status code. The five you'll see in your pipeline:

| Code | Label | Color in DOT Lead Scout | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **A** | Active | Green | Authority is active and current. The default state for a working carrier. |
| **C** | Conditional | Blue | Authority is active but with conditions — usually after a partial compliance issue. |
| **I** | Inactive | Red | Authority lapsed, typically due to missing biennial filings or insurance. |
| **N** | Not Authorized | Orange | Carrier is in the system but lacks active operating authority. Often a new entrant pre-approval. |
| **O** | Out of Service | Gray | FMCSA has issued an out-of-service order — the carrier cannot legally operate. |

## Where Status Shows Up

- **Lead lists** — the "Status" column shows a colored badge with the full label
- **Lead detail panel** — status badge appears in the header next to the carrier name
- **Pipeline filters** — you can filter leads to one or more status codes
- **Map View** — markers for non-active carriers display in dimmed colors
- **Daily digest emails** — status badges appear next to each lead summary

## What Each Status Means for Outreach

### A — Active

   **Your primary target.** Active carriers are running drivers, those drivers need physicals, and the carrier has both the authority and the budget to be using a clinic right now. By default, lead lists in DOT Lead Scout filter to `A` only.

### C — Conditional

   **Strong outreach moment.** Conditional means FMCSA found compliance issues. The carrier has 60 days to fix them or get downgraded. They're actively looking for ways to get back to clean status — a thorough exam from a quality clinic is exactly what they need.

### I — Inactive

   **Two-faced.** Most inactive carriers are dead — they shut down and the registration lapsed. But some go inactive for paperwork reasons (missed an MCS-150 deadline) and reactivate within weeks. The **Reactivated** change signal flags carriers that flip from `I` or `N` back to `A` — those are gold.

### N — Not Authorized

   **New-entrant signal.** A USDOT number was issued but operating authority hasn't been granted yet. Often this is a brand-new carrier in the application phase — they'll need physicals as soon as they start hiring drivers. Worth being on their radar early.

### O — Out of Service

   **Skip them, generally.** An out-of-service order is serious — FMCSA has shut them down. They may eventually return to service, but in the meantime they can't legally hire drivers, which means no exams. Don't waste outreach time here.

## The Reactivated Change Signal

   When a carrier's status changes from `I` or `N` back to `A`, DOT Lead Scout flags them with a **Reactivated** change signal. These are some of the highest-converting leads in the system for one reason: they just went through the paperwork hassle of getting back into operation, which means they're definitely about to start running drivers again.

##### Engage+ users see this signal in the dashboard

On Engage+, the Reactivated badge appears on the lead row and on the dashboard's change signals widget. See **6.4 Change Signals** for how to use these.

## Status Code vs. Safety Rating

##### Two different things

**Status Code** = whether they're cleared to operate (regulatory state).
**Safety Rating** = how well they passed their last compliance audit (performance grade).
A carrier can be Active *and* Conditional-rated. They can also be Inactive with a Satisfactory rating from years ago. See **9.3 Safety Ratings Explained** for the full picture.