Public API · v1 · FMCSA + NHTSA

Carrier Intelligence API

Every insight on a Vektor carrier profile — load verdict, safety, authority, insurance continuity, equipment, operating footprint, fraud-network signals, and decoded VIN history — in one authenticated JSON call over the live federal record.

Authentication

Every request needs an API key

Send your key as a bearer token or an X-API-Key header. Keys are issued per owner with a request-rate tier. Keys are currently issued by our team — contact us and we'll set you up.

curl -s "http://vektortms.com/api/v1/carriers/2295799" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $VEKTOR_API_KEY"

Endpoints

Interactive reference › · base http://vektortms.com · discovery at /api/v1 · OpenAPI

Method	Path	Description
GET	/api/v1/carriers	Look up by name or USDOT (q) + facets. Each row returns the verdict tier, score, and headline so you can pick a carrier, then fetch /{dot} for the full evaluation.
GET	/api/v1/carriers/{dot}	Full carrier evaluation by USDOT — a flat `summary` (name, units, full address, phone, email, website, icon, status, authority age, OOS rate vs national, and the Vektor score with plain-English reasons) plus the complete nested bundle.
GET	/api/v1/carriers/{dot}/record	Partner key: public profile, recent inspections by report state, VIN and plate units, OOS orders, authority, insurance history, and carrier network links.
POST	/api/v1/exports/carriers	Partner key: queue a CSV or JSON Lines export of up to 500 USDOTs.
GET	/api/v1/exports/{id}	Partner key: check status and receive a short-lived signed download URL.
GET	/api/v1/units/{vin}	Decoded VIN identity + cross-carrier inspection & plate history.
GET	/api/v1/insurers/{slug}	Insurer book — coverage mix, typical insured-carrier size, sample carriers.

For agencies and enterprise analysts

A partner key unlocks one composed carrier record with public profile fields, recent FMCSA inspections (report state, up to 50 over 24 months), observed units with VIN and plate, OOS orders, authority, insurance filings and carrier network links. Each section has its source and as-of date. For inspections, as_of is the date of the most recent inspection in the 24-month window, null when none.

For a watchlist, POST up to 500 USDOT strings and a csv or jsonl format to /api/v1/exports/carriers. The response is 202 with a job id. Poll /api/v1/exports/{id}using the same key; a completed job returns missing_dots and a signed download URL with expires_at. processed_count and total_count show progress while the job runs. Duplicate DOTs are collapsed. CSV has dot_number and profile columns (null or missing values are empty cells; non-scalar values are JSON strings), then one <section>_json column per other selected section. Each JSON cell contains the full section object. The object and URL expire 300 seconds after job completion, even if not downloaded; the worker deletes expired objects on its next start. Polling cannot extend this deadline. To request a partner key, contact us.

Data use: public FMCSA-derived carrier data only. No personal data or registration lookups in this offer.

Response envelope

Success returns { data, meta }; errors return { error: { code, message } }.

{
  "data": { /* the resource */ },
  "meta": { "source": "FMCSA (MCMIS / L&I) + NHTSA vPIC …", "as_of": "2026-06-23" }
}

Access & caching

Each key enforces a per-second rate limit and a monthly request quota — both set when your key is issued.
Responses cache per-client for up to an hour (Cache-Control: private, max-age=3600) — no shared/CDN caching, so quota is always metered.
Data is the live FMCSA/NHTSA record, refreshed daily. meta.as_of dates each payload.

Decision support — not an FMCSA safety rating. Sources: FMCSA SAFER · L&I · NHTSA vPIC.