The VTR Score is a single 0-100 number that lets you compare companies at a glance. It is calculated automatically from data we can actually verify, public FMCSA compliance records plus our own moderated customer reviews. It is never negotiated, and a company cannot pay to raise it.
What goes into the score
The company holds active operating authority (MC/USDOT) with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it can legally arrange or haul vehicles.
Required insurance is recorded with FMCSA. Full marks for on-file, partial where status is genuinely unknown, none where it is missing.
The average star rating from moderated reviews left by signed-in customers, scaled to the weight below.
How long the operation has existed, using the FMCSA add date, capped at 10 years so age alone cannot dominate the score.
How many reviews back the rating, capped so a handful of reviews cannot outweigh compliance, more reviews means a more reliable signal.
A small bonus when Carrier Check finds no serious outstanding warning signs.
What the bands mean
Frequently asked
Can a company pay to raise its score?
No. The score is computed from FMCSA records and moderated reviews only. Sponsored placement, when it exists, is always labelled and never touches the score or ranking.
Why does a company show no score?
When we have neither compliance data nor any reviews for a company, we show no score rather than invent one. As data or reviews arrive, a score appears.
How often is it recalculated?
Automatically, whenever a company's data is synced from FMCSA or a new moderated review is published. You are always seeing a current figure.
Should I book on the score alone?
Treat it as a fast first filter, not the final word. Read recent reviews, run Carrier Check, get written quotes, and confirm current status on the official FMCSA SAFER system before you pay.