Got a “U.S. DOT Clearinghouse Mandate” letter? It’s a scam.

Right after you get your authority, your public FMCSA record makes you a target. A common one: a crisp letter with a government-style banner, your real USDOT number, a “U.S. DOT Clearinghouse Mandate,” a $5,000-per-driver threat, and a hotline urging you to “call now to comply.”

It’s not from the government. The requirements it describes are real, but the letter, the payment demand, and the “processing center” are not. Quick tells:

• The website ends in .us or .com — the real Clearinghouse is clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov (a .gov).
• It asks for money to “comply” — registering is free.
• It cites “49 FCR 382” — the real rule is 49 CFR Part 382.
• It routes you through a private “processor” and pressures you to call fast.

The key protection: only you — or the consortium (C/TPA) you’ve officially designated inside your own Clearinghouse account — can access or query it. A company that mailed you a letter can’t. If someone says they’ll “handle it” after one phone call, ask how they’d even get into your account. They can’t, unless you hand them the keys.

What to do: don’t call the number, don’t scan the QR code, don’t pay. Verify at clearinghouse.fmcsa.dot.gov or ask your C/TPA. If you’re enrolled in a consortium, your Clearinghouse queries are already handled — you’re covered.