diff --git a/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts b/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
index 6d042ff..c7f3271 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
@@ -98,12 +98,16 @@ router.get("/api/v1/dot/lookup", async (req, res) => {
         C: "Cancelled",
       };
       const statusLabel = statusLabels[statusCode] || statusCode;
+      const isInactive = statusCode === "I" || statusCode === "S" || statusCode === "C";
+      const effectiveStatus = allowed && !isInactive ? "green" : isInactive && allowed ? "yellow" : "red";
       checks.push({
         id: "operating_status",
         label: "Operating Status",
-        status: allowed ? "green" : "red",
-        detail: allowed
-          ? `Authorized to operate (${statusLabel}).`
+        status: effectiveStatus,
+        detail: effectiveStatus === "green"
+          ? `Active and authorized to operate.`
+          : effectiveStatus === "yellow"
+          ? `USDOT status is ${statusLabel}, but FMCSA still shows as authorized. This may indicate your registration needs to be updated or reactivated. Contact FMCSA at (800) 832-5660 if this is incorrect.`
           : `NOT authorized to operate — ${statusLabel}. ${
               statusCode === "I" ? "This USDOT number is inactive. You may need to reactivate it before operating."
               : statusCode === "N" ? "This carrier is not authorized. Operating authority may be required."