From 2f635227aa3c17e8d5624949367586b09036955d Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: justin <justin@liquidator.optimal-reality.com>
Date: Sat, 30 May 2026 23:07:52 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] improve name-check: match base name without entity suffix
 (LLC/Inc/Corp), flag close matches

---
 api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts | 15 +++++++++++++--
 1 file changed, 13 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts b/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
index e1797d3..d72b941 100644
--- a/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
+++ b/api/src/routes/dot-lookup.ts
@@ -721,12 +721,21 @@ router.post("/api/v1/dot/name-check", async (req, res) => {
     // Parse FMCSA result
     let fmcsaMatches: Record<string, unknown>[] = [];
     let fmcsaExactMatch = false;
+    let fmcsaCloseMatch = false;
     if (fmcsaResult.status === "fulfilled") {
       fmcsaMatches = fmcsaResult.value.rows || [];
+      const searchUpper = name.toUpperCase().replace(/\s+(LLC|INC|CORP|CORPORATION|LTD|LP|LLP|CO|COMPANY)\.?$/i, "").trim();
       fmcsaExactMatch = fmcsaMatches.some(
         (r: Record<string, unknown>) =>
           (r.legal_name as string || "").toUpperCase() === name.toUpperCase(),
       );
+      // Also check if the base name (without entity suffix) matches
+      if (!fmcsaExactMatch) {
+        fmcsaCloseMatch = fmcsaMatches.some((r: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+          const legalUpper = (r.legal_name as string || "").toUpperCase().replace(/\s+(LLC|INC|CORP|CORPORATION|LTD|LP|LLP|CO|COMPANY)\.?$/i, "").trim();
+          return legalUpper === searchUpper;
+        });
+      }
     }
 
     res.json({
@@ -738,16 +747,18 @@ router.post("/api/v1/dot/name-check", async (req, res) => {
         entity_number: sosEntity.entity_number,
         entity_type: sosEntity.entity_type,
       } : null,
-      fmcsa_in_use: fmcsaExactMatch,
+      fmcsa_in_use: fmcsaExactMatch || fmcsaCloseMatch,
       fmcsa_matches: fmcsaMatches.slice(0, 10).map((r: Record<string, unknown>) => ({
         dot_number: r.dot_number,
         legal_name: r.legal_name,
         dba_name: r.dba_name,
         state: r.phy_state,
       })),
-      available: sosAvailable !== false && !fmcsaExactMatch,
+      available: sosAvailable !== false && !fmcsaExactMatch && !fmcsaCloseMatch,
       message: fmcsaExactMatch
         ? `"${name}" is already registered with FMCSA (DOT# ${(fmcsaMatches.find((r: Record<string, unknown>) => (r.legal_name as string || "").toUpperCase() === name.toUpperCase()) as Record<string, unknown>)?.dot_number}). Choose a different name or use your existing entity.`
+        : fmcsaCloseMatch
+        ? `A similar name is already registered with FMCSA: "${(fmcsaMatches[0] as Record<string, unknown>)?.legal_name}" (DOT# ${(fmcsaMatches[0] as Record<string, unknown>)?.dot_number}). This may cause confusion — consider a more distinct name.`
         : sosAvailable === false
         ? `"${name}" is already registered in ${stateCode}. The name may still be usable if it's your entity.`
         : sosAvailable === true