Carrier setup and vetting — a high-level look

Shippers hear "vetted carrier network" and wonder what that actually means. Here is a high-level look at what responsible brokers do before a carrier touches your freight — without pretending the process is magic.

Authority and insurance checks

Before a carrier hauls for us, we verify:

• Active FMCSA authority (carrier MC or USDOT)
• Insurance on file — auto liability and cargo at minimum
• Broker authority status if they are brokering downstream (we avoid unauthorized re-brokering)

If authority is inactive or insurance lapses, the carrier does not load.

Safety and compliance snapshot

FMCSA publishes safety data — crashes, inspections, out-of-service rates. We review carrier profiles for patterns that suggest risk. One inspection is not a disqualifier. A trend of violations might be.

This is not a guarantee of perfect service. It is a filter.

Identity and fraud prevention

Freight theft and double brokering start with impersonation. We confirm the carrier booking the load is the carrier showing up. That means matching MC numbers, contact info, and equipment details to what is on file.

If something does not line up, we stop and investigate. Better a late truck than a stolen load.

Experience on the freight type

A dry van generalist is not always the right fit for steel coil or produce. We match equipment and experience to the commodity and lane. Building materials, metals, food — each has quirks.

What vetting does not do

No broker can promise zero claims or zero delays. Roads close. Equipment breaks. Receivers miss appointments. Vetting reduces preventable risk. It does not eliminate transit reality.

For shippers

You should vet your broker too. Check our MC and USDOT. Ask how exceptions get handled. See if someone picks up the phone.

Want to work with a broker that checks carriers before they check in at your dock? Get in touch.