Carrier vetting checklist for new brokers
Use this before the first load with any carrier, and re-check carriers you use often. It does not replace your own legal and insurance advice.
Record checks
- USDOT and MC number match the same legal name in SAFER and L&I.
- Active common or contract carrier authority for property.
- Liability insurance on file at or above the federal minimum (49 CFR 387.9), no pending cancellation.
- No out-of-service order; USDOT status active.
- Safety rating, if any, is not Unsatisfactory; know your policy for Conditional.
- Your policy for new authority (many brokers set a minimum age).
Identity checks
- Call the phone number on the FMCSA record and confirm the dispatcher.
- Email domain matches the company; be careful with free webmail.
- Recently changed phone, email or address — ask why.
- Certificate of insurance confirmed directly with the insurance agent.
Paperwork and payment
- Signed broker-carrier agreement and W-9.
- Payment and factoring details verified by phone before any change.
- A dated record of what you checked.
CarrierVet runs the record checks in one lookup and flags identity-change signals; the free plan needs no card.
Start free Free plan: 100 lookups a month, no card. Verified against official FMCSA records.
Sources
- FMCSA SAFER Company Snapshot
- FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I) public search
- 49 CFR 387.9 — Financial responsibility, minimum levels
- FMCSA: Out-of-service orders
- FMCSA: Definitions of Broker and Bona Fide Agents (final guidance, 2023)
Related
Informational, not legal advice. Carrier data is derived from records maintained by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is provided as-is, may be delayed or incomplete, and is not a consumer report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Do not use it to evaluate a natural person for credit, insurance, employment, or any other purpose covered by the FCRA.