Carrier Guide
How to check a carrier before booking
Before assigning a load, brokers should run a quick carrier check to reduce risk and document their review process.
Step 1 — Confirm authority status
Verify that the carrier appears active and authorized using FMCSA data.
Step 2 — Review carrier identity
Confirm that the MC number, company name, and contact details are consistent across sources.
Step 3 — Check for warning signals
Look for issues such as recent authority changes, unusual contact patterns, or inconsistent records.
Step 4 — Document your review
Save the results of your check so you have a record of what was reviewed at booking time.
Learn about double brokering risks
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping verification under time pressure
- Relying on a single data source
- Not saving the result of the check
See common carrier fraud red flags
Before you start the carrier check
A carrier check is most useful when it happens before the load is tendered. At that point, the broker still has control of the booking decision and can pause if something does not match.
- Collect the MC number or USDOT number
- Confirm the carrier name being used by dispatch
- Compare contact information against known records
- Keep notes on any mismatch or unusual request
Step 5 — Verify insurance context
After reviewing authority and identity, brokers should check the certificate of insurance and confirm that coverage appears active for the carrier, driver, and tractor involved in the load.
- Confirm the COI is active
- Check Motor Truck Cargo (MTC) limits against the shipment value
- Review exclusions when the commodity is high-risk
- Confirm coverage details when moving loads such as tobacco, electronics, alcohol, or other excluded commodities
Step 6 — Confirm driver and unit at pickup
The final manual check is to confirm that the same driver, tractor, and trailer assigned during booking show up at the shipper. A mismatch at pickup can indicate double brokering, unauthorized subcontracting, or load interception risk.
- Driver name should match dispatch information
- Tractor and trailer should match expected equipment
- Unexpected substitutions should trigger review before loading
Manual today, structured later
Many brokers perform insurance and pickup checks manually today. CarrierGate currently focuses on the booking-time Gate 1 check. The same workflow can later expand into Gate 2 insurance validation and Gate 3 pickup integrity verification.
For related risk context, see carrier fraud red flags and double brokering prevention.
How CarrierGate helps
CarrierGate provides a structured booking-time carrier check and saves the result for later reference.