Carrier vetting guides

Vet carriers like a pro

Plain-English guides for freight brokers and shippers: look up a trucking company, verify authority and insurance, read out-of-service rates and spot double brokering.

• How to Look Up a Trucking Company by USDOT or MC NumberStep-by-step: find any U.S. trucking company or freight broker by USDOT number, MC number or name, and read what the federal record says before you load.
• USDOT Number vs. MC Number: What's the Difference?A USDOT number identifies a company for safety oversight; an MC number is the docket for its for-hire operating authority. Here is when each one is required and what to check.
• How to Verify a Carrier's Operating Authority and InsuranceCheck that a trucking company's operating authority is active and that its liability, cargo and bond filings meet federal minimums — before you tender a load.
• Out-of-Service Rates Explained: What a Carrier's OOS Rate Tells YouAn out-of-service (OOS) rate is the share of roadside inspections that put a vehicle or driver out of service. The national averages are 22.26% for vehicles and 6.67% for drivers.
• How to Spot Double Brokering and Chameleon CarriersDouble brokering and chameleon carriers cost shippers and brokers millions each year. Learn the warning signs in the federal record and the checks that catch them.