guides
broker guides & checklists.
Cited desk checklists — one topic per guide. Sources are FMCSA and the eCFR.
how to use these
Each guide is one desk problem: authority, identity, insurance filings, a commodity, or a fraud pattern. Read the sections, run the checklist against the load in front of you, put the listed items in the load file, and stop when a fail-closed line is true. The snapshot from DOT lookup does not replace the guide.
Start with how to verify carrier authority if you are building a habit. Use MC versus DOT when the inbox mixes identifiers. Use identity verification when the phone and the legal name do not obviously match. Commodity guides (hazmat, reefer, flatbed) sit on top of that baseline — they do not skip it.
How to verify carrier authority before you book
Desk checklist: Active property authority on L&I, BOC-3, BMC-91/91X, rate-con name match, census phone call. SAFER is identity; L&I is the filing record.
Reading FMCSA insurance filings
What BOC-3, BMC-91, and policy limits mean on a carrier record.
Double brokering red flags
Separate re-broker without authority, undisclosed broker-to-broker, and MC identity theft. Census phone, rate-con name match, and a new check when the MC swaps.
Understanding FMCSA safety ratings
Satisfactory, conditional, and unrated — what each means for booking decisions.
Vetting new-authority carriers
Extra checks when a carrier has been operating for less than 12 months.
Detecting insurance lapses before dispatch
How to spot gaps in BMC filings and what to do when coverage looks thin.
MC number vs DOT number
When brokers receive one or the other, and how they map to the same record.
How to verify a certificate of insurance (COI)
A COI is not the FMCSA filing. Match named insured to the legal person, check dates and limits, then confirm BMC-91 on L&I before you cover.
Carrier identity verification checklist
Matching phone, email, and address to the FMCSA record on file.
Why shared phone numbers matter
When multiple DOT records share a dispatch line and what that implies.
Monitoring address and contact changes
Post-approval watchlist habits for carriers that move offices frequently.
Hazmat carrier requirements for brokers
HM registration, safety permits, and insurance minimums for hazmat loads.
Reefer carrier vetting essentials
Temperature-controlled freight checks beyond standard authority verification.
Flatbed securement and capability checks
Questions to ask flatbed carriers about equipment and experience.
Owner-operator vs fleet carrier records
Reading fleet size, driver count, and power units on a census record.
Broker-carrier agreement basics
Contract clauses that complement your vetting workflow.
Cargo insurance limits explained
How to read cargo policy amounts and when to require higher limits.
Authority revocation warning signs
Patterns in FMCSA change history that precede out-of-service events.
Chameleon carrier detection
Linking shut-down carriers to new DOT registrations through shared details.
Factoring company verification
Confirming NOA and payment instructions match the carrier on the load.
Dispatch service red flags
When a third party answers for the carrier and what to verify.
Reading inspection and OOS history
How violation rates compare across similar fleet sizes.
Interstate vs intrastate authority
Matching carrier authority type to your lane requirements.
Broker liability basics for carrier selection
Due diligence standards and documentation habits that hold up under scrutiny.
Rate con carrier detail verification
Cross-checking MC, DOT, and company name on every rate confirmation.
After-hours carrier approval workflow
A trimmed checklist when the load boards close but freight still moves.
Monitoring approved carriers post-onboarding
Setting alerts for insurance, authority, and contact changes.
Using broker community flags without treating them as FMCSA
Peer flags are prompts. Open L&I and the census record, call the census phone, and write the federal fact — not the rumor — in the load file.
How to document a denied carrier so the next desk can replay it
Write the system, field, and date. Keep the L&I or SAFER screen. Re-check if they return. Do not publish the list as an FMCSA finding.
Seasonal carrier checks: idle is not approved
Unused 30 days or more: pull L&I and a fresh census snapshot before cover. Peak season does not skip identity, cargo endorsements, or an MC swap at pickup.
FMCSA SAFER vs census data
Which fields come from which source and why timestamps matter.
what a guide is not
These are not FMCSA interpretations you can file. They are not cargo insurance. They are not a score. Use them with a dated Licensing & Insurance screen and a callback to the census telephone.