Last reviewed: November 1, 2026 · By VetCarrier
Before you book: the FMCSA record
Operating authority is active and includes carrier authority, not broker authority alone.
On SAFER, AUTHORIZED FOR lists the authority types a company may operate under.
VetCarrier check covers thisThe USDOT number is active.
SAFER marks a number inactive when the biennial MCS-150 update was not completed.
VetCarrier check covers thisNo out-of-service order is on the record.
SAFER’s out-of-service date is the date the company was ordered out of service, the earliest one if there are several.
VetCarrier check covers thisLiability insurance on file meets the federal minimum for the freight.
The minimum is $750,000 for general freight, with higher amounts for some hazardous materials.
VetCarrier check covers thisThe safety rating is not Unsatisfactory.
A carrier with an Unsatisfactory rating is generally prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle.
VetCarrier check covers this
Before you book: the company behind the record
The legal name, DBA and address on the record match the carrier packet and the rate confirmation.
The check shows the name and address FMCSA lists; you compare them with your paperwork.
VetCarrier check helpsPhone and email are confirmed through a number or address you looked up yourself.
The FBI advises verifying shipment requests and pickups through a second method before releasing a load.
You do this elsewhereEmail domains are read letter by letter, and a free email account used for company business is questioned.
The FBI lists look-alike domains and free email accounts among the signs of cargo theft schemes.
You do this elsewhereThe certificate of insurance is confirmed with the insurer or agent, using contact details you found.
The FBI reports criminals updating real carriers’ insurance information.
You do this elsewhereWatch for copied records: recent changes to a carrier’s contact details are a reason to call the carrier directly.
Criminals change legitimate carriers’ contact information with FMCSA, according to the FBI.
You do this elsewhere
At pickup and after
The truck shows the carrier’s name and USDOT number, and they match the rate confirmation.
A commercial motor vehicle must display the operating carrier’s name and its USDOT number on both sides.
You do this elsewhereDriver, license, truck, plates and DOT and MC numbers are documented with photos.
The FBI recommends keeping this documentation for every party.
You do this elsewhereThe transaction record is kept for three years, with the carrier’s name, address and registration number.
Brokers must keep this record under 49 CFR 371.3. The dated PDF can be filed with it.
VetCarrier check helpsFraud is reported: police report and ic3.gov for stolen cargo, FMCSA’s National Consumer Complaint Database for registration misuse.
The FBI names local police and IC3; FMCSA describes the complaint database in the Federal Register.
You do this elsewhere
Why the record check is only the first part
Five of the fourteen items above are things VetCarrier’s check reads for you from the FMCSA record. Two more it helps with, by printing the name and address to compare and a dated PDF for the file. The rest happen on the phone, in email and at the dock, because the record cannot confirm who you are talking to.
The FBI’s April 2026 alert describes criminals who post as real carriers, accept real shipments and send manipulated bills of lading, changing the destination of the load. A carrier whose identity has been taken over may not know until brokers call it about missing loads. Following this checklist does not prevent theft; it is a record of the checks you made.
How to use the PDF
Print it or keep it open while you onboard a carrier, tick each line, and file it with the load. It has no signup and no email gate. It lists the same items as this page in shorter form, with the date it was written, and marks which lines a VetCarrier check covers.
Common questions
What should a carrier vetting checklist include?
Authority and USDOT status, insurance on file against the requirement, safety rating and out-of-service orders, a match between the record and the paperwork, contact details confirmed independently, pickup documentation, the transaction record and where to report fraud.
Does following the checklist prevent cargo theft?
No. It records the checks you made and has you confirm the carrier another way, but criminals copy real carrier records and no checklist can rule out theft.
Do I need to sign up to download the PDF?
No. The PDF is a free download with no signup and no email.
Criminals copy real carrier records, so a clean check does not prove the caller is that carrier: always confirm their phone, email and address another way. A VetCarrier check is not a guarantee that a carrier is safe or legitimate.