Enterprise vetting platforms are built for huge fleets and priced accordingly. If you run 1-20 agents, you need a process that’s thorough but realistic. Here’s what matters – and the gap vetting alone can’t close.

The core carrier vetting checklist

1. Operating authority – MC/DOT active, matching the legal name and address.
2. Insurance – current, adequate limits, verified directly.
3. Safety record – FMCSA SAFER data, inspection and crash history.
4. Operating history – how long active; sudden reactivations are a flag.
5. References and reputation – broker reviews, payment history.
6. Contact consistency – phone, email domain, and address all line up.

What enterprise tools overdo

Big platforms bundle continuous monitoring and integrations most small brokerages never use – at $500-$2,000/month. For a small operation, a disciplined checklist plus the free FMCSA tools covers most of the vetting itself.

The gap vetting can’t close

Vetting tells you a carrier is legitimate on paper. It does not confirm that the legitimate carrier is the one who actually shows up at the dock. Carrier identity theft and double brokering exploit exactly this gap. That’s why pickup verification matters alongside vetting – a GPS-locked QR code on the BOL confirms the carrier was physically at the pickup.