How to find carriers for your loads

Where carriers come from

• Load boards: carriers search by lane and equipment and contact you about your posted load.
• Vehicle boards: carriers post trucks that are empty at a place and date — you contact them.
• Your own carrier list: carriers who delivered well before are the first call.

• Post a load
• Vehicle board

Checking a US carrier on FMCSA SAFER

1. Search the carrier’s USDOT or MC number on FMCSA’s SAFER Company Snapshot.
2. Check that the operating status is authorized for property and the entity type matches (carrier, not only broker).
3. Check insurance on file and the carrier’s safety record.
4. Compare the phone and email on file with the ones you were given.

Checking a European carrier

• Ask for the EU Community licence (or the national licence for domestic work) and the vehicle certified copy.
• Check the company in its national business register and, for VAT, the EU VIES service.
• Confirm the CMR insurance and its limits.

Fraud warning signs

• Contact details that differ from the official record
• Pressure to change payment details
• A carrier that re-brokers the load without telling you (double brokering)

On GigFreight

US companies upload their DOT and MC documents at registration and GigFreight reviews them manually before verifying the company. There is no automated authority check, so the SAFER lookup above remains your step.

Frequently asked questions