Freight Broker — Carrier Vetting Checklist

Industry front door for checklist. Adds domain triggers, a worked example, and packs. The engine is the parent checklist skill; parent content unchanged. Not legal advice. Verify against current FMCSA rules and your broker authority/bond obligations.

Activate when: onboarding/booking a carrier; a load is about to be tendered; a carrier looks too cheap/too eager; rebuilding your carrier-vetting SOP. Do NOT activate when: the carrier is a current, documented, insured partner.

Why this variant

The parent checklist is a must-not-skip gate. Booking an unvetted carrier is how brokers get hit with cargo loss, double-brokering fraud, and liability. This maps the parent's gate onto carrier due diligence.

Domain inputs → the checklist gate

• Active authority: FMCSA operating authority (MC/DOT) active, not revoked; broker vs carrier authority correct for the move.
• Insurance: cargo + auto liability on file, adequate limits, broker named as certificate holder, verified with the insurer (not just a PDF).
• Safety: FMCSA safety rating / SMS BASIC scores; out-of-service history.
• Identity match: phone/email/address match FMCSA record; watch VoIP + gmail + brand-new authority (fraud signals).
• Double-brokering guard: confirm the carrier hauling = the carrier booked; no re-brokering without consent.