How to Verify Carrier Authority & Insurance on SAFER
Verifying carrier authority and insurance before booking freight is non-negotiable. It protects you from double brokering, uninsured carriers, and fraud. This guide provides a step-by-step verification checklist using the FMCSA SAFER system.
7 Checks
Verification Checklist
2 Min
Per Verification
Free
SAFER System
Every Load
Best Practice
O Trucking Editorial Team
Trucking Industry Experts
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Compliance Team
5+ years performing carrier and broker verification for every dispatched load
This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingHow to Verify Carrier Authority & Insurance on SAFER
Why Verification Matters
Booking freight with an unverified carrier exposes you to three major risks:
Double brokering: Fraudulent entities accept loads using stolen or fabricated authority, then sub-broker them. Your freight disappears or is held hostage. Verification on SAFER catches most of these schemes.
Uninsured carriers: If a carrier without valid insurance causes a crash while hauling your freight, you may face liability. Insurance verification on SAFER takes 30 seconds and protects against this risk.
Unauthorized carriers: Operating without active MC authority is a federal violation. Brokers who knowingly book unauthorized carriers face their own penalties and liability.
7-Point Verification Checklist
Follow this checklist for every carrier before booking. All checks use safer.fmcsa.dot.gov:
Authority Status = "Authorized"
In Company Snapshot, check the operating authority section. It must show "AUTHORIZED For Hire" for property carriers. Any other status (Not Authorized, Out of Service, Pending) means do not book.
Insurance Filed and Current
Check the insurance/surety section. Liability insurance (BMC-91X) must show as filed. Note the insurance company name and effective date. No insurance = no load.
MCS-150 Date Current (Within 2 Years)
A biennial update older than 2 years means the carrier is non-compliant and may face deactivation. This is an early warning sign of compliance neglect.
Safety Rating (If Available)
If the carrier has a safety rating, it should be "Satisfactory." "Conditional" warrants caution. "Unsatisfactory" is a major red flag. "None" simply means no review has been conducted — it is not negative.
Entity Information Matches
Verify the legal name, address, and phone number match what the carrier provided you. Mismatches could indicate identity fraud — someone using another carrier's authority.
OOS Rates Not Excessive
Vehicle OOS rate above 30% or driver OOS rate above 10% suggests significant safety problems. Compare to national averages (vehicle: ~21%, driver: ~6%).
Authority Age (Watch New Authority)
Very new authority (under 90 days) combined with other red flags can indicate a chameleon carrier — a company that shut down bad authority and reopened under a new name. New authority alone is not a red flag, but combined with no inspection history and a different address than their W-9, proceed with extra caution.
Common Red Flags That Require Extra Scrutiny
Recently changed insurance company — Could indicate a lapse that was just resolved, or a carrier shopping for cheaper coverage after claims.
Address does not match carrier's provided address — Identity theft or unauthorized use of another carrier's authority.
1 power unit, 0 drivers — May indicate a paper carrier not actively operating, or one that just started. Verify they actually have equipment.
No inspection history at all — For a carrier claiming years of experience, zero inspections on SAFER is inconsistent. Could mean they are very new or using a different authority.
Insurance Verification: Going Deeper
SAFER shows that insurance was filed, but for high-value loads or new relationships, take these additional steps:
Request a Certificate of Insurance
Ask the carrier to provide a current certificate of insurance (COI) issued by their insurance company. Compare the information on the COI with what SAFER shows.
Call the Insurance Company
For loads worth $50,000+, call the insurance company listed on SAFER to confirm the policy is active and coverage limits are adequate. SAFER data can lag behind cancellations by several days.
Verify Coverage Amounts
Minimum liability for general freight is $750,000. Hazmat requires $1,000,000-$5,000,000. Ensure the carrier's coverage meets or exceeds what your freight requires.
The 30-Day Insurance Gap
How Often Should You Verify?
New carriers: Verify before every load until you have established a track record
Regular carriers: At minimum monthly, or any time you notice operational changes
High-value freight: Verify before every load regardless of carrier relationship
After any gap in service: If a carrier has not hauled for you in 30+ days, re-verify
Documenting Your Verification
Maintain records of your verification process for legal protection:
Screenshot and Date Stamp
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if a carrier's authority is active?
Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov, click Company Snapshot, enter the USDOT or MC number, and look at the Operating Authority section. It must show "AUTHORIZED For Hire."
What if insurance shows "None" on SAFER?
Do not book any loads. No insurance filing means FMCSA has no record of coverage. Ask the carrier to have their insurance company file a BMC-91X with FMCSA before proceeding.
How often should I verify carrier authority?
Before every load for new carriers and high-value freight. At minimum monthly for established carriers. Authority and insurance can change at any time — last week's verification does not guarantee today's status.
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