Terms of Use.

FreightValidated

FreightValidated entity has passed legal compliance assessment, has active MC & DOT Authority, meets the minimum requirements of 49 CFR including but not limited to part 390.5T (Principal Place of Business), Complies with Public Law 112-141 (including para 32103(D)(i) regarding disclosure of affiliation with other Operating Authority Certificate Holders and Applicants)and other state and federal regulations. The platform will also advise if MC Number is operating as a Broker, Carrier or Both. If the Carrier/Broker is “FreightValidated”, the carrier then meets the basic criteria for further carrier safety vetting as appropriate through company compliance protocols.

Unable to Fully Validate/Additional Vetting Recommended

The Carrier/Broker maintains active MC and DOT authority and satisfies the baseline requirements of 49 CFR, MAP-21, and other applicable local, state, and federal regulations. The entity also holds active Operating Authority and meets the minimum verification standards with the Secretary of State.

However, during the risk assessment verification process, the following items may require additional review:

  • Recent ownership or contact information changes with the Secretary of State or FMCSA
  • Number of dispatchers disproportionate to fleet size
  • Broker advertising itself as a motor carrier
  • Misleading or inconsistent information about the country of business operations
  • FMCSA records list the required contact name as “Not Available”, "No Name Given" or the Contact Information has been Omitted

Under 49 CFR § 365.105 and 49 U.S.C. §§ 13904 and 13905(2)(D), applicants are required to provide full and truthful disclosure of names, addresses, officers, and ownership. Any omission or misrepresentation of these facts constitutes a withholding of material information.

Additional Review of COI is Recommended

A Recommendation to further review of the Certificate of Insurance should not be interpreted as any indication as to whether any carrier should or should not be used; nor does it imply that the Motor Carrier does not have proper insurance coverage. It simply means that the FreightValidate platform is unable to sufficiently verify the information contained on the Motor Carrier's COI. For example, the certificate holder's name on the COI may not match the name and address of the motor carrier moving the shipment, the Contact Information for the Insurance Company or Broker may be blank or illegible, or the policy number is not listed, etc. We recommend that brokers and shippers verify that certificate contains correct Motor Carrier’s Policy Number & Effective Dates, the Insurance Company's Name, Contact at the Company, Phone Number and Email Information, The VIN Numbers of the Insured Vehicles, and the Types of Coverages and Limits Provided. We further recommend that if there are any questions regarding additional insured, waivers of subrogation and cancellation provisions, that this information is properly verified via email with the insurance provider. When in doubt of any issues pertaining to insurance coverages, FreightValidate recommends that brokers consider detailed vetting of the Motor Carrier Certificates of Insurance by independent subject matter experts such as Vicarious Liability Risk Management LLC

Entity Cannot Be Validated

Red X = Immediate Red Flag

Here are objective reasons that could cause a carrier to be unable to Validate.

The platform has flagged one or more instances of non-compliance with regulations under Public Law 112-141 (MAP-21) , 49 CFR,:or other state or local regulations

1. Outdated or Insufficient Insurance Coverage: Carriers that do not maintain the required levels of insurance as mandated by 49 CFR Part 387 will not qualify for validation.

2. Operating Without Proper Authority: Carriers operating without active USDOT and MC numbers, or those with revoked authority, are in violation of 49 CFR Part 392 and will be disqualified from validation.

3. Misrepresentation as a Carrier or Broker: MAP-21 mandates clear and distinct authority for brokers and carriers. Carriers misrepresenting their operations—such as acting as a broker without proper credentials, or vice versa—will not meet validation standards.

4. Evasion of Regulations (Chameleon Carriers): Engaging in deceptive practices like operating under multiple MC numbers or re-registering to evade compliance enforcement, as outlined in MAP-21, will disqualify carriers from validation.

5. Non-Compliance with Financial Responsibility Requirements: Carriers that do not meet the financial responsibility requirements, such as maintaining sufficient bonds or financial security as required under MAP-21, will not be validated.

6. Failure to Use Electronic Logging Device (ELD) for Operational Compliance: Not adhering to ELD requirements for business operations record-keeping, as mandated under 49 CFR Part 395, can lead to non-validation.

7. Inaccurate or Misleading Business Information: Providing false, inconsistent, or incomplete business information, including operational details during the validation process, violates federal requirements and will prevent validation.

8. Unauthorized Operations: Conducting interstate operations without the appropriate authority or exceeding the scope of granted authority as defined by 49 CFR regulations results in non-validation.

9. Use of Virtual Offices or P.O. Boxes: Carriers using virtual offices, P.O. boxes, or other non-physical addresses as their principal place of business, as prohibited under 49 CFR Part 390.5T, will not meet validation criteria. A legitimate, physical business address is required to ensure transparency and accountability.

10. Nondisclosure or Denial of Affiliations: Failure to disclose or denial of operational, ownership, managerial, or familial affiliations with other FMCSA-regulated entities will result in non-validation. Full transparency regarding all affiliations is necessary to comply with federal regulations.

11. Improper or Inactive Business Incorporation or Organization Filings: Carriers with improper or inactive business incorporation, or organization filings with the Secretary of State, will be disqualified from validation. Proper and active business registration is essential for legal and operational legitimacy.

12. Has not completed Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) for the current year: Carriers must complete their UCR filing annually to maintain compliance and operational legitimacy.

These objective criteria ensure that only compliant, transparent, and reliable carriers achieve FreightValidated status, promoting a safer, more accountable freight industry.

Carriers, Brokers, or FreightForwarders that are unable to be validated by FreightValidate should review their business records and compare to regulations governing their business and correct deficiencies.

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