Carrier onboarding checklist for small brokerages

Collect

• W-9 and payment details (verify changes by phone, never by email alone).
• Certificate of insurance requested directly from the insurance agent, listing your brokerage as certificate holder.
• Signed broker–carrier agreement.

Check in FMCSA records

• USDOT and MC numbers match the same legal entity.
• Operating authority active; BIPD on file meets the requirement.
• No suspension notice scheduled; no recent revocation.
• Inspection and crash history reasonable for fleet size.
• Phone and email match FMCSA contact records.

After onboarding

Status changes after the first load are the ones that hurt. Monitor every onboarded carrier daily →