In the world of freight logistics, trust is everything. Every shipment represents more than just goods; it represents your brand, your deadlines, and your customers’ confidence. At Valley Logistics Solutions, we understand that the carriers we choose are an extension of your business. That’s why we’ve built a rigorous carrier vetting process to ensure every partner meets the highest standards for safety, reliability, and compliance.
This isn’t just about moving freight; it’s about moving it right. Here’s how we make sure every carrier we work with is worthy of your trust.
What’s in Our Onboarding Packets:
Before a carrier moves a single load for Valley, they go through a detailed onboarding process designed to protect your business and ours. This process ensures transparency, compliance, and accountability from day one.
Our onboarding packet includes:
- Signed Freight Broker/Carrier Agreement: Establishing clear terms and responsibilities.
- Assessorial Fee and Rate Confirmation Policies: Transparency on costs and expectations.
- Carrier Profile: Detailed information about the carrier’s operations and capabilities.
- Current Certificate of Liability Insurance: Listing Valley Logistics Solutions as the certificate holder and showing minimum coverage levels:
- Public liability and general liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Workers’ compensation and employee liability as required by state law
- Motor truck cargo insurance: $100,000 minimum
- U.S. DOT Certificate of Carrier’s Authority: Verifying legal operating status.
- Form W-9: For tax compliance.
- Standard Rate Sheet & Assessorial Rate Sheet: Clear pricing structures.
- Fuel Surcharge Rate Sheet: Keeping fuel-related costs predictable.
This documentation isn’t just paperwork—it’s a foundation for trust. By requiring these items upfront, we ensure carriers are properly insured, authorized, and aligned with industry standards.
How we do Background Checks:
Paperwork tells part of the story, but performance and safety records tell the rest. That’s why we use Carrier411, a leading resource for carrier compliance data, to dig deeper.
Here’s what we look for:
- Carrier Identity Verification: Confirming legitimacy and matching DOT records.
- Freight Type Filters: Ensuring carriers are qualified for the loads they’ll handle.
- Safety Score Review: Carriers are evaluated across critical categories:
- Unsafe Driving: Monitoring violations and accident history.
- HOS Compliance: Hours-of-service adherence to prevent fatigue-related risks.
- Driver Fitness: Ensuring qualified, healthy drivers are behind the wheel.
- Controlled Substances: Zero tolerance for drug or alcohol violations.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Checking for consistent upkeep and safety inspections.
This multi-layered approach means we don’t just take a carrier’s word for it; we verify their track record and compliance history. If a carrier doesn’t meet our standards, they don’t move your freight. It’s that simple.
Takeaways
When you choose Valley Logistic Solutions, you’re not just hiring a freight broker, you’re gaining a partner who prioritizes your peace of mind. Our vetting process reduces risk, minimizes delays, and ensures your freight is handled by professionals who meet the highest standards.
Here’s what that means for your business:
- Fewer Surprises: With clear agreements and verified carriers, you avoid hidden fees and compliance issues.
- Safer Shipments: Our insurance and safety checks protect your cargo and your reputation.
- Reliable Delivery: Carriers with strong compliance scores keep your timelines intact.
- Confidence in Every Mile: You can focus on growth while we handle the details.
The logistics industry is constantly evolving, and so are we. Regulations change, technology advances, and customer expectations rise. At Valley, we stay ahead by regularly reviewing our vetting process and updating our standards to reflect best practices. This commitment ensures that when you partner with us, you’re working with a team that values innovation and accountability.
Your freight deserves more than a handshake; it deserves a system built on trust and accountability. At Valley Logistic Solutions, we’ve created that system so you can focus on growing your business, not worrying about what’s happening on the road.
