For many brokers, carrier vetting has traditionally centered on fraud prevention. But as recent events have shown, safety carries equal importance. In today’s environment, a strong vetting process must protect against both financial loss and physical risk.
This topic was the focus of our recent Descartes webinar, Smarter Carrier Vetting: Safety & Fraud Alerts That Work With You, hosted by Danielle Spinelli from Descartes with guest Cassandra Gaines, Founder and CEO of Carrier Assure.
Together, they discussed how brokers can combine safety and fraud intelligence to make informed, confident decisions that reduce exposure without slowing operations.
Recent data reinforces this focus. According to the 2025 Transportation Management Benchmark Survey, which gathered insights from more than 600 global industry leaders, carrier vetting ranked among the top priorities for managing fraud and compliance risk, cited by 25% of respondents. The findings reflect a growing recognition that effective vetting is essential to protecting both profitability and reputation.
If you’re not paying attention to safety, you’re opening the door to fraud. They tightly correlate.
Bringing Safety and Fraud Prevention Together
Danielle opened the discussion by acknowledging how safety can sometimes be overlooked when evaluating carriers. As long as a carrier isn’t rated “conditional” or “unsatisfactory,” many assume the risk is minimal. But recent cases have shown that overlooking safety indicators can have serious consequences.
Cassandra shared her perspective as a transportation attorney, noting that inadequate safety vetting can increase legal liability for brokers. While fraud tends to receive more attention, the majority of carrier-related incidents stem from safety performance issues rather than theft or deception.
Using Data for Smarter, More Consistent Vetting
With the integration of Carrier Assure into Descartes MyCarrierPortal, brokers now have access to real-time safety and fraud insights within the same platform.
The Carrier Assure score—a simple A–F rating—provides a clear view of each carrier’s performance. Users can click through to review the data behind the score, including unsafe driving violations, inspection history, and comparative performance against similar-sized carriers.
We give you a fast, objective answer so you can make better decisions and build rules around risk—not gut feelings.
Danielle also highlighted the vehicle identification number (VIN) validation feature within Descartes MyCarrierPortal, which confirms that a driver and vehicle match the carrier on file. This added layer of verification helps brokers ensure that the right equipment and personnel are assigned to each load.
Reducing Risk Through Stronger Processes
The session also addressed the operational and legal aspects of broker liability. Cassandra outlined key practices that support due diligence and compliance:
- Maintain clear contracts with both shippers and carriers.
- Verify insurance coverage directly with agents and note exclusions.
- Document each vetting step for transparency and accountability.
- Use tools like VIN validation to confirm carrier and driver legitimacy.
Danielle emphasized that these steps not only reduce risk but also support faster onboarding through a more structured process.
Smart brokers aren’t choosing between safety and fraud prevention—they’re integrating both.
Building Confidence Through Visibility
By combining Descartes and Carrier Assure, brokers gain the ability to identify risk earlier, validate carrier data with confidence, and maintain compliance across their operations. The result is a vetting process that protects the business, its customers, and the public—while keeping operations efficient.
