Shipmater

Trust & Safety

We verify every carrier to keep shippers safe and set carriers up for success. Here's exactly what we check.

Owner-Operator

Sole Proprietor

Individual with your own truck or fleet

25 verification checks

Company

Freight Company

Fleet with employees or contractors

30 verification checks

Sole Proprietor Verification

Individual owners and operators go through identity, background, medical, and insurance verification.

Personal Identity

Verify who you are

Photo ID (Drivers License or Passport)

via Stripe Identity

Required

Selfie for identity matching

via Stripe Identity

Required

Full legal name

via Manual entry

Required

Date of birth

via Manual entry

Required

Social Security Number (last 4 digits)

via Manual entry

Required

Background Check

Ensure safety and trust

Criminal background check (national & county)

via Checkr

Required

Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) - driving history

via Checkr

Required

OFAC / Sanctions list screening

via Checkr

Required

Sex offender registry check

via Checkr

Required

DOT-Commercial

Operating authority (optional)

Commercial Driver License (CDL) number & class

via Manual entry

Optional

CDL expiry date

via Manual entry

Optional

USDOT number (if operating as authority)

via Manual entry

Optional

HazMat endorsement (if applicable)

via Manual entry

Optional

Medical Certification

Safety compliance

DOT Medical Certificate

via Document upload

Required

Medical certificate expiry date

via Manual entry

Required

Drug & alcohol testing consent

via Manual acknowledgement

Required

Insurance

Financial protection

Commercial Auto Insurance certificate

via Document upload

Required

Minimum coverage: $750,000 (freight) / $1M+ (HazMat)

via Verification

Required

Cargo insurance (optional but recommended)

via Document upload

Optional

Insurance expiry date tracking

via System monitoring

Required

Vehicles

Fleet inventory

Vehicle type (box truck, flatbed, etc.)

via Manual entry

Required

Make, model, year, VIN

via Manual entry

Required

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)

via Manual entry

Required

Vehicle registration

via Document upload

Required

Vehicle photos (front, rear, cargo area)

via Photo upload

Required

Freight Company Verification

Companies require DOT-MC verification, EIN validation, key personnel checks, and driver roster verification.

Business Identity

Verify your company

Legal business name

via Manual entry

Required

Business type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, etc.)

via Manual entry

Required

EIN (Employer Identification Number)

via Manual entry + IRS verification

Required

Business address (registered & operating)

via Manual entry

Required

Secretary of State filing / Articles of Incorporation

via Document upload

Required

DOT-MC Verification

Operating authority (REQUIRED)

USDOT number

via Manual entry

Required

MC (Motor Carrier) number

via Manual entry

Required

FMCSA operating status check

via FMCSA SAFER API

Required

Safety rating (Satisfactory/Conditional/Unsatisfactory)

via FMCSA API

Required

Cargo authority verification

via FMCSA API

Required

SMS Safety Score review

via FMCSA API

Required

Key Personnel

Owner & authorized signers

Owner legal name & DOB

via Manual entry

Required

Owner photo ID

via Document upload

Required

Owner background check

via Checkr

Required

Owner SSN (for Stripe payouts)

via Secure collection

Required

Company Insurance

Fleet protection

Primary liability insurance certificate

via Document upload

Required

Minimum coverage: $750k (freight) / $1M+ (HazMat)

via Verification

Required

Cargo insurance certificate

via Document upload

Required

General liability (recommended)

via Document upload

Optional

Workers compensation (if you have W-2 employees)

via Document upload

Required

Insurance expiry date tracking & alerts

via System monitoring

Required

Drivers

Your roster

CDL number, class, expiry for each driver

via Manual entry

Required

Background check for each driver

via Checkr

Required

DOT medical certificate for each driver

via Document upload

Required

Driver assignment to vehicles

via Manual assignment

Required

Fleet Vehicles

Truck & trailer inventory

Vehicle type, VIN, license plate

via Manual entry

Required

Vehicle registration & expiry

via Document upload

Required

GVWR and cargo dimensions

via Manual entry

Required

DOT inspection records

via Document upload

Required

Vehicle assignment to drivers

via Manual assignment

Required

Verification Timeline

From signup to verified carrier

1

Submit Profile

Complete your information

2

Automated Checks

Background & identity verify

3

Admin Review

Team reviews your docs

4

Verified!

Start bidding on jobs

Verification Status

What each status means

Incomplete

You haven't completed all required fields yet. Keep filling out your profile.

Submitted

Your profile is complete and waiting for review. Our team will check your docs.

In Review

Background checks are running and documents are being verified.

Verified

You're approved! Start bidding on jobs immediately.

Conditionally Verified

Verified with a minor issue (e.g., insurance expiring soon). Still can work.

Suspended

We found an issue (failed background check, expired license, etc.). Contact support.

Ready to get verified?

Join verified carriers on Shipmater and start earning.