In recent months, a U.S. Supreme Court decision has brought increased attention to the role freight brokers play in carrier selection. The ruling affirms that, under certain circumstances, brokers may be subject to legal scrutiny related to the carriers they choose to engage.
While the legal implications will continue to develop, the broader takeaway for shippers is clear. Carrier selection is no longer viewed as a routine administrative function. It is a critical component of risk management.
This shift comes at a time when the freight environment is already facing growing challenges related to fraud, cargo theft, and carrier impersonation.
Industry Conditions Are Changing
Cargo theft and fraudulent activity have increased significantly across North America. Recent estimates place total losses near $725 million in 2025, representing a substantial year-over-year increase. At the same time, more advanced tactics such as double brokering, identity spoofing, and email system breaches have made it increasingly difficult to distinguish legitimate carriers from fraudulent actors.
As expectations evolve, so does the definition of “reasonable” carrier selection. Courts, insurers, and shippers are placing greater emphasis on process, documentation, and consistency.
From an operational perspective, this shift is already being felt across the industry.
As Drew Lane, General Manager of Freeway’s Atlanta office explains:
“Fraud went from a one-off experience you may encounter once a year to navigating daily scam situations. We really have to stay on our toes these days, as the different ways of getting scammed change daily.”
In this environment, the strength of a broker’s carrier vetting process is no longer a background detail. It is a defining factor in supply chain security.
A Consistent Approach to Carrier Selection
At Freeway, we have long approached carrier selection as a disciplined and ongoing responsibility.
Our standard is based on the understanding that carrier qualification is not static. A carrier’s status, operation behaviour, and risk profile can change over time. For that reason, our process is designed to evaluate carriers continuously, not just at the point of initial onboarding.
Each shipment we coordinate is supported by a structured vetting process that emphasizes verification, transparency, and current data. The goal is to ensure that every carrier moving freight under our direction meets clearly defined criteria at the time the load is dispatched.
How Our Process Works
Carrier evaluation at Freeway is built on multiple layers of review that provide a more complete view of risk.
We begin with identity and authority verification across platforms such as SAFER, Carrier411, and Highway. Information is cross-checked to confirm consistency, and carriers are contacted directly using verified phone numbers to ensure legitimacy.
From there, we monitor MC and DOT status along with insurance coverage on an ongoing basis. This is not treated as a one-time onboarding step, but as a continuous validation process.
Operational validation is also critical. By reviewing equipment details at the truck level, we assess whether the assets assigned to a load align with the carrier’s operating profile. This helps identify situations where legitimate credentials may be misused.
David Paczowski, Director of Carrier Relations, highlights how subtle many of today’s risks have become:
“The industry is constantly changing, and fraudsters are learning new ways to slip by the protective barriers we have in place. Common things to look for are emails that don’t quite match, small spelling differences, or letters swapped with numbers.”
He also notes that even seemingly legitimate communication channels can be compromised:
“Fraudsters are now learning ways to hack into carrier email systems, intercept incoming emails, and respond through their servers making it look 100% legitimate. It is not until the load misses delivery that you realize what has happened.”
Because of this, direct human verification remains a key part of our process. Our team maintains communication with carrier representatives prior to dispatch, ensuring there is clear accountability behind each shipment.
This effort is supported by a dedicated compliance function that actively monitors carriers daily, allowing us to respond quickly to new or evolving risks.
The Role of Technology
Technology plays an important role in strengthening carrier vetting and fraud prevention. Freeway utilizes platforms such as Highway and GenLogs to support both verification and monitoring. Highway provides enhances visibility into carrier identity, operational structure, and behavioural indicators, helping detect risks such as double brokering and carrier fraud. GenLogs adds another layer of validation by offering insight into truck activity and movement patterns.
These tools also allow for secure rate confirmation delivery, reducing the risk of intercepted or manipulated load information.
David explains that “Highway’s secure rate confirmation delivery helps ensure the correct individuals are receiving load details. If a carrier’s email is compromised, there is no way for someone to access that information without proper credentials.”
Technology, however, is only one part of the equation. Its effectiveness depends on how it is used. At Freeway, these tools are integrated into a broader decision-making process that includes human oversight, internal communication, and continuous review.
Maintaining Oversight Throughout the Shipment Lifecycle
Carrier selection is only one component of freight risk management. Ongoing oversight during transit is equally important. If irregularities arise during a shipment, whether related to communication gaps, location inconsistencies, or documentation concerns, our team initiates a structures response immediately.
Speed is critical in these situations. As Drew explains: “You cannot wait and see what happens. There is a small window of time where finding and recovering a load is possible.”
This response may include internal escalation, coordination with carriers and insurers, engagement with authorities, and real-time communication with customers. Freeway remains actively involved through resolution, including investigation and claims coordination when necessary.
What This Means for Shippers
The recent legal developments reinforce a broader industry reality. Not all carrier vetting processes are equivalent.
Differences in approach can significantly impact cargo security, financial exposure, and operational reliability. As freight fraud and cargo theft continue to rise, shippers are placing greater importance on how logistics providers select and monitor carriers.
This includes evaluating:
- How carrier identity is verified
- What technology is used for fraud prevention
- How consistently processes are applied
- How quickly issues are addressed when they arise
Understanding these factors is becoming an essential part of selecting a logistics partner.
Looking Ahead
At Freeway, the current environment reinforces the importance of maintaining a consistent and well-defined standard for carrier selection.
Our approach has always been grounded in verification, oversight, and accountability. As expectations across the freight industry continue to evolve, we remain focused on applying those principles to protect our customers’ freight. Because effective risk management begins well before a shipment is in motion.
Want to understand how your current carrier selection process compares? Our team is happy to walk through our approach and identify opportunities to strengthen your freight security strategy.