How to Vet a Carrier in 2025: Red Flags Most Shippers Miss
In today’s high-pressure freight environment, shippers can no longer afford to choose carriers based on price and availability alone. Compliance rules are tightening, cargo theft is rising, insurance markets are shifting, and the cost of a service failure is higher than ever. Vetting a carrier thoroughly in 2025 isn’t just good practice—it’s risk management. Yet even experienced transportation teams often overlook warning signs that later turn into claims, regulatory issues, or damaged customer relationships. Here are the top red flags and the smarter vetting practices every shipper should apply this year. 1. A “Clean” Safety Score That’s Too Good to Be True A great SMS record is ideal—but perfect scores with no inspections or activity can be a problem. Carriers with extremely low inspection counts may be: Running under the radar Leasing on fly-by-night drivers Operating equipment that hasn’t been inspected Trying to mask prior sa...