Carrier Packet

A carrier packet is a set of documents that a motor carrier must submit to a freight broker or shipper as part of the onboarding and qualification process before being authorized to transport freight. The packet provides the broker with the information needed to verify the carrier's legal authority, insurance coverage, safety record, and operational capabilities, ensuring that only qualified carriers handle their customers' freight.

A standard carrier packet for refrigerated freight typically includes the carrier's MC number and USDOT number, a copy of the operating authority certificate, certificates of insurance for auto liability, cargo liability, and general liability, a signed broker-carrier agreement, a completed W-9 form for tax reporting, a copy of the carrier's FMCSA safety rating, equipment specifications including reefer trailer details and age of equipment, and references from other brokers or shippers.

Reefer-Specific Qualifications

For refrigerated freight, the carrier packet process typically includes additional requirements beyond what is needed for dry van carriers. Brokers may require documentation of the carrier's reefer maintenance program, proof that drivers are trained in cold chain handling procedures, evidence that trailers are equipped with temperature monitoring and recording devices, and confirmation that the carrier complies with FSMA Sanitary Transportation Rule requirements.

The carrier packet review process serves as the first line of defense against unqualified or fraudulent carriers. Brokers should verify all information in the packet through independent sources, including checking the FMCSA's SAFER system for authority and safety data, contacting insurance companies to verify coverage, and calling references to confirm the carrier's performance history. For cold chain freight, where product safety and value are at stake, thorough carrier vetting is not optional.