Two checks separate a legitimate transport company from everything else, and both take under five minutes.
Check that the company holds active federal authority. Check that it verifies the insurance of the carrier it assigns. A company that passes both is one you can reasonably work with. A company that fails either should not be shortlisted, whatever its reviews say.
Most advice on this subject is far longer than it needs to be, and skips the second check entirely.
The Checks That Matter
Active federal authority. Brokers and carriers both register with the FMCSA and receive a USDOT number and, for brokers, an MC number. Ours are USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120. You can look any company up in the public FMCSA database.
Carrier insurance verification. Ask directly: do you verify the assigned carrier’s cargo policy before collection? This is the question almost nobody asks and the one that determines whether your vehicle is actually covered.
A written condition report process. If a company cannot explain how damage is documented at both ends, that tells you something.
A real physical address and a direct phone line. Not just a web form.
Clear answers about deposits. A deposit is not required to book with us. A company that insists on money upfront to hold a slot is worth questioning.
Consistent pricing logic. You should be able to get an explanation of why your quote is what it is.
What Matters Less Than You Think
Review volume. Transport generates complaints about timing far more than about damage, and timing is partly weather and traffic. Read what the complaints are about rather than counting stars.
Whether it is a broker or a carrier. A broker reaches thousands of trucks. A carrier owns a few. Neither is inherently safer, and verification is what makes the difference.
A glossy website. Cheap to build and tells you nothing.
The lowest quote. This is the most common first-time mistake and has its own guide.
Promises of a guaranteed delivery date. On a multi-vehicle route across a continent, this is marketing language rather than a commitment anyone can keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check a company’s license?
Look up its USDOT or MC number in the FMCSA public database. Active authority and a clean operating status is what you want to see.
Should I avoid brokers?
No. Most of the market is brokered because it works. Ask how carriers are vetted rather than avoiding the model.
Does a company need its own trucks to be trustworthy?
No. It needs active authority and a real verification process for the trucks it uses.
How many quotes should I get?
Three is plenty, as long as you compare what each actually includes.
Is BBB accreditation meaningful?
It is one signal among several. Federal authority and insurance verification matter more.
Why Ship With Tempus Logix
Tempus Logix is a licensed and bonded auto transport broker, USDOT #3117533 and MC #86120, and BBB accredited. Every carrier we assign is vetted and its insurance verified before a vehicle is collected, and vehicle owners carry a zero deductible on covered damage.
First-time shippers deserve a quote that holds. We price loads at a rate carriers actually accept, explain what the figure covers before you commit, and tell you plainly when a date looks tight, rather than booking it and renegotiating later.
New to this? Start with our first-time car shipping guide.
Related Guides
Next in this cluster:
- Questions to Ask Car Shipping Companies
- How to Read Car Shipping Quotes
- How to Avoid Car Shipping Scams
- Car Shipping Contract Review Guide
- Common First-Time Mistakes
Need a vehicle moved? Get a free quote with our auto transport quote calculator or call a transport coordinator at +1 (866) 607-8459.