Answer extracted from the Hit The Brakes: The Can't Miss Topics in the Logistics Industry podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How does Fetch Freight verify carriers and protect shipments throughout the transport lifecycle?
Fetch Freight collects truck and trailer plate numbers and shares them with customers so they know exactly which carrier and driver will pick up the load. The platform provides real-time tracking throughout the shipment lifecycle and alerts customers not to load anyone else claiming to pick up the shipment. If carrier insurance expires or a carrier falls out of good standing, Fetch notifies customers immediately to prevent liability issues.
Three layers of identity and compliance verification
The core of Fetch Freight's protection strategy rests on transparent carrier identification. Every shipment includes specific truck and trailer plate numbers shared directly with the customer before pickup. This eliminates ambiguity: a customer knows exactly which vehicle should arrive, making it nearly impossible for an unauthorized carrier to slip through and steal the load.
Real-time tracking serves as the second layer. As explained in the episode, this constant visibility allows customers to monitor the load throughout its journey, immediately spotting any deviation or unauthorized handoff. Customers are explicitly warned not to accept pickup from anyone else, creating a fail-safe against social engineering.
The third layer is ongoing compliance monitoring. Fetch tracks carrier insurance status—specifically Certificate of Insurance (COI) expiration and FMCSA standing. The moment a carrier's insurance lapses or their compliance status changes, Fetch sends automatic alerts to customers. This prevents accidental load handoff to a carrier that no longer meets safety and liability standards, a critical gap in traditional vetting.
Why plate numbers and real-time alerts matter against modern fraud
Modern freight fraud no longer relies on traditional theft; as discussed in this podcast, bad actors now use stolen identities, compromised email accounts, and AI-generated profiles that pass standard background checks. A fraudster can create a fake carrier profile and contact a shipper claiming to pick up a load, banking on the customer not having independent verification.
By issuing specific vehicle identifiers, Fetch closes this gap entirely. A fraudster posing as a carrier cannot produce the correct plate numbers—they can only guess. This simple, verifiable fact acts as a stronger identity proof than any background check or insurance document alone. Combined with real-time alerts if a carrier's compliance lapses, customers get both preventive clarity and active protection throughout the shipment.
"Now with AI, like a lot of people are implementing that, these bad actors are also using it and using it to their advantage as well."
Eric Garcia — Carrier Sales Manager, Fetch Freight. Garcia works directly in carrier vetting and onboarding at Fetch Freight, where he observes freight fraud tactics in real time during the booking and onboarding process. He has tracked how fraudster methods have evolved over recent years, particularly noting how bad actors now leverage AI and stolen carrier identities to bypass traditional verification methods.
For a deeper look at how Eric Garcia has seen fraud tactics evolve and what new detection challenges AI-powered schemes present, listen to the full episode where he breaks down the shift from phone-based identity detection to AI-assisted carrier impersonation.
See also
What compliance steps should carriers take to maintain good standing with brokerages and avoid onboarding delays?
Carriers should keep their Certificate of Insurance (COI) current and update it with the FMCSA before expiration. Staying compliant prevents delays in onboarding and maintains trust with brokerages.
How have freight fraud tactics shifted from phone-based identity theft to AI-assisted schemes in carrier onboarding?
Fraud detection once relied on hearing a person's voice over the phone to spot inconsistencies. Today, bad actors use AI to impersonate real carriers with stolen identities and compromised information, making detection far harder.
How does understanding industrial and infrastructure demand shape transportation strategy?
The explosion of data centers and AI facilities has created industrial manufacturing demand that drives large-scale infrastructure projects across the country, directly shaping carrier capacity planning and routing strategies.