Broker & Load Vetting System: The Exact Checks We Run Before You Ever Accept a Load

A dispatcher-level vetting system for dry van loads and brokers: credit risk, red flags, rate con protection, facility risk, and how to avoid the “cheap load that costs you the whole week.”

Why vetting matters more than “rate per mile”

A load can look great and still be a trap.

The hidden money killers in dry van:

• brokers that pay late (or play games)

• facilities that eat your clock

• rate confirmations with weak detention language

• “appointment” loads that aren’t really appointments

• lanes that leave you stranded with bad reload odds

A professional dispatcher’s job is to reduce risk before the wheels roll.

The vetting system in 3 layers

We look at:

1. Broker risk (will you get paid cleanly?)

2. Load risk (will it steal your time or expose you?)

3. Lane risk (will it ruin your next move?)

You want green lights on all three, not just a pretty number.

Layer 1: Broker checks (get paid, on time, without drama)

You’re not just hauling freight—you’re extending credit.

Broker green flags:

• clear, consistent communication

• no confusion on appointment details

• rate con sent fast and matches what was agreed

• detention policy clearly stated

• contact info is complete and responsive

Broker red flags:

• “We can’t send rate con until you’re empty”

• “Detention is not paid” or vague language

• constantly changing pickup/delivery details

• refuses to confirm appointment times in writing

• “We pay when we pay” energy

• pushes you to accept without giving full details

The money question we always ask:

• “Confirm your detention policy, when it starts, and required paperwork.”

If they can’t answer that cleanly, that’s a problem.

Layer 2: Rate confirmation protection (the contract that decides your week)

A rate confirmation isn’t paperwork, it’s protection.

What we verify on every rate con:

• Correct carrier name + MC/DOT

• Correct pickup address + delivery address

• Correct appointment times (or FCFS stated clearly)

• Total rate (and how it’s paid)

• Fuel surcharge (if applicable)

• Accessorials: detention, layover, TONU, re-consignment, etc.

• Lumper reimbursement procedure (and whether EFS/comchek is allowed)

• Any special requirements: seals, straps, pallet exchange, etc.

Biggest rate con traps:

• detention language that starts “after 4 hours,” but requires check-in proof that drivers rarely get

• “no detention on same-day loads”

• “carrier responsible for all costs” without clarity

• appointment times missing or “TBD”

A dispatcher who doesn’t read rate cons carefully is not saving you time, they’re selling you risk.

Layer 3: Facility and appointment reality (this is where profits disappear)

Two loads can pay the same, but one kills your week.

Facility green flags:

• drop & hook

• consistent appointment windows

• quick in/out history

• clear check-in process

Facility red flags:

• chronic detention

• “appointment” but still waits for hours

• strict receiving windows with long lines

• poor communication at shipping/receiving

• inconsistent unload procedures

A real dispatch partner keeps a “facility memory” list:

• places we prioritize

• places we avoid

• places we only take if the money is high enough

The load scorecard (simple and deadly accurate)

Before you accept, score the load:

A) Money

• Total pay: ___

• Loaded miles: ___

• Deadhead miles: ___

• Effective RPM: ___

B) Time risk

• Pickup: appt vs FCFS

• Delivery: appt vs FCFS

• Known wait risk? yes/no

• Weekend trap risk? yes/no

C) Lane quality

• Reload probability: high/medium/low

• Market strength: strong/average/weak

• Your preferred zones: yes/no

If it fails two categories, it’s probably a no.

Common “cheap load” traps (and the truth behind them)

Trap 1: “It’s short, but it pays okay.”Short loads can be detention-heavy. If it steals a full day, your week is done.

Trap 2: “You’ll reload fast there.”Only true in strong markets. We validate reload odds first.

Trap 3: “It’s an appointment.”If the shipper won’t confirm or the broker’s details don’t match, it’s not real.

Trap 4: “Take it or leave it.”That’s not leverage—that’s a warning.

How a dispatch service actually protects you (without being “generic”)

A high-value dispatch service:

• declines risky freight fast

• negotiates with facts, not hope

• uses a consistent checklist, every time

• tracks facility history over time

• makes sure the rate con protects you

• prevents the “one bad load” that wrecks the week

What you can say to a broker (so you sound like a pro)

You don’t have to be aggressive. Just precise:

• “Please confirm pickup and delivery appointment times in writing.”

• “Confirm detention starts after ___ hours and the required documentation.”

• “Please send the rate confirmation reflecting the agreed rate and accessorial policy.”

If they get irritated by basic professionalism, you just learned something important.

Why drivers hire American Trust Logistics for this

Most drivers can find freight.What they want is fewer mistakes and more consistency.

We run:

• broker + load + lane checks

• rate con validation

• facility risk filtering

• proactive week planning

  
  

So you stop learning expensive lessons the hard way.

🇺🇸📌 If you’re ready for a dispatch partnership built on discipline, strategy, and profitability, American Trust Logistics is built for you.

Apply today to work with a team that brings Navy discipline to trucking.