Choosing a carrier you can trust

 1. VERIFICATION OF COMPANY HISTORY AND RECORDS 

• Existence in the market:
  How long has the company been in business? Longer tenure indicates the stability and experience of the company.
• Permits, licences:
  Make sure the haulier has all the necessary licences and permits to carry out domestic and international transport. These include:
  • Certificate of Carrier Competence
  • Transport licence
  • Forwarding licence, if applicable
    Check their validity and scope!
• Insurance:
  
  • Carrier’s liability insurance, vehicle owner’s liability insurance and cargo insurance are required. It is important to obtain a copy of the policies and check their validity.
• Certificates
  • It is advisable to find out if the company has ISO quality certificates, which are often required by customers.

2. OPINIONS

• It is always worth asking others for recommendations / references
• General reviews online or on specific platforms:
  It is always worth reading the opinions of others – but you should always be cautious and not take everything for granted. When in doubt, you can always gather your own opinions by contacting the company and asking for references from customers.

3. FLEET ANALYSIS

• Type of vehicles:
  Does the company have the right vehicles for your needs? Diversity in the fleet is definitely an asset!
• Technical condition and age of the vehicles:
  It is worth checking the actual number and condition of the vehicles at the haulier’s disposal.
• Equipment:
  It is also important to know if the fleet is equipped for loading/unloading and if it has the right equipment for securing different loads (e.g. straps, anti-slip mats, etc.).

4. SERVICE PRICES

• Service price comparison
  It is important to research the market and compare the prices offered by different carriers. Remember that the cheapest offer is not always the best. A price that is too low may indicate a poor quality of service or a scam.
• Comprehensiveness of the offer
  Compare the range of services offered by different hauliers. If you have different types of freight, it is worth considering choosing a carrier that offers a comprehensive range of services and is able to handle all orders, regardless of the quantity or destination of the goods.
• Price components
  Ask about all price components to avoid unpleasant and often costly surprises.
• Terms of payment
  At this stage, it is useful to know the payment terms in order to determine whether they are favourable to you.

5. CHECK EXPERIENCE AND SPECIALISATION

• Make sure the haulier you are considering is experienced in transporting a particular type of goods (e.g. ADR, refrigerated, express, FTL/LTL, etc.).
• Check if the company serves the region where you plan to transport your goods.

In addition:

• Check the financial credibility of the carrier
• Pay attention to the company’s communication

Build long-term partnerships: Bet on transparency and trust.

Remember that reliable carrier verification is an investment in the safety of your transport. By choosing a reliable partner, you minimise the risk of delays, cargo damage and other unforeseen situations.