How We Vet Carriers
As a broker, Barakah Holdings doesn't operate the trucks or vessels that move your vehicle. We coordinate your shipment with carriers, which makes choosing the right one for each shipment one of the most important things we do. Here's what we check.
Why Carrier Checks Matter
A broker's own USDOT number and bond show that the broker is accountable. They don't tell you anything about the specific carrier handling your shipment, so both pieces matter, and that's why we check the carrier as well.
What We Check Before a Carrier Is Assigned
Active FMCSA operating authority
Every carrier needs valid, current authority, verifiable the same way ours is: directly on the FMCSA's public SAFER System.
Cargo insurance
Carriers are expected to carry adequate cargo insurance covering the vehicles they transport. This is the insurance that actually protects your vehicle during transit, separate from our own broker bond. See our full licensing and insurance page
Safety record
We look at a carrier's safety history and compliance standing, rather than taking a clean-looking website at face value.
Equipment appropriate to the shipment
A carrier handling enclosed transport for a classic car needs different equipment than one running standard open routes, and we match carriers to shipments accordingly rather than treating every truck as interchangeable.
For International and Gulf Shipments Specifically
Ocean freight shipments add another layer: the carriers and freight forwarders involved in getting a vehicle from a U.S. port to a Gulf destination need to handle customs documentation correctly on both ends, so we look for experience with the destination country's requirements, including the documentation, port handling, and customs process that differ country by country. See our Gulf shipping guide
International Forwarder Vetting
Port coordination criteria for ocean freight to the Gulf
What This Means for You
In practice, these checks are what let us match each shipment to a carrier that fits it. If something about a specific carrier or shipment concerns you, ask us before pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Barakah Holdings carry its own cargo insurance?
As a broker, we maintain the FMCSA-required $75,000 broker bond, which is a financial-responsibility requirement specific to brokers. The cargo insurance covering your vehicle during transit is carried by the individual carrier assigned to your shipment, which is exactly why we check that insurance before a carrier is assigned. Full licensing and insurance details
How do I know which carrier is handling my shipment?
Ask us before pickup. You can also check any carrier's authority and insurance yourself on the FMCSA's SAFER System, the same way you can check ours.
What happens if a carrier doesn't meet these checks?
It isn't assigned to your shipment. Checking authority, insurance, and safety record before assignment is what protects the shipment, and it's standard practice for a licensed broker.
Questions about a specific shipment or carrier?
Contact us directly to discuss carrier vetting, or get a quote to get started.