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Platform Walkthrough

How DOTScreener Works

Three steps — screen, attest, document — produce a tamper-evident record of reasonable care before every load moves.

1Screen
2Attest
3Document
The Ruling That Changed Everything

Why DOTScreener Exists

On May 14, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9–0 in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport IIthat federal law does not shield freight brokers from state-law negligence claims. Brokers now owe a duty of reasonable care when selecting carriers — and plaintiffs’ attorneys know it.

The Problem

Without documentation at the moment of tender, brokers have no defense. Reconstructing what you checked weeks later for litigation is too late — and juries know it.

The Solution

DOTScreener produces a timestamped, tamper-evident diligence record automatically on every load — with zero friction for your dispatch team.

1Step 1 of 3

Screen the Carrier

Enter an MC or DOT number. DOTScreener pulls live FMCSA data from four endpoints in parallel and delivers a complete safety profile in under 60 seconds.

ENTER MC OR DOT NUMBER
MC-123456
Screen
QCMobile
Authority, crash rates, BASICs, safety rating, OOS percentages
L&I Filings
Active insurance, 24-month history, expiration dates, churn
OOS Orders
389,000+ out-of-service records, active and rescinded
Census
Entity type, operating status, double-broker flag detection
16-Check Safety Report
12 3 1
Screen time
< 60s

All four queries run simultaneously. Results are scored against your brokerage’s configurable screening policy — you set the thresholds for every check. Each produces a pass, warn, or fail so your team gets a clear recommendation, not raw data.

Every data point is timestamped at retrieval — the screen captures what FMCSA reported at the time you made the decision, not what the database shows weeks later.

2Step 2 of 3

Carrier Signs the Safety Attestation

The carrier receives one email with one link. No account, no login, no uploads. Eleven attestation checkboxes, one signature — done.

Email Sent
One email. One link. No account required.
11 Safety Checks
HOS compliance, driver fitness, insurance, authority status, and more.
Signed & Locked
Electronic signature captured. Certificate issued to carrier.

The carrier attests to:

Hours-of-service (HOS) compliance
Driver fitness and qualification
Vehicle maintenance & securement
Insurance coverage in force
Authority active and unrestricted
No undisclosed OOS orders

The Attestation Gate

This is server-enforced — not a checkbox your team can skip. A screen cannot be marked APPROVED until the carrier’s signature lands. If your team is ever deposed, the system architecture itself proves the attestation was collected before the screen moved to APPROVED status.

3Step 3 of 3

Tender Defense Packet

The moment you approve the load, DOTScreener auto-generates a single tamper-evident PDF — everything bundled into one documented diligence record.

PDF
Tender Defense Packet
Auto-generated · Tamper-evident · Audit-ready
FMCSA Safety Snapshot
All data points at time of screen
Insurance Filing History
Active filings with term-end dates
OOS Order Records
Active and rescinded orders
Signed Safety Attestation
Carrier's 11-point declaration
SHA-256 Hash-Chained Audit Trail
Every event cryptographically linked

If a claim ever lands, you hand your insurer or attorney one clean PDF. The hash chain proves the record was assembled contemporaneously and has not been altered. No scrambling, no missing attestations, no gaps.

Tamper Evidence

The Hash-Chained Audit Trail

Every event is cryptographically linked. Alter one record and the entire chain breaks — visible to anyone who checks.

1
Data Pull
a4f2...8c1d
2
Risk Eval
b7e3...2f9a
3
Attestation
c1d8...6e4b
4
Approval
d9a2...1c7f

Same tamper-evidence property as blockchain systems, without the complexity. Each Tender Defense Packet includes the full chain for independent verification by any party.

16-Point Screening

16 Safety Checks Per Screen

Each check produces a pass, warn, or fail result based on thresholds you configure in your brokerage’s screening policy.

Authority Status
Authority Age
Operating Status
Safety Rating
Double-Broker Flag
Insurance Status
Driver OOS Rate
Vehicle OOS Rate
Fatal Crash History
Injury Crash History
Towaway Crash History
SMS BASIC Scores
Inspection History
MCS-150 Update
Active OOS Orders
Cargo/Hazmat Authorization

The policy is yours to own — DOTScreener enforces it consistently across every dispatcher on your team.

What DOTScreener Does & Doesn’t Do

What it does

  • Screens carriers against live FMCSA data in seconds
  • Surfaces insurance term-end dates and filing history
  • Pulls 389k+ OOS records on every screen
  • Collects signed carrier safety attestations
  • Auto-generates tamper-evident Tender Defense Packets
  • Issues branded Safety Attestation Certificates
  • Detects broker-only entities (double-broker flag)
  • Builds SHA-256 hash-chained audit trails
  • Driver ID Verification — license photo + face capture
  • Configurable risk thresholds for every data point
  • TMS Integration API for programmatic screening

What it is not

  • Not a cargo-theft prevention platform
  • Not continuous monitoring — point-in-time snapshot
  • Not a carrier directory or load board
  • Not a crash prediction engine
  • Not legal advice or a legal guarantee

Simple, Transparent Pricing

Every plan includes unlimited screens. There is never a financial reason to skip a screen.

$99
One-time setup
Account activation
$29.99
Per seat / month
Unlimited screens
$0
Per screen
Always free to run

Start with a 14-day free trial — no credit card required.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a carrier screen take?

Under 60 seconds. DOTScreener pulls FMCSA data from four endpoints in parallel — QCMobile, L&I filings, the OOS order feed, and Census — so the full report loads in a single pass.

Does the carrier need to create an account?

No. The carrier receives one email with one link. They check eleven attestation boxes, sign, and they're done. No account, no login, no uploads. The broker already has their COI on file.

What happens if the carrier doesn't sign the attestation?

Inside DOTScreener, the screen cannot be marked APPROVED — the diligence-file artifact — until the carrier's signature lands. This is server-enforced and applies to DOTScreener's approval state, not to your underlying dispatch system. The result is a clean evidentiary record that you did not move the load to APPROVED status in your diligence file without the attestation in hand.

What is the Tender Defense Packet?

A single tamper-evident PDF auto-generated the moment you approve the load. It bundles the FMCSA snapshot, insurance filing history, OOS order records, the carrier's signed attestation, and a SHA-256 hash-chained audit trail. If a claim ever lands, you hand your insurer or attorney one clean document.

What does 'hash-chained audit trail' mean?

Every event in a screening — data pull, risk evaluation, attestation signature, approval — is hashed with SHA-256 and linked to the previous event's hash. If anyone altered or deleted an event after the fact, the chain would break. This gives the record the same tamper-evidence property used in blockchain systems, without the complexity.

Where does DOTScreener get its data?

All carrier data is pulled live from the FMCSA at the moment of screening. DOTScreener queries QCMobile (safety scores, crash and inspection history), L&I (insurance filings with expiration dates), the Out-of-Service order feed (389k+ records), and Census (authority status, entity type). No cached databases, no stale snapshots.

Is there a per-screen fee?

No. Every plan includes unlimited screens at $0 per screen. Pricing is $99 one-time account activation and $29.99 per seat per month. There is never a financial reason to skip a screen.

Does DOTScreener replace our TMS or load board?

No. DOTScreener is a carrier-selection documentation tool. It runs alongside your existing TMS and load board — you screen the carrier, collect the attestation, and the defense packet is generated. It does not manage loads, track shipments, or replace any part of your dispatch workflow.

Document your diligence on every load.

Screen carriers, collect attestations, and auto-generate tamper-evident defense packets — all in under 60 seconds.

Start Free Trial
No credit card · 14-day free trial · Unlimited screens