The TenFour Blog
How vetting actually works, what the DOT crackdown means, and how to make your freight company verifiable — written straight, no hype.
"Why Brokers Flag Gmail Addresses: The Carrier Vetting Checklist, Explained"
What actually happens when a broker vets your trucking company — the exact red flags on their checklists, why a free email address costs you loads, and how to pass every check.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"What Is Double Brokering? How Legit Carriers Avoid Getting Flagged for It"
Double brokering explained in plain English — how the scam works, why it made brokers paranoid, and what honest carriers can do to stop being mistaken for it.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"USDOT Number Lookup: What Brokers Actually See When They Run Yours"
Every broker runs your DOT number before booking you. Here's exactly what comes back — authority, safety data, contact records — and how to make sure yours tells the right story.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
How to Get a Website for Your Trucking Company (in About 30 Minutes)
The realistic options for a carrier or owner-operator who needs a website — costs, time, and what actually needs to be on the page to win freight.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"Professional Email for Trucking Companies: The Complete Setup Guide"
Why name@yourcompany.com wins loads that a Gmail loses, what a proper setup includes (domain, mailboxes, DNS records), and the one extra step most carriers miss — putting it on your FMCSA record.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"Montgomery v. Caribe: The Supreme Court Ruling That Changed How Brokers Pick Trucks"
In May 2026 the Supreme Court unanimously ruled brokers can be sued for negligently hiring unsafe carriers. Here's what the ruling held, how broker vetting is changing, and what it means for your trucking company.
July 3, 2026 · 3 min read
How to Update Your MCS-150 Email Address (and Why Brokers Check It)
Step-by-step guide to updating the contact email on your FMCSA record — free, takes about 10 minutes, and it's the field broker vetting tools check first.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"How to Get Shipper-Direct Freight (Without a Sales Team)"
A realistic playbook for small carriers who want direct shipper relationships — what shippers actually check, how to be findable, and why the load board doesn't have to be forever.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"How Brokers Vet Carriers in 2026: The Complete Checklist (Post-Montgomery)"
The definitive walkthrough of modern carrier vetting — every check brokers run after the Supreme Court's Montgomery ruling and the DOT fraud crackdown, and how to pass each one.
July 3, 2026 · 3 min read
"FMCSA-Verified: What the Badge Means and How to Get It"
The TenFour FMCSA-Verified badge proves you control the contact email on your FMCSA record — the same check broker vetting tools run. Here's how verification works and why it matters more after Montgomery.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read
"The 2026 DOT Crackdown, Explained for Small Carriers"
English proficiency enforcement, 28,000 non-domiciled CDLs revoked, ghost-office raids, ELD purges, CDL mill shutdowns — what FMCSA's enforcement wave actually covers and how to stay clearly on the right side of it.
July 3, 2026 · 3 min read
Do Owner-Operators Need a Website? An Honest Answer
You run one truck. Do you really need a website? What a web presence actually does for an owner-operator in 2026 — and what it doesn't.
July 3, 2026 · 2 min read