J.J. Keller & Associates introduced its new Carrier Risk Review Service to help shippers and brokers assess the risk of third-party carriers.

Through vicarious liability, a shipper or broker that hires a third-party carrier is responsible for knowing the status of that carrier’s motor carrier fitness prior to hiring them and could be held liable in the event of a crash, J.J. Keller & Associates pointed out.

“Performing due diligence when selecting a carrier is critical for shippers and brokers because if an accident occurs, plaintiff attorneys will often attempt to demonstrate that the shipper or broker either knew, or reasonably should have known, the carrier was unfit and that the incompetence was a cause of the injury,” said Sean Nebert, director of transport consulting services at J.J. Keller.

J.J. Keller’s Carrier Risk Review Service was designed to improve the carrier selection process by analyzing all available DOT data of selected third-party carriers, including:

• Valid US DOT/MC Number

• Proper Federal/State Operating Authority

• ACORD Form/MCS 90 (certificate of insurance coverage)

• Satisfactory FMCSA Rating

• Inspection Selection System (ISS) scores below 50

• FMCSA BASIC scores

Based on the results of the risk review, clients of the service receive a complete report of the findings, including a four-tiered rating for each carrier that ranks the carrier as low risk, elevated risk, high risk, or extreme risk.

“This new service now makes it quick and easy for shippers and brokers to spot potentially unsafe third-party carriers and reduce the risk of vicarious liability,” added Nebert.