Due Diligence

What we verify on forwarder listings and what shippers should check before awarding freight.

Last updated: October 13, 2026

Overview

Directory listings on CargoLinked are self-published: a forwarder enters its own company details and appears in the directory without prior review by us. Nothing in a listing has been verified before you see it, so your own due diligence is the primary safeguard. This page outlines the steps shippers should take before awarding freight to any forwarder: on or off the Platform.

What the Verified badge covers

The Verified badge is optional and applies only to listings that display it. Since October 2026 it is granted only when all of the following are confirmed, and the badge on a listing shows which of them were confirmed and when:

  • The company is registered and active in an official company register, under a name that matches the listing.
  • The person who applied is entitled to act for the company.
  • The licences the company holds are confirmed. US ocean freight licences are checked against the public FMC licence list every day.
  • Those licences cover the regulated services the listing offers (for example air freight, customs brokerage, or ocean freight for a US company). The badge shows what it covers, and anything it does not.
  • The company has a real business presence: a working website with an address and phone number, and an established web domain.
  • The website describes a freight or logistics business that matches the listing.
  • Someone at the business email address on the listing answered a confirmation we sent to it.
  • There is no unresolved report about the listing.

What the badge does not mean

The badge is renewed every 12 months and re-checked when a report is made or a licence leaves the public list. It describes the checks above at the dates shown. It is not an endorsement, a recommendation, or a guarantee of a company's conduct, service quality, or financial standing. Badges granted before October 2026 are being re-checked against this standard and show that they are under review.

Listings without the badge may show dated listing facts, such as when the company confirmed an email at its own web domain or when its website was last online. These facts come from automatic checks and public sources, may lag behind changes, and are not a verification of the company.

What we do not verify

A listing without the Verified badge has had no documents reviewed at all. For every listing, badged or not, CargoLinked does not independently verify:

  • Website, social media, phone, and email details in a listing: these are entered by the listing owner and published without review, and may point anywhere, including to fraudulent sites.
  • Financial stability or creditworthiness of forwarders.
  • Insurance coverage limits or validity at time of shipment.
  • Past performance, delivery track record, or dispute history.
  • Compliance with sanctions, export controls, or restricted party lists for your specific shipment.
  • Capacity to handle specialized cargo (dangerous goods, perishables, oversized freight) unless explicitly stated.
  • Anything beyond the dated checks a listing shows. Licences are re-checked daily and websites about every 90 days, but a company can change between checks.

Shipper due diligence checklist

Before awarding freight, we recommend:

  • Confirm the company website independently. Search for it rather than only following the link on the listing, and check that the domain, company registration, and contact details agree.
  • Treat any request to pay a new or unexpected bank account, or to move the conversation off-platform immediately, as a fraud warning sign.
  • Before paying, confirm bank details by phone with a contact you already know at the company, and check that the account is held in the name of the company you are dealing with. CargoLinked never asks you to pay a member through a message.
  • Be cautious of pressure to pay quickly (for example, a quote that "expires today" unless paid in full upfront), and of a contact who signs messages with different names.
  • Confirm the forwarder holds valid licensing for the lanes and services you require.
  • Request and review proof of cargo insurance appropriate for your shipment value.
  • Check references or reviews from prior customers where available.
  • Verify the forwarder is not on relevant sanctions or denied-party lists for your trade lane.
  • Ensure quoted Incoterms, transit times, and inclusions/exclusions are documented in writing.
  • For high-value or regulated cargo, consider independent audits or trial shipments.

Forwarder responsibilities

Forwarders on CargoLinked are expected to maintain accurate profiles, respond to requests honestly, and operate in compliance with applicable laws.

If you believe a listing contains false information, report it to support@cargolinked.com with supporting evidence.

Reporting concerns

Every directory listing has a Report button that opens a ticket with our trust and safety team. Use it for suspected fraud, impersonation, or a link that does not belong to the company named. You can also contact support@cargolinked.com with supporting evidence.

We investigate reports and may hide, suspend, or remove listings that breach our Terms of Service. Because listings are self-published, reports are how most bad listings reach us, so please send them.