If you've heard the term "FreightGuard report" and aren't sure exactly what it means — or you've just discovered one filed against your MC number — this guide covers everything you need to know. FreightGuard reports are one of the most consequential and least understood mechanisms in the trucking industry. A single report can cost a carrier tens of thousands of dollars in lost loads before they even know it exists.
Already have a FreightGuard report? Contact Report Removers 411 for a free case review — we'll assess your removal options same day.
A FreightGuard report (also written as Freight Guard report) is a negative incident report filed by a freight broker or shipper against a carrier through RMIS — Registry Monitoring Insurance Services. Once filed, the report is attached to the carrier's MC or DOT number and becomes visible to brokers and shippers across major freight industry vetting platforms.
Think of it like a negative item on a credit report — except instead of affecting your ability to get a loan, it affects your ability to get loads. And unlike a credit report, there's no automatic dispute timeline and no regulatory agency actively policing accuracy.
FreightGuard is managed by RMIS (Registry Monitoring Insurance Services), a company that provides carrier compliance and monitoring tools to the freight industry. RMIS is widely used by brokers to verify carrier insurance, authority status, and safety records. FreightGuard is RMIS's carrier incident reporting system — a database where brokers and shippers can document negative experiences with carriers.
RMIS makes FreightGuard data available to its subscribers through its platform and via data feeds to third-party vetting tools. This is why a single report can appear across multiple platforms simultaneously.
Any freight broker or shipper who is registered with RMIS can file a FreightGuard report. There is no independent verification step before a report is published. The reporting party submits their account of what happened, and it goes into your carrier record — often without any notification to you.
This one-sided process is one of the most criticized aspects of the FreightGuard system. Carriers have no right of reply before the report is visible to brokers. By the time most carriers find out a report exists, it has already started affecting their load opportunities.
FreightGuard reports cover a wide range of alleged incidents. The most common report types include:
| Report Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Cargo Claims | Freight damage, shortage claims, wet/contaminated cargo |
| Service Failures | Late pickup, late delivery, missed appointment, load abandonment |
| Fraud & Safety | Double brokering, identity fraud, unauthorized re-brokering |
| Communication | Driver non-responsive, carrier unreachable during load |
| Financial Disputes | Attempted overcharging, rate disputes, unauthorized detention charges |
| Compliance | Failure to maintain insurance, operating with suspended authority |
It's important to understand that reports are filed based solely on the reporting party's account. Many reports are filed over legitimate disputes where both sides have valid perspectives — but only the broker or shipper's version enters the record.
Once filed through RMIS, a FreightGuard report propagates to every platform that integrates with RMIS data. This includes:
The critical takeaway: you don't have one report on one platform. You have one report on every platform. A single FreightGuard filing can block you from the entire network of RMIS-connected brokers simultaneously.
Consumer reviews (like Google or Yelp) are opinion-based and easily identifiable as one person's experience. FreightGuard reports are presented as factual incident records within compliance databases that brokers use for formal carrier qualification decisions. Brokers don't read a FreightGuard report the way they'd read a review — they treat it as a compliance red flag, similar to an insurance lapse or a safety violation.
This distinction matters enormously because it means the consequences are not just reputational. They are operational and financial — reports trigger disqualifications, load rejections, and automated blocks in broker systems.
The impact varies based on the type of report and the platforms affected, but common consequences include:
For more on the financial impact, read our guide on how FreightGuard affects your rates.
Yes — and this is the most important thing to understand. A FreightGuard report is not permanent. Reports can be disputed through RMIS and removed when they are:
The dispute process is not simple, and most carriers who attempt it on their own either miss procedural requirements or fail to build a strong enough evidence case. Professional assistance significantly increases the likelihood of a successful removal.
Many carriers don't realize that RMIS's Freight Guard system is subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This means you have specific legal rights regarding your FreightGuard record, including:
These rights are powerful tools in the removal process — but only if you know how to invoke them correctly.
Report Removers 411 has removed 762+ reports for carriers across the country. Get a free case review — we'll tell you within one business day whether your report qualifies for removal.
Get Free Case ReviewA FreightGuard report is a negative incident report filed by a broker or shipper against a carrier through RMIS. It is visible to brokers and shippers on platforms like Carrier411, DAT, and Highway, and can significantly impact a carrier's ability to book loads.
Any freight broker or shipper registered with RMIS can file a FreightGuard report. The report is published unilaterally — the carrier has no opportunity to respond before it goes live.
FreightGuard reports appear on Carrier411, DAT, Highway, CarrierAssure, CarrierOK, and within TIA-member broker tools — any platform that integrates with RMIS carrier data.
Yes. FreightGuard reports can be disputed through RMIS and removed when inaccurate, unsubstantiated, or filed in violation of reporting guidelines or FCRA provisions.
Log into the RMIS carrier portal and search your MC or DOT number. You can also check Carrier411 directly. If you're suddenly losing loads without explanation, a FreightGuard report is one of the first things to check.