Somerset’s New Online Carrier Registration

Over the last several years Somerset has implemented processes to update and improve our setup procedures for carriers.  We have strived to protect our partners, customers and company by only doing business with the best carriers.  We have also tried to minimize the work for account managers and independent agents who have the ability to register new carriers.  As part of the overall plan to protect ourselves and our customers from partnering with unqualified carriers Somerset has partnered with an industry leader, Internet Truckstop, and will incorporate their online carrier registration process for registering and monitoring carriers.  The registration and monitoring system provides Somerset the ability to quickly setup new and current carriers, as well as validate and monitor all those qualified carriers to ensure they maintain the proper qualifications to move our freight. 

The carrier registration system integrates with our Transportation Management System (TMS) in that it automatically updates information in our TMS.  Account managers will no longer have to swop documents and input carrier information into our TMS.  A carrier’s information such as a carrier’s W9, broker-carrier contracts, insurance documents and other information will be stored and accessed digitally.  So how does the new carrier registration work?

A new carrier simply goes to our website, selects the menu tab “Carrier Registration”, clicks the link and the carrier is sent to our carrier registration link.  The carrier will take a few minutes to complete the setup process then the information is automatically uploaded into our TMS and stored on line.  We will no longer have to send a setup packet and then manually upload that information into our TMS.  The registration takes a carrier no longer than 2 - 5 minutes to complete.  Once the carrier fills out the information in the link the system validates their company information and the carrier will be able to move Somerset loads within minutes.  The new registration process will also assist and streamline many cumbersome and timely tasks associated with registering carriers.  Having carriers register online assists in avoiding missed faxes and lost paperwork.  There will no longer be any faxing required to register new carriers which increases our speed and accuracy.  Through the registration link carriers will complete an online profile, view and sign our Broker – Carrier contract electronically. These electronically signed PDFs allow us to save, print and download signed contracts and other agreements. Daily (at the end of the day) the system updates carrier information. This includes a carrier’s updated safety ratings, identifies out of date or invalid carriers, and provides other alerts which are automatically updated into our TMS. For example, if a carrier falls out of tolerance, goes out of business or loses insurance our TMS will change statuses and notify us not to use the carrier.

The online carrier registration and integration into our TMS allows account managers and independent agents more time to spend on selling freight and servicing customers.  As important our online registration process provides the security of knowing that Somerset will only be working with valid qualified carriers.