FAQ — DieselLynk Brokerless Freight Marketplace

Question 1

How is DieselLynk different from a traditional freight broker?

Accepted Answer

DieselLynk is a direct-to-carrier marketplace, not a broker. There's no middleman marking up your rate. You post a load, vetted carriers bid on it, and you approve the one you want. You keep 100% of the negotiated rate — DieselLynk earns a flat platform fee, not a percentage of your freight spend.

Question 2

What does it cost to post a load?

Accepted Answer

Posting a load on DieselLynk is free. You only pay when you successfully book a carrier. Our flat-fee model means your cost is predictable regardless of load size or lane — no surprise markups based on spot-market rates.

Question 3

How do I know the carriers on the platform are legitimate?

Accepted Answer

Every carrier goes through a multi-step vetting process before they can request your load. We verify their FMCSA operating authority (DOT and MC numbers), confirm active insurance coverage including auto liability and cargo limits, and check their Certificate of Insurance (COI) expiration date. Carriers with lapsed insurance are automatically flagged and blocked from requesting loads until they re-verify.

Question 4

What is the Elite Pay badge and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

The Elite Pay badge is awarded to shippers who consistently pay carriers on time and in full. It's calculated from a blended score: 60% from our admin-assigned payment history score and 40% from direct driver feedback. Shippers scoring 85–100 earn Elite Pay status, which makes your loads more attractive to top-tier carriers. Scores of 70–84 show as On Time, 50–69 as Slow Pay, and below 50 as High Risk — which can limit the quality of carriers willing to haul your freight.

Question 5

Can I approve or decline specific carriers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When drivers request your load, you review each one individually before approving. You can see their company name, DOT/MC number, equipment type, phone, email, and verification status all in one place. You choose who hauls your freight — no automatic assignments.

Question 6

What happens after I approve a carrier?

Accepted Answer

Both parties receive a confirmation email immediately. The driver gets your contact details, load specifics, agreed rate, and a link to download the standard DieselLynk Rate Confirmation Template. You receive the carrier's full contact info, DOT/MC number, and equipment details. The load is marked as Booked on your dashboard and removed from the active board.

Question 7

Do I need to sign a broker agreement or freight contract?

Accepted Answer

No broker agreement is required because DieselLynk is not a broker. We recommend exchanging a signed Rate Confirmation with your carrier — we provide a standard template for this. All contractual obligations are directly between you and the carrier.

Question 8

What payment terms are standard on DieselLynk?

Accepted Answer

Payment terms are negotiated directly between shipper and carrier. Common terms on the platform are net-15 and net-30. Your payment history is tracked and contributes to your shipper credit score, so consistent on-time payment directly improves your Elite Pay standing and your ability to attract the best carriers.

Question 9

Who can sign up as a carrier on DieselLynk?

Accepted Answer

Any owner-operator or carrier with active FMCSA operating authority can sign up. You'll need a valid DOT number, MC number, and current insurance coverage. Independent owner-operators, small fleets, and larger carriers are all welcome — DieselLynk is built to give every size of operation direct access to freight without going through a broker.

Question 10

What documents do I need to get verified?

Accepted Answer

You'll need to provide your DOT and MC numbers for authority verification, and upload a current Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing your auto liability and cargo coverage. Our team reviews and verifies these manually. Once verified, your profile displays the Verified Authority and Verified Insurance badges, which significantly increases shipper confidence in your bids.

Question 11

What happens if my insurance expires?

Accepted Answer

If your COI expiration date passes, your insurance verification is automatically revoked and you will be blocked from requesting new loads until you upload a current certificate and are re-verified. Shippers can see your insurance status in real time, so keeping your COI current is critical to staying active on the board.

Question 12

How do I request a load?

Accepted Answer

Browse the load board, find a load that matches your equipment and preferred lane, and click Request Load. Your profile information — business name, DOT/MC, and equipment type — is automatically attached to the request. You can also include a short message to the shipper. The shipper reviews all requests and approves the carrier they want.

Question 13

How do I know if a shipper pays on time?

Accepted Answer

Every shipper on DieselLynk has a visible payment performance score. Elite Pay shippers (85–100) have a strong track record of paying on time. On Time (70–84) shippers are generally reliable. Slow Pay (50–69) and High Risk (below 50) shippers are flagged with colored indicators on their load cards so you can make an informed decision before requesting.

Question 14

Can I leave feedback on a shipper after completing a load?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Driver feedback is a core part of the DieselLynk credit system. Your rating contributes 40% of the shipper's overall payment performance score. Honest feedback helps other carriers make better decisions and holds shippers accountable for their payment practices.

Question 15

What is the Rate Confirmation Template?

Accepted Answer

When a load is booked, DieselLynk provides a standard Rate Confirmation Template that both parties can print, sign, and exchange. It documents the agreed rate, route, pickup and delivery dates, and carrier/shipper contact information. While not legally required by DieselLynk, exchanging a signed rate confirmation is strongly recommended to protect both parties.

Question 16

Does DieselLynk dispatch loads or manage my operations?

Accepted Answer

No. DieselLynk is a technology marketplace, not a dispatcher or broker. Once a load is booked, all coordination — pickup scheduling, delivery confirmation, invoicing, and payment — happens directly between you and the shipper. You stay in full control of your operation.

Question 17

Is DieselLynk a licensed freight broker?

Accepted Answer

No. DieselLynk is a neutral technology platform that connects shippers and carriers directly. We are not a freight broker, motor carrier, or party to any transportation agreement. All load agreements, rate negotiations, and contractual obligations are solely between the shipper and the carrier.

Question 18

How does DieselLynk verify carrier authority?

Accepted Answer

Our team manually reviews each carrier's DOT and MC numbers against FMCSA records. Carriers receive a Verified Authority badge once their operating authority is confirmed as active. We also perform periodic re-checks and can revoke verification if authority lapses or is placed out of service.

Question 19

What insurance minimums are required for carriers?

Accepted Answer

Carriers must maintain active auto liability and cargo insurance coverage. Minimum coverage thresholds are reviewed during the verification process. Your COI must name the coverage amounts and expiration date. Carriers with expired or insufficient coverage are blocked from the platform until re-verified.

Question 20

Who is liable if cargo is lost or damaged?

Accepted Answer

Liability for cargo loss or damage rests with the carrier and shipper per their agreement and applicable law (Carmack Amendment for interstate shipments). DieselLynk is a marketplace platform and bears no liability for cargo claims, delays, or any other transportation-related losses. Users are solely responsible for verifying carrier authority, insurance, and compliance before tendering freight.

Question 21

How is my data protected on DieselLynk?

Accepted Answer

All user data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Passwords are hashed using industry-standard cryptographic methods and are never stored in plain text. Session tokens are short-lived and invalidated on logout. We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties outside of what is necessary to operate the platform.

Question 22

What is the Safe Harbor disclaimer I see on confirmation emails?

Accepted Answer

The Safe Harbor disclaimer is a legal notice that appears on all DieselLynk transactional emails. It clarifies that DieselLynk is a neutral marketplace and not a party to the freight transaction. It reminds both shippers and carriers that all obligations, liability, and compliance responsibilities rest with them — not with DieselLynk as a platform.

Question 23

How do I report a problem with a shipper or carrier?

Accepted Answer

Contact our support team at info@diesellynk.com with the load ID, the other party's name, and a description of the issue. We take platform integrity seriously and will investigate all reports. Verified bad actors — including non-paying shippers and carriers with fraudulent credentials — are removed from the platform.

Question 24

Where can I find DieselLynk's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy?

Accepted Answer

Our full Terms of Use are available at diesellynk.com/terms. These documents govern your use of the platform and outline the rights and responsibilities of all parties. We recommend reading them before posting your first load or submitting your first bid.

Frequently asked questions

For shippers

For carriers

Compliance & platform

Still have questions?