Sethmar Transportation, a dynamic Kansas City-based third-party logistics provider, prides itself on its meticulous carrier vetting process that helps support their valued customer and carrier partners. With a strong focus on compliance and security, Sethmar partners with Highway to eliminate fraudulent carriers from their network. In a recent high-stakes situation, Highway’s Load Lock played a critical role in preventing the theft of a $130,000 load.
The Challenge: Navigating Carrier Vetting in a High-Risk Industry
Before implementing Highway, Sethmar faced challenges in verifying the authenticity of carriers. The brokerage was bound by utilizing multiple data sources and manual processes through different providers, while the industry was looking for a single point of truth when it came to carrier compliance. The industry’s reliance on gut instinct and fragmented data made it difficult to act quickly and decisively.
“We do not live in a black or white world when we’re vetting carriers. Our job is to eliminate as much gray as we can. What data and proof are we going to put behind those decisions?” said Ryan Mize, Director of Compliance at Sethmar Transportation.
Sethmar needed a solution that would provide real-time, data-backed carrier identity verification while maintaining operational efficiency.
The Solution: Highway’s Carrier Identity® Engine & Load Lock
Highway’s Carrier Identity® Engine revolutionized Sethmar’s ability to vet carriers, consolidating hundreds of data points into an easily digestible view. By integrating Highway’s vetting and compliance processes, Sethmar could make informed decisions based on a carrier’s digital footprint and historical performance.
Beyond identity verification, Sethmar adopted Load Lock, Highway’s continuous compliance monitoring solution, to safeguard loads in real-time from tender to delivery.
“Load Lock specifically is one that we won’t live without. It ensures that even after our strict vetting process, we’re protected beyond tendering the load.”
The $130,000 Save: How Load Lock Stopped a Theft in Progress
Just weeks after implementing Load Lock, Sethmar faced a real-world fraud attempt:
- A carrier was vetted and initially approved for a load worth $130,000.
- On the morning of pickup, Load Lock detected a fraud alert tied to the assigned carrier.
- At 9:35 AM, Sethmar’s system flagged the alert.
- By 9:39 AM, Sethmar’s carrier sales rep had removed the fraudulent carrier from the load, alerted the shipper, and froze the pickup number, preventing the theft from taking place.
The Impact: Increased Security, Faster Decision-Making
The ability to proactively intercept fraud attempts has drastically improved Sethmar’s operations:
- Faster, more confident decisions on carrier selection.
- Reduced risk exposure to theft and fraud.
- Stronger relationships with shippers, who appreciate the added security measures.
- Seamless integration with their TMS, ensuring fraud protection is built into daily workflows.
A Call to Action for the Freight Industry
Ryan Mize emphasizes that fraud prevention must be a collaborative effort across the industry.
“Fraudsters come to work every day just like us. The only way to combat this is by reporting fraudulent activity, working together, and utilizing the best technology available. Highway’s anonymous fraud reporting allows us to protect each other without fear of reputational damage.”
With $454 million in freight theft reported in 2024, Sethmar urges other brokers to take proactive measures before they experience their own loss.
Conclusion
Sethmar Transportation’s partnership with Highway has transformed the way they protect their freight. By leveraging Highway’s Carrier Identity Engine and Load Lock, they have eliminated guesswork, improved operational efficiency, and most importantly—helped protect both their customers and carriers from these fraudulent actors.
For freight brokers looking to take control of fraud prevention, Sethmar’s story proves that investing in proactive protection isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity.
Protect your organization from theft with Load Lock, contact our team to book a demo.
