Descartes adds audit logging to carrier vetting as Supreme Court ruling raises liability stakes

Descartes Systems Group, the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced a new review management and audit logging capability within Descartes MyCarrierPortal™ to help freight brokers, third party logistics service providers (3PLs) and shippers create auditable, transparent carrier selection processes. With standardized review workflows, management oversight and auditable decision records, AuditLog helps companies reduce their reliance on manual recordkeeping and disconnected documentation systems.

“As the U.S. transportation industry evaluates the implications of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC, documenting carrier vetting activities, establishing consistent review practices and demonstrating reasonable care in carrier selection is coming under greater scrutiny,” said Dan Cicerchi, EVP, Corporate & Operations Development at Descartes. “While carrier vetting and safety reviews have long been a critical component of transportation risk management, our new AuditLog capabilities help organizations establish more consistent governance around carrier selection while maintaining operational efficiency.”

Built directly into the Descartes MyCarrierPortal carrier onboarding and compliance solution, AuditLog combines carrier review management and audit logging in a single workflow, helping organizations create a clear record of carrier evaluations, management reviews and onboarding decisions. The solution automatically documents carrier risk assessment information, review activity, management oversight and outcomes at the time decisions are made, which preserves a historical record of carrier evaluations and onboarding decisions. This “snapshot in time” approach helps organizations maintain a record of what information was available and considered during the review process, as carrier profiles, safety records, operating authorities and risk factors may evolve over time.

“As a long-standing Descartes customer, we’re pleased to see the ongoing commitment to expand the carrier vetting capabilities available within the platform,” said Holly Phillips, Director, Accounts Receivable, Bridgeway. “In the wake of the Montgomery decision, the ability to leverage customizable carrier risk assessments and conduct deeper carrier reviews directly within the carrier profile will be increasingly valuable as organizations look to strengthen and document their carrier selection processes.”

Using AuditLog, organizations can:

• Review carrier risk and safety assessments through a centralized workflow
• Document carrier approvals and denials with commentary and supporting rationale
• Route carriers requiring additional scrutiny through management review processes
• Establish future review dates for ongoing oversight
• Automatically record review actions and workflow changes
• Create auditable records of carrier selection decisions
• Improve visibility and communication across operational, safety, and compliance teams
• Support internal governance, audit, and documentation initiatives

“Companies need more repeatable, defensible review practices to document the information reviewed, decisions made and oversight applied throughout the carrier onboarding process,” said Ken Wood, EVP Product Management at Descartes. “AuditLog provides the structured workflows, documented management escalation paths and consistent review records required to help teams better mitigate liability by efficiently following established carrier selection procedures.”