Carrier Assure CEO Cassandra Gaines releases BAVRA Standard for shipper broker vetting

Published Aug 5, 12:00 PM UTC

Carrier Assure CEO Cassandra Gaines has released the BAVRA Standard (Broker Assessment, Verification, Risk and Accountability), a 34-page framework to help shippers establish a reasonable and defensible process for selecting and monitoring freight brokers, freight forwarders, and managed transportation providers. The standard is a companion to the earlier CAVRA Standard for carrier vetting. BAVRA addresses what Gaines sees as a blind spot in transportation risk management: shippers often perform limited due diligence before entrusting freight to a broker. The framework emphasizes evaluating brokers based on information available at the time, not just after an accident or claim. It encourages shippers to establish written qualification standards, monitor performance, and audit broker practices while allowing brokers to remain independently responsible for carrier selection. Gaines also highlighted pickup verification at loading docks as a critical safety and liability issue.