Steps to verifying your driver account with CitizenShipper

Trust is at the core of the transportation business – no trust, no business.

To succeed, it’s essential to ensure your profile inspires confidence in potential customers.

The Verification section of your Profile settings page is a great place to start. It allows you to validate key details about yourself and your business. 

Please note that all drivers are required to complete the Identity Verification and Security Check before they can start bidding. In addition to these two verifications, verifying the email address is also required to complete the onboarding process.

Note: USDA registration and acceptance of our Pet Transportation Standards are required for those in the pet transport category.

Other verifications, such as Insurance Verification and USDOT verification, are optional but can help build trust with customers.

Here’s a breakdown of the available verifications:

Identity verification

Before placing bids on shipments or communicating with prospects, all drivers must submit their information for identity screening. To learn more about best practices for a successful verification, visit this article.

Security check

Upon completing the ID verification process, we require all drivers to submit their information for a background check. For more details on this process and why these verifications matter, please read our article on how Background Screenings create community.

USDA T Registrations

Please note: As of April 22, 2026, USDA registration is mandatory for all pet transporters; a 90-day grace period applies. If you are not yet registered, you can apply here.

Upon receiving your T Registration from the USDA, you may visit the verifications tab and verify your registration as a pet transporter registered with the United States Department of Agriculture. For more details on this process, see our USDA registration and verification guide. And in case you have yet to obtain your T registration, read more about the registration on the APHIS website or check out this video on how to apply.

Pet Transporter Standards: 

Please note: As of May 20, 2026, acknowledging our Pet Transporter Standards is a mandatory part of the onboarding process for all pet transporters. Any transporter who created an account prior to the date will be granted a 30-day grace period to acknowledge the terms. 

Because pets are live animals requiring specialized care and attention, CitizenShipper holds pet transporters to an elevated level of verification to promote a safe, humane, and professional marketplace. In addition to standard background and identity checks, drivers bidding on pet shipments must formally review and acknowledge our comprehensive Transporter Standards. 

Please keep in mind that as an independent contractor, CitizenShipper does not direct or control how your transport services are performed. These standards reflect expected practices across the platform. They are designed to support animal welfare, customer trust, and transporter success. You can review and acknowledge the terms from your Verifications page in your account settings. To learn more about these standards, please visit our Pet Transporter Standards Help Center Page.

Manual verification

Once you complete the required verifications, our support team will manually review your account. This process typically takes around one business day. You will receive email updates on the status of your application.

**Completion of the onboarding process, including security and identity screenings, does not limit CitizenShipper’s right to suspend or terminate an account if it is found to violate the Terms of Use or engage in unusual, suspicious, or prohibited activity.

Insurance verification

If you hold insurance, whether it’s commercial cargo, automotive liability, or pet insurance, you can submit proof of coverage to earn an insurance verification badge. This reassures customers that their shipment is protected. Please note that CitizenShipper insurance verification is not for personal vehicle insurance. For more details on completing this process, visit this article.

USDOT number verification

Carriers registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) with a USDOT number that has an Active status and the Operating Authority Status is listed as Authorized, are strongly encouraged to scroll to the bottom of the verifications page and submit their USDOT number for verification. This adds yet another layer of trust to driver profiles and also to CitizenShipper.

Coming soon...

We’re working on adding new verification options to make your profile even more appealing and stand out from the crowd. If you have additional certifications or licenses that you’d like potential customers to know about, let us know!

Remember, trust isn’t just built through badges. It’s earned at every stage of communication. Details matter! The photos you upload, the spelling and grammar you use, the way you treat people and handle issues — all these can impact your review score and your reputation.

What to read next

For more advice on setting up your account, see the articles on account settings (2-min read) and background checks (2-min read). 

For advice on making your first steps on the CitizenShipper platform, see Getting your bearings. 

For advice on winning shipments, see Bidding and payments. 

For Pet Transporters: Learn how to comply with federal mandates and fast-track your profile approval with the USDA Registration and Verification Guide (4-min read).