How to check a transporter is licensed and insured for freight

When cargo goes missing, arrives damaged, or a transporter vanishes mid-job, the first regret is often "I should have checked they were actually licensed." Rushing this step is common — a friendly quote, a handshake, maybe a WhatsApp message agreeing terms — and then you discover the driver has no insurance, no business registration, or both. By then your goods and your money are at risk. A few deliberate checks before you hand over anything take less than an hour and protect you entirely.

Search the CIPC register for business standing

Start with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission database. Every legitimate freight operator — whether they run one vehicle or fifty — should be registered as either a close corporation or a private company. Visit the CIPC website and search by the transporter's business name or registration number. Note the date of registration, the directors' names, and the status (should say "Active"). If the business is listed as struck off, under liquidation, or dormant, that is your signal to walk away.

What you are checking for here is not just that they exist, but that they are in good standing with the state. A transporter who has not kept their CIPC registration current is already cutting corners elsewhere — often on insurance and compliance. Ask the operator for their CIPC registration number before you search; if they cannot provide one, they are not registered and you should decline.

Request proof of vehicle and public liability insurance

Insurance is what protects you if the transporter damages your goods or causes an accident while carrying them. Ask to see a copy of their current public liability and goods-in-transit insurance certificates. Do not accept a screenshot or an old document; insist on a certificate issued by the insurer with a valid date range that covers the date of your shipment. The insurance company name and policy number should be clearly printed.

Once you have the certificate, you can ring the insurer's customer service line and quote the policy number to confirm it is active. This takes five minutes and removes any doubt. A genuine operator will not hesitate; if they become defensive or vague, that is a red flag. Check also that the sum insured for goods-in-transit is at least equal to the value of what you plan to send. If you are moving goods worth R50,000, the policy needs to cover that amount; if it covers only R20,000, you will be underinsured.

Call three recent clients and ask specific questions

Ask the transporter for contact details of three clients they have worked for in the last six months. Call each one and ask: Did the goods arrive on time and in the condition promised? If there was any damage or loss, how quickly did the transporter settle it? Would you use them again? These conversations reveal whether the operator is reliable in practice, not just on paper.

Note that a transporter may offer contacts they think are friendly; what matters is whether those contacts answer honestly. If you cannot reach anyone, or if two out of three express hesitation, consider another operator. One lukewarm reference is a minor concern; consistent doubt is a signal.

Verify their operating licence with the transport regulator

Freight operators carrying goods for payment should hold a valid operating licence from the relevant provincial transport authority or the national transport regulator. Ask the transporter for their licence number and the name of the authority that issued it. Search the provincial transport department website or contact them directly to confirm the licence is current and has no restrictions. Not all small operators hold one for very light, local work, but if they claim to be insured and registered, a licence search will confirm they operate above board.

These four checks — CIPC, insurance, client calls, licence — together give you a full picture of whether the transporter is legitimate and trustworthy. If any one of them feels incomplete or evasive, your instinct is probably right. When you find a transporter who answers every question clearly and provides documents without hesitation, you can move forward with confidence. Verified local transporters on Strove have already passed these kinds of checks, so you can save time if you prefer to search there.