GNet Safety & Compliance Certification
Everyone says duty of care. Certified operators can prove it.
An independent, investigative audit of your operation, run the way a DOT investigator would run it. It's a real audit, not self-certification. Operators that meet the standard carry a Gold or Blue badge on GNet that buyers and underwriters can check at a glance.
Audit partner
Transportation Advisors
An independent transportation compliance firm that performs every audit behind GNet certification. It's led by Tom Holden, in passenger transportation since 2002. Audits are conducted by Brittney Holden, who verifies every item the way a DOT investigator would, then goes further. The team also works with operators on driver qualification, drug and alcohol programs, Clearinghouse compliance and vehicle maintenance.
Why it matters
Duty of care is on every website in our industry. When a corporate travel manager or an insurance underwriter asks what it actually means at your company, most operators can describe it, and very few can prove it. Certification gives you third-party proof, backed by documentation you can put in front of anyone.
For operators
- Insurance underwriters evaluate your operation on what you can document. A verified safety program puts you in a different conversation than an application alone.
- Corporate and affiliate clients with their own duty-of-care obligations increasingly ask for evidence before awarding business. Certified operators can hand it over.
- Find your gaps on your own terms, before a DOT compliance review, a roadside inspection or a claim finds them for you.
- The badge shows on your GNet profile and in search, so buyers and farm-out partners see it before they reach out.
- Fleet size doesn't matter. A three-car airport-transfer business can hold the same badge as a large fleet.
For buyers (TMCs, OTAs, distributors, travel)
- A digital way to see which suppliers have passed a compliance audit, instead of collecting paperwork one operator at a time.
- A clear scope. Gold means approved for interstate work, including airport, rail and port trips. Blue means intrastate only.
- Evidence for the duty-of-care section of an RFP, and a supplier record you can produce if a client asks after a trip.
Two badges, one standard
Gold Badge
Interstate operators
For carriers holding a USDOT number and federal operating authority for interstate work, including trips connected to airports, train stations, ports and bus terminals. Reviewed against FMCSA requirements.
Blue Badge
Intrastate operators
For carriers holding a USDOT number and operating in compliance with all applicable state regulations, on trips not connected to interstate travel.
What the audit covers
This is an investigative review, not a checklist taken on your word. Each USDOT number is audited separately, certification is granted per vehicle type, and the scope adjusts to your fleet: sedans and SUVs only, CDL vehicles only, or a mix of both.
Authority & insurance
USDOT number, operating authority, BMC-91/91X and MCS-90B filings, chauffeur and airport permits, and coverage verified by vehicle type.
Driver qualification
DQ files, MVRs, medical cards, PSP reports and background checks.
Drug & alcohol
Written policy, FMCSA Clearinghouse queries, testing records and supervisor training.
Vehicles & maintenance
Registrations and cab cards, inspection records, DVIRs and emergency-exit push-out tests.
Hours of service, safety & accidents
HOS records for CDL drivers, safety meetings, emergency procedures, and the DOT-reportable accident register with crash rate.
Above & beyond
ADA training, non-CDL drug testing and proof-of-training records that set top operators apart.
How it works
- 1
Sign up
Register interest below. We'll explain the program and connect you with Transportation Advisors for a one-page intake form. One flat certification fee, no add-ons.
- 2
Prepare
You receive a welcome packet explaining what to expect, with simple tables for your driver list and vehicle list.
- 3
Submit
Upload your documents securely to GNet. They stay private. Documents requested by the auditor default to Unlisted.
- 4
Audit
Transportation Advisors reviews your files the way a DOT investigator would: requesting proof, verifying it and asking follow-up questions.
- 5
Certify
Operators that meet the standard get a signed certificate and a Gold or Blue badge on their GNet profile and in search, to show clients and underwriters.
From a certified operator
“We have been audited plenty of times. This one was different. It went looking for the gaps instead of taking our word for it, and that is exactly why these badges mean something.
It identified an area we needed to strengthen: our drug and alcohol policy. We were testing and had a written program in place, but FMCSA and Clearinghouse requirements had evolved and our policy had not fully evolved with them. We corrected it and brought the program up to the current standard. I would much rather find a gap through this process than have a DOT investigator, an attorney, or an incident expose it later.
We all talk about safety and duty of care in this industry. The real question is whether you can prove what you say you are doing. That is what this certification provides. A documented, third-party verification.
When I hand these credentials to an insurance underwriter or a corporate client, I am not asking them to take my word for it either. Our team earned these badges, and that is what makes them worth having.”
Tony Mehdiof, Owner
North Point Global Transportation (Blue Badge)
Atlanta Elite Transportation (Gold Badge)
Frequently asked questions
Who performs the audit?
Transportation Advisors, an independent transportation compliance firm led by Tom Holden, audits each operator. GNet hosts the documents and displays the result. GNet does not grade operators itself.
What is the difference between Gold and Blue?
Gold certifies interstate operation under federal operating authority, including trips connected to airports, train stations, ports and bus terminals. Blue certifies intrastate operation under state regulations that is not connected to interstate travel. An operator holds one or the other and can upgrade.
Is this a checklist I fill in myself?
No. It's an investigative review. The auditor asks for proof of each item, verifies it and follows up on gaps, the way a DOT investigator would. The scope adjusts to your fleet: sedans and SUVs only, CDL vehicles only, or both.
What does certification cost?
Certification is one flat fee, with no add-ons. We'll share the current fee when we walk you through the program.
Is a failed audit shown publicly?
No. The badge summary lists only what was verified. If an operator doesn't pass, or a badge lapses, no badge is shown.
Who can see my audit report and documents?
The detailed report and your documents are private by default. You decide who sees them.
How long does a badge last?
Badges renew every 12 months. A badge is removed if insurance is cancelled or expires, or if your FMCSA safety rating becomes unsatisfactory. Adding a new vehicle type needs re-approval.
Is the badge a guarantee?
No. The badge reflects an audit at a point in time. It is not a guarantee or warranty of an operator's service, so buyers should still apply their own supplier requirements.
Reserve your spot for the next certification
Tell us you're interested. We'll reach out, explain the audit and get you onboarded.
Prefer to talk to the auditor directly? theadvisors.org/certification ↗