Carrier Engagement and Compliance Specialist

Forward Air•Cornelius, NC

15d•$45,000 - $45,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Carrier Engagement and Compliance Specialist supports the organization’s carrier acquisition, onboarding, and compliance programs to ensure adequate network capacity, as well as safe, compliant operations. They partner with Safety, Operations, Human Resources, and other key stakeholders to execute structured carrier onboarding processes, address compliance risks, support regulatory compliance efforts, and maintain critical documentation related to drivers, vehicles, and insurance coverage. While each Specialist will be cross trained on carrier acquisition, onboarding, and compliance, the amount of time dedicated to each function may vary based on capacity and business need.

Requirements

Education: High School Diploma or General Education Development (GED) required; Undergraduate degree preferred.
Experience: Prior experience in a transportation, logistics, fleet, safety, or operations support role, with exposure to driver/carrier onboarding and/or regulatory compliance.
Working knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations and common fleet/driver compliance requirements (e.g., MVRs, background checks, medical cards, insurance documentation).
Strong attention to detail with the ability to accurately manage and reconcile large volumes of data and documents across multiple systems and platforms.
Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to provide professional support to individuals from all backgrounds.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and follow structured processes while also identifying opportunities for improvement.
Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
Systems Knowledge: Experience with McLeod Transportation Management System (TMS) preferred
Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

Nice To Haves

Certification/Licensure: Transportation safety, DOT compliance, or related certifications (e.g., CDS, safety/compliance programs) preferred.

Responsibilities

Source, vet, and onboard carriers (including but not limited to individual service providers (ISPs)/contracted drivers) to meet operational capacity needs.
Collect, verify, and upload required documentation (licenses, insurance, certifications, background checks, etc.).
Facilitate the end-to-end onboarding and compliance process for new drivers, ensuring all compliance requirements are met before activation.
Monitor onboarding progress, proactively identifying bottlenecks and reporting completion and/or non-compliance to stakeholders in Safety, Operations, and others.
Ensure all driver and vehicle information (e.g., IDs, VINs, license plate numbers, insurance details, etc.) is accurately entered into and maintained within company systems.
Verify, track, and monitor appropriate insurance coverage, ensuring required documentation is current, accurate, and compliant with company and regulatory standards; Monitor expiration dates and follow up to obtain renewals.
Conduct audits of driver and vehicle records to identify and resolve gaps, expired documents, and potential compliance risks.
Maintain organized, accurate digital and/or physical files in accordance with company records retention policies and regulatory requirements.
Partner with Safety and Compliance teams to ensure adherence to Department of Transportation (DOT)/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other applicable regulatory requirements related to driver qualification files, Motor Vehicle Records (MVRs), background checks, drug/alcohol testing, and applicable certifications.
Ensure ongoing adherence to Forward Air policies and performance expectations
All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.