Company and operating documents
Company registration, VAT status where applicable, and a valid operating position for the vehicle being used. Ask for them before the first load, not after a problem.
Vehicle and driver
Vehicle licence and roadworthy status, driver licence and Professional Driving Permit. A vehicle stopped at a roadblock is your delay, regardless of whose truck it is.
Insurance
Confirm goods in transit cover, the per-load limit and whether your commodity is excluded. Confirm the value your cargo represents against that limit.
Tracking and communication
Establish how you will get position updates and who answers the phone at 2am. Silence during transit is the most common complaint in subcontracted freight.
Client protection
Agree in writing that the subcontractor will not approach or invoice your end client. Good operators expect this clause and have no problem signing it.