Cookie Notice

1. What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device by a website when you visit it. They are widely used to make websites function efficiently, provide a better user experience, and give website operators information about how their sites are used. Cookies can be "session cookies" (deleted when you close your browser) or "persistent cookies" (which remain on your device until they expire or you delete them).

In addition to cookies, the Portal may use related technologies including:

• Local Storage — browser-side storage used to persist user preferences and session data between visits;
• Session Storage — browser-side storage cleared when the browser tab or window is closed;
• Pixel Tags / Web Beacons — small invisible images that may be embedded in pages or emails to record visits or opens;
• Server-side Logs — technical records of access requests, including IP address, browser type, and pages visited, retained for security and diagnostic purposes.

2. Essential and Functional Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary for the Portal to operate. Without them, core functionality — including login, session management, account access, and onboarding workflows — will not work. These cookies cannot be disabled without impairing Portal use.

Name / Type	Purpose	Duration
Authentication Token	Maintains your logged-in session across Portal pages. Invalidated on logout or inactivity timeout.	Session / configurable
CSRF Token	Protects form submissions against cross-site request forgery attacks.	Session
esse_portal_cookie_ok	Records your acknowledgment of this Cookie Notice to prevent the banner from reappearing.	Persistent (localStorage)
Session State (localStorage)	Stores in-progress onboarding step, form progress, and role selection to enable multi-step workflow continuity across page loads.	Persistent until cleared
Security / Rate-Limiting	Server-side technical controls used to detect and block repeated failed login attempts and abuse patterns. Not browser-based.	Variable (server-side)

3. Analytics and Performance Cookies

We use Google Analytics (via Google Tag Manager) to understand how users interact with the Portal — including which pages are visited, how long users stay, where they navigate from, and where they exit. This helps us improve Portal design, content, and performance over time.

Service	Cookies Set	Purpose	Duration
Google Analytics 4	_ga, _ga_XXXXXXXXXX	Distinguishes unique users and sessions. Tracks page views, events, and navigation patterns. Data is aggregated and anonymized.	_ga: 2 years; _ga_*: 2 years
Google Tag Manager	No cookies set directly by GTM container	Manages the loading of analytics and other scripts. GTM itself does not set cookies; cookies are set by tags loaded within it.	N/A

The Portal uses GA Measurement ID G-Q5MZ42JW99 across portal.vau0.com and vau0.com for cross-domain traffic analysis. IP addresses sent to Google Analytics are anonymized at the network level where possible.

Google Analytics data is governed by Google's own privacy policy. For more information, see policies.google.com/privacy. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, you may use the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

4. Mapping and Location Cookies

Certain Portal features — including live map views and route visualization available to authorized carrier and admin users — use Mapbox to render interactive maps. Mapbox may set cookies or use device storage to manage map tile caching and session state.

Service	Purpose	More Information
Mapbox GL JS	Interactive map rendering for carrier live-map and driver location features. May cache tile data locally for performance.	mapbox.com/legal/privacy

Mapbox features are only loaded for authenticated users with access to map-enabled dashboard views. They are not loaded on public-facing registration or login pages.

5. Font and Style Resources

The Portal loads fonts from Google Fonts (fonts.googleapis.com / fonts.gstatic.com). When your browser requests a font file, Google may log the request including your IP address and the referring page. Google Fonts does not set persistent tracking cookies. See Google Fonts Privacy FAQ for details.

6. Third-Party Services and No Cross-Site Advertising

The Portal does not use advertising networks, behavioral targeting cookies, retargeting pixels, or social media tracking integrations (such as Facebook Pixel or LinkedIn Insight Tag). We do not sell, rent, or share cookie data with advertising platforms.

Third-party services used in the Portal (Google Analytics, Mapbox, Google Fonts) are limited to functional and analytics purposes. Each third-party service is subject to its own privacy and cookie policies, which are independent of VAU0's policies.

7. Your Choices and Cookie Controls

You have several options for managing cookies and tracking technologies:

Browser Settings

Most browsers allow you to view, manage, delete, and block cookies through their settings. Common browser cookie management links:

• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari
• Microsoft Edge

Important: Blocking or deleting essential cookies (authentication tokens, session state, CSRF tokens) will prevent you from logging in and using core Portal functions, including onboarding and document submission workflows.

Google Analytics Opt-Out

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites, install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. This prevents your visit data from being sent to Google Analytics without blocking other Portal functions.

Do Not Track

Some browsers transmit a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. The Portal does not currently alter its data collection practices in response to DNT signals, as there is no universally accepted standard for DNT compliance. If a recognized standard is adopted, we will revisit this policy.

8. Consent, Updates, and Contact

By using the Portal and accepting the cookie notice banner where presented, you consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies as described in this notice. You may withdraw consent at any time by adjusting your browser settings or clearing cookies, but doing so may affect Portal functionality.

We may update this Cookie Notice from time to time to reflect changes in technology, law, or Portal features. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the Portal after any update constitutes acceptance of the revised notice.

For questions about cookies or this notice, or to request more information about specific technologies used in the Portal, please contact us: