OP:
Trying to understand just what you did here.
Are you saying you used one of those "2-bay" automatic cloning docks?
Did you take the factory drive out of the Mac, and put it into the cloning dock along with a fresh SSD?
I don't think that will work right.
THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT:
1. Have the original drive IN the Mac.
2. Get an external dock (1 bay, NOT "a cloning dock), or enclosure (for temporary use).
3. Put your NEW drive into the dock or enclosure.
4. Download CarbonCopyCloner from:
Carbon Copy Cloner - Download
CCC is FREE to download and use for 30 days -- this will cost you nothing.
5. ERASE the SSD/target drive using disk utility.
6. IMPORTANT: if you're using Mojave or later, you MUST go to the VIEW MENU and choose "SHOW ALL DEVICES" so you can see all the drives and volumes.
7. Again, erase to APFS with GUID partition format
8. Quit disk utility and open CCC
9. Set the original drive as the source and the SSD/new drive as the target.
10. You haven't told us WHICH OS you are using. If it's Big Sur, I think you have to choose "legacy clone" in CCC's preferences in order to create a bootable clone. This can be tricky, but it seems to work for others.
11. Create the clone.
12. When done, DO A TEST BOOT. If it's an Intel Mac, hold down the option key at boot continuously until the startup manager appears. If it's an m1, press and hold the power-on key until the options appear.
13. Assuming you get a good test boot, now's the time to open the Mac and install the new drive.