Get paid
How to get paid for loads
Updated
Standard pay on big brokers' own pages runs about a month: 28 days at C.H. Robinson and TQL and 30 at Schneider, from a start point each broker sets. Quick pay gets you paid within seven days, some brokers the same day, for 1.5% to 5% of the load. Factoring advances the money for a fee.
At a glance
- Common standard terms
- 28 days at C.H. Robinson and TQL. 30 days at RXO and Schneider
- Quick pay fees
- 1.5% to 5% of the load, on brokers' own pages
- Weekly pay
- Amazon Relay pays weekly
- Broker security on file with FMCSA
- $75,000, as a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust
When brokers pay
| Broker or program | Standard pay | Quick pay |
|---|---|---|
| C.H. Robinson | Within 28 days at no cost | As little as 2 business days at 2% |
| TQL | 28 days | 1 day at 5% or 7 days at 3% |
| J.B. Hunt | 21 business days, no fee | 2 business days at 1.5%, waived on Carrier 360 bookings |
| RXO | 30 days from your completed invoice and signed POD | 2.5%, started the same day |
| Schneider | 30 days | 2 days at 2% |
| Allen Lund | 14 days, or 30 days if you factor | 2% or $25, whichever is more |
| Amazon Relay | Weekly, paid the Friday after each Sunday to Saturday week |
Arrive, J.B. Hunt and Werner start the clock only once they have every document they asked for, so one missing document holds up the whole payment. Spot starts it when your paperwork arrives.
Getting paid faster
- Quick pay. Load by load, the broker pays early and keeps a fee, with published fees from 1.5% to 5%. See brokers that pay fast.
- Factoring. A factoring company buys your invoices and collects from the broker, and owners on the forums report rates of 2% to 3%. Some brokers pay factored carriers more slowly: Allen Lund takes 30 days instead of 14, and OpenRoad Global 35 instead of 30. Compare both in quick pay vs factoring and browse factoring companies.
Paperwork that starts the clock
Brokers' own pay terms ask for some mix of these:
- The rate confirmation (rate con), the load agreement the broker sends you to sign
- A signed bill of lading (BOL)
- Proof of delivery (POD)
- Your invoice, matching the load
- Lumper and other receipts
Send them together and on time. Flock Freight asks for proof of delivery within 24 hours, and Werner's standard terms waive payment on invoices sent more than 180 days after delivery.
Price quick pay against factoring. The factoring calculator shows what each option costs on your monthly revenue. Factoring calculator
When a broker doesn't pay
If a broker doesn't pay, the documents you kept decide what you can do next. Start with the unpaid load steps.
Every broker has to keep $75,000 in security on file with FMCSA, as a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust agreement. Broker bond claims covers what that means for you.
Check a broker before you haul. The broker check shows a broker's authority, its bond or trust fund and any bond cancellation on file. Broker check
How to choose
- Faster pay on one broker's loads. Brokers that pay fast lists quick pay fees and days by broker.
- Faster pay across all your brokers. Quick pay vs factoring compares the two, and factoring companies has the directory.
- The cost on your own revenue. Put your monthly revenue into the factoring calculator to see what each option costs.
- A load that hasn't been paid. The unpaid load steps cover what to check and when to escalate.
- A claim on a broker's bond. For the $75,000 broker security and what to have ready, read broker bond claims.
- A broker you haven't hauled for. The broker check shows its authority, its bond or trust fund and any bond cancellation on file.
Frequently asked questions
How long do brokers take to pay?
Standard pay on big brokers' own pages runs about a month: 28 days at C.H. Robinson and TQL and 30 at RXO and Schneider. J.B. Hunt pays in 21 business days, and Amazon Relay pays weekly.
How much does quick pay cost?
Brokers' own pages put quick pay at 1.5% to 5% of the load. J.B. Hunt waives its 1.5% fee on Carrier 360 bookings.
What paperwork do brokers need before they pay?
Brokers' own pay terms ask for some mix of the rate con, a signed BOL, proof of delivery, an invoice that matches the load and lumper receipts. Send them together and on time.
What can I do if a broker doesn't pay?
Start with the unpaid load steps. If the broker still won't pay, you can claim against its $75,000 bond or trust fund.