Ready for Loads

Broker check

Check a broker before you haul

Updated

Enter the broker's MC number from the rate confirmation. You see whether its broker authority is active and how long it has had it, plus the $75,000 bond or trust fund you'd claim against if a load goes unpaid.

Uses FMCSA's public records.

Before you book

  • Match the MC on the rate confirmation to the company you're talking to.
  • Call back on a number you look up yourself instead of the one in the email.
  • A broker needs its own broker authority. A carrier authority alone doesn't cover brokering.
Enter a broker's MC number

Results load here after you search.

The record comes from FMCSA's public files, which can run a few days behind FMCSA's own systems. How bond claims work

Frequently asked questions

What does the broker check show?

Whether the broker's authority is active and since when, plus the bond or trust fund on file, its amount and any cancellation. You can search by MC or DOT number.

How much bond does a freight broker need?

$75,000, held as a surety bond (BMC-84) or a trust fund (BMC-85) on file with FMCSA. If a broker leaves a load unpaid, that bond is where your claim goes.

Does a clean result mean the broker will pay?

No. A clean result shows the broker is registered and bonded, and FMCSA's record holds no payment history. Before you haul, work through the two tips above the results.

Why does a broker with carrier authority get flagged?

Brokering loads takes broker authority of its own. When a number has carrier authority and nothing else, the check flags it.