Before you book a load, check the broker. These 7 quick checks cover FMCSA authority, the $75,000 bond, contact details, credit score, days to pay, reviews and the rate confirmation.
To check a freight broker before you book, look up its MC or USDOT number and confirm two things with FMCSA: active broker authority and a $75,000 bond or trust on file. Then make sure the person contacting you really works for that broker, check its credit score and days to pay, read what other carriers say, and read the rate confirmation line by line. The whole process takes a few minutes and is the cheapest protection you have against nonpayment and freight fraud.
Key takeaways
- Run a broker lookup by MC or USDOT number on every new broker, even when the rate looks great.
- Active broker authority and a $75,000 bond (BMC-84) or trust (BMC-85) are the legal minimum to broker freight.
- Scammers often borrow a real broker's name and MC number, so the phone, email and address matter as much as the authority.
- Credit score, days to pay and reviews from other carriers show whether you will get paid, and when.
- The rate confirmation is your contract. Read it before the truck rolls.
Why every carrier should check brokers
Most brokers are honest businesses that pay their carriers. The problem is the few that don't, and the scammers who pretend to be real brokers. Double brokering, identity theft and slow payments hit owner-operators and small fleets the hardest, because one unpaid load can hurt cash flow for weeks.
Think of a broker check like a pre-trip inspection: a few minutes up front that saves you from expensive surprises. For dispatchers it matters even more, because you put a carrier's truck and paycheck on the line. For the bigger picture on scams, read our guide to avoiding freight fraud as a carrier.
Checks 1–3: Is the broker legally allowed to broker freight?
1. Look up the MC or USDOT number
Ask the broker for its MC or USDOT number, or take it from the rate confirmation. Search it in FMCSA's free SAFER system or a broker lookup tool. Confirm three things: the company has broker authority (not only carrier authority), the status is active, and the legal name matches the company you are talking to.
You may have heard that MC numbers are going away. FMCSA's new Motus registration system launched in 2026, but MC numbers are still issued and searchable as of late 2026. Learn more in our article on the USDOT number transition.
2. Confirm the $75,000 bond or trust
Every licensed property broker must keep $75,000 of financial security on file with FMCSA, either a surety bond (form BMC-84) or a trust fund (form BMC-85). This money exists to pay carriers when a broker doesn't. Check that the bond or trust is active and that no cancellation is pending.
Since January 16, 2026, if a broker's available bond or trust drops below $75,000 and isn't restored within seven business days of FMCSA's notice, FMCSA will suspend its operating authority. That protects carriers, but it also means a broker's status can change fast.
Brokers don't have to file liability or cargo insurance with FMCSA the way carriers do. If your contract depends on a broker's contingent cargo insurance, ask for a certificate of insurance and call the insurer to confirm it.
3. Check how long the authority has been active
Look at the date the broker authority was granted and any history of revocations or reinstatements. A new broker isn't automatically a bad one, but it has less payment history to judge. Authority that was revoked and reinstated, or a recent change of name, address or phone number, deserves a closer look.
Check 4: Are you talking to the real broker?
The most common scam today isn't a fake company. It's a real broker's name, MC number and logo used by someone else. The authority check passes, but the payment goes to a scammer, or your load ends up double brokered.
Match every contact detail to the official record:
- Phone: call the broker back on the number listed with FMCSA or on its official website, not the number in the email.
- Email: the domain should match the broker's real website. Watch for free email accounts and look-alike domains with one letter changed.
- Address: the address on the rate confirmation should match the FMCSA record.
- People: ask for the agent's full name and confirm with the main office that this person works there.
If anything doesn't match, stop and verify before you send a truck. A real broker won't mind a call back.
Checks 5–6: Will this broker pay you on time?
5. Check credit score and days to pay
Legal and real doesn't mean good at paying. A broker's credit score and average days to pay show how it treats carrier invoices. If the rate con says 30 days but the broker usually pays much later, plan your cash flow around reality, not the promise.
On the Just Tracking free load board, every load shows the broker's credit score and days to pay, so you can judge payment before you even call. If you factor your invoices, your factoring company will usually run its own credit check too. Our guide on how trucking factoring works explains the process.
6. Read reviews from other carriers
Other carriers' experience is the best preview you'll get. Look for patterns, not single complaints: repeated stories of late payments, surprise deductions or detention that never got paid. Reviews from verified users carry more weight than anonymous posts, because you know a real company wrote them.
Check 7: Read the rate confirmation before you roll
The rate confirmation is your contract. Read the whole thing before dispatching and confirm:
- The broker's legal name and MC or USDOT number match the company you checked.
- The rate, fuel surcharge and accessorials (detention, layover, TONU) are in writing, not just promised on the phone.
- Payment terms, quick-pay fees and where to send your invoice, BOL and proof of delivery.
- Pickup and delivery addresses, appointment times and reference numbers.
Be careful if the pickup paperwork shows a different broker or carrier name than your rate con. That's a common sign of double brokering. Call the broker on its verified number before you load.
How to run all 7 checks in a few minutes
You can do every check by hand, but that's slow when you're booking loads on the go. A broker lookup tool puts most of it on one screen.
Just Tracking's Company Snapshot lets you look up any broker or carrier by MC or DOT number and see:
- FMCSA authority status and insurance on file
- Safety record and red flags
- Broker payment history from Ansonia Credit Data, an Equifax company
- Reviews from verified users, checked by our team
Company Snapshot is free for verified users and available on the web for now. Every new account is reviewed and approved by our team. It's also a fast way for truck dispatchers to vet brokers for every carrier they work with.
Red flags that mean walk away
- Inactive or missing broker authority, or no active $75,000 bond or trust.
- Contact details that don't match the FMCSA record, or a broker who refuses a call back.
- A rate far above market on an easy lane, with pressure to book right now.
- Requests to change payment details, pay a fee up front, or hand the load to another carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a broker's MC number?
Ask the broker or check the rate confirmation, then search the number in FMCSA's SAFER system or a broker lookup tool like Company Snapshot. You can also search by USDOT number. Make sure the legal name and broker authority match.
Are MC numbers being replaced by USDOT numbers?
FMCSA has proposed making the USDOT number the only identifier, and its new Motus registration system went live in 2026. However, FMCSA left MC number elimination out of that launch, so MC numbers are still issued and used. Search by whichever number the broker gives you.
How much bond does a freight broker need?
Brokers must keep $75,000 in financial security with FMCSA, through a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund. If that security drops below $75,000 and isn't restored within seven business days of FMCSA's notice, the broker's authority is suspended.
Is it safe to work with a broker with new authority?
It can be. Many new brokers are legitimate, but they have little payment history to judge. Verify their contacts carefully, start with one load and get clear payment terms in writing.
Check your next broker before you book
A few minutes of checking beats weeks of chasing a payment. Sign up for Just Tracking for free to find loads with broker credit and days to pay on every listing, and look up any broker in Company Snapshot once your account is approved.
