Step-by-step help when a freight broker doesn't pay: check your paperwork, send a demand letter, file a claim on the broker's $75,000 bond, report the broker to FMCSA, and prevent unpaid loads.
If a freight broker doesn't pay you, first confirm the payment terms on the rate confirmation and make sure the broker has your invoice and signed proof of delivery. Then follow up in writing and send a demand letter with a deadline. If that fails, you can file a claim against the broker's $75,000 surety bond or trust fund, report the broker to FMCSA, and use a collection agency or the courts.
Key takeaways
- Most late payments come from missing paperwork, disputes or cash flow problems, so start with your documents.
- Every broker must keep a $75,000 bond or trust fund with FMCSA, and carriers can file claims against it.
- If a broker fails financially, claims against its bond are accepted for 60 days after FMCSA's public notice, so act fast.
- Checking a broker's credit, days to pay and bond history before you book prevents most unpaid loads.
Why brokers pay late or don't pay
Not every late payment is a scam. Common reasons include:
- Missing paperwork: the broker never got the invoice, a signed POD or lumper receipts.
- A dispute: the broker claims late delivery, damage or a shortage and holds payment.
- Cash flow problems: the broker is waiting on its shipper or is in financial trouble.
- Fraud: a fake or double-brokered load where the "broker" never planned to pay.
Knowing which one you're facing tells you how hard to push and how fast.
Step 1: Check your paperwork
Pull the rate confirmation and check the payment terms, quick pay options and any document deadlines. Then make sure you sent:
- An invoice with the load number, rate and any agreed extras such as detention.
- A signed bill of lading and proof of delivery.
- Receipts for lumper fees or other approved charges.
Clear records make every next step easier. With load tracking in Just Tracking, the driver uploads the BOL and POD from the app, and every stop check-in and check-out is recorded with a time. If you factor your invoices, your factoring company usually handles collection, so contact them first. Our guide to how trucking factoring works explains who chases payment.
Step 2: Contact accounts payable
Call or email the broker's accounts payable team, not just your dispatcher contact. Ask when the invoice will be paid and whether anything is missing. Write down every call and keep every email.
While you wait, check the broker's status. Look for an active authority, a current bond and any recent revocations. Company Snapshot shows a broker's FMCSA authority, bond history, payment history and red flags on one screen. A broker whose bond was just canceled is a warning sign to move quickly.
If the broker disputes the load
Sometimes a broker holds payment over a claim of late delivery, damage or missing pieces. Ask for the claim in writing with the shipper's or receiver's evidence. Then reply with your own: a POD with no exceptions noted, photos taken at pickup and delivery, and arrival and departure times. Just Tracking's activity logs show when the driver checked in and out at each stop, which helps settle timing disputes. If you agree to a partial payment or a deduction, get it in writing before you accept it.
Step 3: Send a written demand letter
If calls and emails don't work, send a formal demand letter by email and certified mail. Include:
- The load number, pickup and delivery dates and the amount owed.
- Copies of the rate confirmation, invoice, BOL and POD.
- A firm deadline to pay, such as 10 business days.
- What you'll do next, such as filing a bond claim and an FMCSA complaint.
Many brokers pay once they see a carrier knows the process.
Step 4: File a claim against the broker's bond
Every licensed broker must keep $75,000 in financial security with FMCSA, either a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund. The broker's FMCSA licensing record lists the current bond or trust provider.
How to file
Send the surety or trust company a written claim with the amount owed and copies of your rate confirmation, invoice, BOL, POD and demand letter. Each provider has its own claim form and process, so ask for it.
What happens next
Under FMCSA rules in force since January 16, 2026, the provider notifies the broker, and the broker has 7 business days to respond. If the broker doesn't respond, or the provider still finds the claim valid, it can pay from the bond. If that drops the bond below $75,000 and the broker doesn't restore it, FMCSA suspends the broker's authority.
If the broker goes out of business
When a broker fails financially, the provider cancels the bond and FMCSA posts a public notice in the FMCSA Register. The provider then accepts claims for 60 calendar days from that notice. The $75,000 is the total for everyone, so if many carriers are owed money, each may get only part of what they're owed.
Step 5: Report the broker to FMCSA
FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database now accepts complaints about property brokers. A complaint won't collect your money, but it creates a record that can support enforcement against brokers who don't pay or commit fraud.
Step 6: Use collections or the courts
For larger amounts, a trucking collection agency or a transportation attorney may help. Small claims court can work for smaller invoices, depending on your state's limit. Federal law generally gives carriers 18 months after a claim arises to sue for freight charges, so don't wait too long. This is general information, not legal advice.
How to avoid unpaid loads
- Check credit before you book. On the free load board, Just Tracking shows every load with the broker's credit score and days to pay.
- Look up the broker. Check authority, bond history and reviews. Here are 7 checks to run before you book.
- Get the rate confirmation first. Never move a load without signed terms.
- Watch for fraud signs. Rates far above market, new contact details or changed payment instructions are red flags. Read our guide to avoiding freight fraud.
- Send paperwork the same day. Fast invoices get paid faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a broker have to pay a carrier?
Payment terms are set in the rate confirmation or broker-carrier agreement, often around 30 days. Many brokers also offer quick pay for a fee.
Can I file a claim on a broker's bond?
Yes. Motor carriers can file claims against a broker's BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund. Send the provider a written claim with your rate confirmation, invoice and proof of delivery.
How much can I recover from a broker bond?
Up to what you're owed, but the bond is $75,000 in total. If many carriers file claims, the money may be split among them.
What if the broker went out of business?
Watch for FMCSA's notice in the FMCSA Register. The bond or trust provider accepts claims for 60 calendar days after that notice, so file right away.
Should I report a broker who doesn't pay?
Yes. A complaint with FMCSA creates a public record and helps protect other carriers, even though it won't collect the money for you.
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