How to vet a freight broker in 60 seconds
Before you book a load, run the broker through this six-step checklist. It takes about a minute on BrokerTell — or 15 minutes if you're piecing it together from FMCSA, Google, and forums.
- 1. Verify FMCSA authority
Look up the broker's MC number on BrokerTell or FMCSA SAFER. Confirm broker authority is active (not pending revocation, not 'inactive'). If the authority is missing or expired, walk away — it's federal law.
- 2. Confirm the $75,000 BMC-84 bond
Federal law requires every freight broker to maintain a $75K surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85). A canceled or insufficient bond means you may have no recourse on a non-payment. BrokerTell flags bond status changes automatically.
- 3. Check days-to-pay
Look at the broker's average days-to-pay from real carrier reviews. Industry norm is 30 days; anything over 45 is a yellow flag, over 60 is a red flag. Slow-pay history is the strongest predictor of non-payment.
- 4. Read recent carrier reviews
Filter reviews from the last 90 days. One bad review from 2019 doesn't matter. Three from the last quarter — especially with consistent themes (slow pay, double brokering, rate cuts at delivery) — matter a lot.
- 5. Match the rate confirmation to the FMCSA record
The legal name and MC number on the rate confirmation must match the FMCSA record exactly. Mismatched names, 'doing business as' tricks, or a brand-new MC are classic double-brokering setups.
- 6. Cross-check the contact info
Email domain should match the broker's website. Cell phone numbers, gmail addresses, and contacts who refuse video calls before tendering a load are red flags. Verified brokers on BrokerTell display contact-verification status.
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FAQ
Look up the MC number on FMCSA SAFER or BrokerTell, confirm active broker authority, verify the $75K BMC-84 surety bond is on file, and read verified carrier reviews from the last 90 days. Match the rate confirmation name and MC exactly to the FMCSA record.
Slow-pay history. Average days-to-pay over 45 days is the strongest predictor of eventual non-payment. A canceled bond is the second-biggest red flag — federal law requires it, and a missing bond means no recourse if you don't get paid.
No. The FMCSA shows authority and bond status but not whether the broker actually pays carriers on time, double-brokers loads, or cuts rates at delivery. You need carrier reviews for that — which is what BrokerTell adds on top of the FMCSA data.
On BrokerTell, about 60 seconds. Authority, bond, days-to-pay, and recent reviews are on a single profile page. Without a tool you're looking at 10–15 minutes across SAFER, Google, and trucking forums.
Yes. BrokerTell's broker lookup, FMCSA authority check, bond status, and verified carrier reviews are free — no subscription required.
Authority, bond, days-to-pay, and verified reviews on one profile.