Carrier guides
Practical, sourced guides for carriers working with freight brokers. Last reviewed 2026-10-25.
- How to check a freight broker's FMCSA authority
Step-by-step: confirm a broker's MC/USDOT, authority status, age and bond before you book a load. - BMC-84 vs BMC-85: broker surety bond vs trust fund
What the two forms of broker financial security are, how much they cover and what they mean for carriers. - How to file a claim against a broker's bond
When a broker won't pay, a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust claim can recover some or all of the money. Here's how. - Chameleon and double-brokering red flags
Warning signs that a load is being double brokered or that a broker is a chameleon operation, and how to protect yourself. - Broker impersonation: how to verify contacts
Scammers pose as real brokers using look-alike emails and spoofed phone numbers. How to verify who you're dealing with. - How long brokers have to pay, and getting paid for TONU and detention
Payment terms, your right to see the broker's records, and how to make sure accessorials get paid. - What to do when a broker won't pay
A practical escalation path: from a polite reminder to demand letters, bond claims, complaints and court. - Rate confirmation checklist for carriers
What to check on every rate con before you sign: parties, load details, rates, accessorials and payment terms. - Working with new-authority brokers
New brokers aren't automatically risky, but there's less history to go on. What to check first. - How RatedPaid carrier reports work
Who can report, what we check, what's public, and how brokers reply or dispute.