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Broker Credit Checker for Owner Operators

A live FMCSA authority and bond check by MC number, plus a scoring worksheet for payment history, complaints, and credit rating before you haul.

Broker Info

Pulls live broker authority, the bond on file and how long the authority has been active. It fills in the Bond Amount and Authority Age scores below.

DAT Credit Check Carrier411 TransCredit FMCSA Licensing & Insurance FMCSA complaint database FMCSA Licensing

Scoring Worksheet

Bond Amount and Authority Age fill in from the live FMCSA check above. Payment history, complaints, and credit rating aren't available from any free source. Fill those in after checking DAT, Carrier411 or TransCredit. Each service uses its own scale, so match its words (excellent, good, fair, poor) to the options below, and look at whether days to pay is rising, not just today's number.

Score the broker using the worksheet, then calculate

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How do I check if a freight broker is reliable before I haul for them?

Start with FMCSA's free SAFER system to confirm the broker's authority is active. SAFER does not show when authority was granted, so use FMCSA's authority records, which our Authority Age tool reads, to see how long the broker has held it. Every property broker must carry a $75,000 BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund; if that security drops below $75,000, FMCSA gives the broker written notice and can suspend its authority if the broker does not fix it or respond within 7 business days. Beyond the free federal check, paid services (DAT, Truckstop RMIS, Ansonia) add days-to-pay history and a credit score, which SAFER does not provide.

  1. Look up the broker's USDOT and MC number on FMCSA's SAFER Company Snapshot to confirm authority is active, not just applied for.
  2. Check how long the broker has held that authority. SAFER does not list the grant date, so use the Authority Age tool. A broker active for years carries less risk than one registered a few months ago.
  3. Confirm the broker shows a current BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund on file, since FMCSA requires $75,000 in financial security to operate as a broker.
  4. If you use a paid credit-check service, read the days-to-pay average, not just a score. A broker that pays in 45 days needs a different plan than one that pays in 15.
  5. Get a signed rate confirmation before you load, regardless of what the credit check shows.
What SAFER shows for free vs. what a paid service adds
Data pointAvailable for free on SAFER
Authority status (active, revoked, pending)Yes
Date authority was grantedNo. SAFER does not show it. FMCSA's authority records do, and our Authority Age tool reads them
BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund on fileYes, filing status only
Credit score or days-to-pay historyNo, a paid service is needed

FMCSA's broker financial responsibility rule took full effect on January 16, 2026. If a broker's bond or trust fund falls below $75,000 after a claim is paid, the surety or bank must tell FMCSA within 2 business days, and FMCSA suspends the broker's authority if the broker does not fix the shortfall or respond within 7 business days of the notice (49 CFR 387.307(e)). An active, long-held authority with a bond on file is a reasonable baseline check, not a full credit assessment.

Last reviewed October 2026. Sources: FMCSA: SAFER Company Snapshot; eCFR: 49 CFR 387.307, Property broker surety bond or trust fund.

Frequently Asked Questions - Broker Credit Checker

How do I check if a freight broker is legitimate?
Look up the broker's MC number on FMCSA's free SAFER Company Snapshot to confirm their authority is active, not just applied for. SAFER does not show when authority was granted, so use our Authority Age tool to see how long they've held it. Beyond those free checks, paid services like DAT, Truckstop RMIS or Ansonia add payment-history and credit-score data that SAFER doesn't provide.
What makes a freight broker look reliable before I haul for them?
Authority that's been active for a meaningful length of time (not registered a few weeks ago), a current BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund on file, and a track record of paying on time if you can get it from a credit-reporting service. New authority alone isn't automatically a red flag, but it means you have less history to check.
Do all freight brokers have to carry a bond?
Yes. FMCSA requires every property broker to maintain a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund. Under the broker financial responsibility rule, which took full effect on January 16, 2026, if a broker's bond or trust fund drops below $75,000, FMCSA sends a written notice and can suspend the broker's authority if the broker does not fix it or respond within 7 business days. Confirm the bond is on file before you haul your first load for a new broker.
What do I do if a broker won't pay me?
Send the invoice immediately after delivery, follow up in writing at regular intervals if payment doesn't arrive by your agreed terms, and send a formal demand letter if it goes well past due. If the broker still won't pay, a claim against their BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust fund is an option. FMCSA's rule says that money is there to pay shippers and carriers when a broker fails to carry out its contracts, and once FMCSA publishes a notice that a broker has failed, the surety or bank must accept claims for 60 days. Collections or your factoring company, if you use one, are the other options. Document every communication and keep your proof of delivery.
Is there a free way to check a freight broker's credit or payment history?
FMCSA's SAFER system is free and gives you authority status and bond filing, but it doesn't include payment history, days-to-pay, or a credit score, since that data is a paid product from services like DAT, Truckstop RMIS or Ansonia. For a full risk picture, combine the free SAFER check with a paid credit-check service if you're extending real payment terms to a new broker.
What is the difference between a BMC-84 bond and a BMC-85 trust fund?
Both are ways a broker proves the $75,000 FMCSA requires. A BMC-84 is a surety bond, filed by a surety company. A BMC-85 is a trust fund, filed by a financial institution. A trust fund can hold only cash, irrevocable letters of credit and Treasury bonds, and it must be convertible to cash within 7 calendar days. Either way, the money is there to pay shippers and carriers if the broker fails to carry out its contracts.
Where can I report a broker who did not pay me or who committed fraud?
You can file a complaint with FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database online or by phone at 1-888-368-7238. Include the broker's name, DOT and MC numbers and a short account of what happened. FMCSA uses complaints to decide which companies to investigate. For fraud or identity theft involving a broker, FMCSA also suggests reporting it to the U.S. DOT Office of Inspector General hotline at (800) 424-9071.

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Go Further With Broker Credit Checker

Guides, services and reference pages that go with this tool.

Terms explained in the Broker Credit Checker