Getting paid should not be a guessing game.
For small carriers and owner-operators, one bad broker can turn a good load into weeks of chasing invoices. By the time you find out there is a problem, the fuel is burned, the driver is paid, and the load is delivered.
The best time to check a broker is before you accept the load.
Ask for the broker's MC number and company name, then confirm they match the rate confirmation. This also helps catch double brokering. If the company booking the load is not the company paying you, stop and verify before moving the truck.
Watch for red flags like personal email addresses, company names that do not match the rate confirmation, vague or missing contact information, rushed paperwork or pressure to move immediately, or a rate that is unusually high with no clear reason.
Check that the broker's operating authority is active before booking. Use FMCSA SAFER or the FMCSA Licensing and Insurance site to confirm the company, MC number, DOT number, and authority status. If the authority is inactive, revoked, or impossible to verify, do not move the load.
A good rate means nothing if the broker does not pay. Search the broker on brokerratings.app to review payment feedback from other carriers and owner-operators. Look at the rating, number of reports, and how recent the feedback is. One complaint may be a dispute. Multiple recent complaints are a warning.
Licensed freight brokers are required to carry a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. If a broker fails to pay, you may be able to file a claim against it. Keep your rate confirmation, bill of lading, proof of delivery, invoice, and written communication organized for every load. A bond claim does not guarantee payment, but clean paperwork gives you a stronger position.
If a broker does not pay, start with a clear written follow-up and send all documents. If they still refuse or go silent, contact the bond provider, use a freight collections service, or file a report so the next carrier, owner-operator, or dispatcher knows what they are walking into. brokerratings.app exists so people in the industry can share what actually happened before someone else takes the same risk.
A few minutes of checking can save weeks of chasing money. Before you accept the next load, confirm the broker, verify the authority, review the payment history, and check for reports. Know who you are hauling for before your truck moves.