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HaulerMath
Know Your Numbers Before You Roll
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Printed April 26, 2026

Broker Check — FMCSA MC, DOT & Authority Lookup

Verify any freight broker's authority, insurance, bond, and safety rating before you book the load.

Live from FMCSA SAFER. Cached up to 7 days for speed. 100% free, no signup.

What you'll see
  • Authority status — is the broker legally allowed to broker freight right now?
  • Broker bond (BMC-84/85) — the $75,000 surety that backs your invoice.
  • Insurance on file — BIPD, cargo, and bond limits with carriers.
  • Safety rating & out-of-service flags — federal red flags.
  • Red-flag summary — every issue we'd pass on, in plain English.

What is FMCSA SAFER?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains the SAFER database — the official US government registry of every motor carrier and freight broker authorized to operate. Every broker you haul for must have active operating authority, a $75,000 broker bond (BMC-84 or BMC-85), and clean federal status. SAFER is the single source of truth for all of it, and it's free to anyone. HaulerMath Broker Check pulls directly from SAFER so you can verify a broker in seconds instead of clicking through the FMCSA portal.

What does each badge mean?

Authorized to operate
The broker's authority is ACTIVE. If you see "Not authorized," do not book — they cannot legally broker the load.
Bond on file
The broker has a $75,000 surety bond filed with FMCSA. If a broker doesn't pay you, this is what you file a claim against. No bond = no booking.
Insurance on file
Bodily injury, property damage, and cargo insurance currently active. Required for legitimate brokerage operations.
Safety rating
Satisfactory is fine. Conditional or Unsatisfactory means regulators flagged this broker — proceed with caution or pass.
Out of service
An OOS order is on file. Walk away — you may not be paid, and the broker may be shut down mid-haul.

Common red flags & what to do

  • Authority < 6 months old. New brokers fail at high rates. Ask for COD or quick-pay; never extend net-30+ on a fresh MC.
  • Bond filed but listed as "missing." The bond was canceled. File a claim window is closing — get paid first, book second.
  • Conditional safety rating. Combine with slow-pay reports from the trucking community before you commit equipment.

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