Check if a broker’s authority is revoked before you book the load
Booking freight without verifying broker authority is like hauling without confirming payment terms. If an authority is revoked, suspended, or inactive, the risk shifts to the carrier — immediately.
Verify Brokers and Freight Forwarders Authority Status
This page helps you verify whether a broker or freight forwarder’s authority has been revoked. If you also need to check ELD compliance, USDOT records, or safety history, use the full FMCSA Compliance Tools hub below.
Why does a broker still look active even after their authority was revoked?
Because FMCSA systems don’t shut everything off at the same moment. A broker’s business operations, public listings, or ongoing load activity can continue even after authority has been revoked. Updates may lag across systems, and revocation timing can overlap with booked freight, invoicing, and payment cycles. That’s why broker status must be verified at every stage — not just before the wheels roll.
Why revoked broker authority matters to every carrier
Think about it like this… you hauled the load, burned the fuel, paid the driver, and only afterward discover the broker no longer has valid authority. If broker status isn’t being checked consistently, every load carries unnecessary payment risk.
So you want to make sure… broker authority checks are part of your standard FMCSA compliance routine and happen before freight is tendered — not after exposure already exists. Proactive verification protects cash flow and reduces avoidable disputes.
Note: Company names are not always listed in FMCSA revocation records. USDOT and MC/FF numbers are the most reliable identifiers when verifying broker authority status and avoiding mismatches.
How to check a broker’s authority status
Step 1 – Gather the broker details
Before you look anything up, have this in front of you:
- Broker’s MC number (or FF number for freight forwarders)
- Legal name + DBA name (from the rate confirmation)
- City + state listed on paperwork
Step 2 – Check FMCSA Licensing & Insurance (L&I)
Use FMCSA’s Licensing & Insurance system to verify the broker’s authority and bond status:
Open FMCSA L&I Search
Step 3 – Use the live revocation records (right here)
Don’t guess on this. Search the live records below by MC/FF (broker docket), USDOT, or reason and verify status BEFORE you accept the load.
Live FMCSA revocation records (official DOT open data)
| Broker MC / FF | USDOT | Authority | Revocation date | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading official data… | ||||
Source: DOT Open Data “Revocation – All With History” dataset. Data is pulled live in your browser when the page loads. If DOT changes field names on their side, we’ll adjust the mapping.
Disclaimer: This tool displays publicly available U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) open data for educational and verification purposes. It does not provide filing access, insurance submissions, or replace official FMCSA systems. Always confirm critical details using FMCSA’s official portals when needed.
If the status isn’t what you expected, don’t rush — the next step is about verification and documentation.
Verification and collection are not the same thing.
Authority checks help you confirm a broker’s status — they don’t recover money.
Once a load is hauled, recovery depends on documentation, timing, and follow-through,
not just whether a revocation appears in the record.
What to do if a broker with revoked authority still owes you payment
Discovering a revocation after a load is completed is frustrating, but it doesn’t mean you’re out of options. The key is understanding timing, documentation, and next steps.
- Confirm the effective revocation date. Compare the revocation date to the pickup and delivery dates to establish whether the broker’s authority was active at the time of the move.
- Assemble all load documentation. Gather the rate confirmation, bill of lading, proof of delivery, invoices, and any related communication tied to the load.
- Identify the broker’s surety bond provider. Use FMCSA’s Licensing & Insurance (L&I) system to locate the surety company and confirm bond details.
- Submit a bond claim if appropriate. A bond claim is a formal payment request submitted to the broker’s surety. Requirements typically include proof of service, proof of non-payment, and confirmation that authority was active when the load moved. Each surety has its own process, timelines, and documentation standards.
- Standardize pre-load verification going forward. Make broker authority checks part of dispatch workflow before every load — consistency is what reduces repeat exposure.
All right, so… this is practical FMCSA compliance workflow — not legal advice. If payment disputes escalate, consult a qualified attorney, but don’t skip the verification and documentation steps.
What a broker bond claim is (and what it isn’t)
A broker bond claim is a formal payment request submitted to a broker’s surety bond provider when the broker fails to pay for services rendered. It exists to offer limited financial protection to carriers and shippers — but it is not a guarantee.
In most non-payment situations, outcomes are driven by timing, documentation, and authority status at the time of the load — not by revocation alone.
- A bond claim is: A documented request to a surety showing the load was hauled, invoiced correctly, and not paid.
- A bond claim is not: Guaranteed recovery, fast payment, or a substitute for proper broker verification before accepting a load.
- Bond coverage is shared. Broker bonds have dollar limits, and multiple carriers may file claims against the same bond at the same time.
- Documentation determines strength. Missing paperwork, unclear dates, or incomplete proof of service can delay or weaken a claim.
Think about it like this… the bond is a last line of defense — not a safety net. Real protection comes from verifying broker status before the load moves.
Common mistakes carriers make after broker non-payment
- Verifying broker authority after the load moves. Authority checks are preventive — once freight is delivered, options narrow quickly.
- Delaying documentation. Waiting too long to gather rate confirmations, PODs, and invoices weakens any recovery effort.
- Assuming bond claims are fast or guaranteed. Bond claims are a process, not an automatic payout.
- Ignoring the revocation timeline. Whether authority was active or revoked on the load date directly affects available options.
Make this part of your standard FMCSA compliance routine
Compliance isn’t something you work on. Compliance is something you maintain daily.
Broker authority status is not a “check it later” item. If an authority is revoked, suspended, or inactive, that status applies immediately — and enforcement does not allow grace periods.
This check should be part of your before-you-book routine, the same way you verify rate confirmations, insurance certificates, and payment terms. Booking freight with a revoked or non-authorized broker exposes carriers to payment risk and compliance scrutiny.
Broker authority does not exist in isolation. Authority status, surety bond filings, company identity, and USDOT records are reviewed together during audits, investigations, and enforcement actions. Staying compliant means maintaining all of it — consistently.