What Is Freight Broker Authority?
Reviewed
Broker authority is the operating authority a company needs to arrange the transport of regulated freight by authorized motor carriers for pay, without moving the freight itself. FMCSA issues it on an MC docket, like carrier authority. Instead of a carrier's liability insurance filing, a broker must keep a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund in effect.
What a broker files
Trust fund assets are limited to cash, irrevocable letters of credit from a federally insured depository institution and Treasury bonds, and must be convertible to cash within 7 calendar days.
- An application for broker authority, which gets an MC number.
- Financial security of $75,000: a surety bond filed on Form BMC-84 or a trust fund filed on Form BMC-85 (49 CFR 387.307). FMCSA won't register the broker until it's in effect, and the registration lasts only as long as it stays in effect.
- A BOC-3 naming process agents in each state where the broker has offices or writes contracts.
Brokers in the new authority data
FMCSA granted 375 new freight broker authorities in the 30 days ending October 19, 2026, counted separately from the 5,591 carrier grants.
Most Rookiefeed buyers want carriers, so brokers are off by default. Freight technology, bond and insurance sellers can switch brokers on in the filters and get each new broker the morning after its grant.
Questions
- Can a broker haul freight under broker authority?
- No. Broker authority covers arranging transportation by authorized motor carriers. To haul freight for pay itself, a company needs motor carrier authority and the liability insurance filing that goes with it. Some companies hold both kinds of authority, each on its own docket under Motus.
Every newly granted carrier, by 7am
MC and USDOT numbers, owner name, phone, email, trucks, equipment and the insurer on file, for each carrier FMCSA authorized yesterday.
Go deeper
Related terms
- Operating authority FMCSA's permission for a company to transport regulated freight or passengers for hire in interstate commerce, or to arrange that transport.
- MC number The docket number FMCSA assigns to a motor carrier's operating authority, written MC followed by digits.
- BOC-3 The designation of process agents form, naming someone in each required state who can accept legal papers for a carrier, broker or forwarder.
- Process agent A person or company designated on a BOC-3 to accept service of legal process for a carrier, broker or freight forwarder in a state.
Sources: 49 CFR 387.307, property broker surety bond or trust fund · 49 CFR Part 366, designation of process agents · FMCSA: get operating authority (MC number)