Broker MC/DOT verification
Every broker rate con should carry the broker's MC number and usually its USDOT number. Checking them against FMCSA's public record takes a minute and is the first defense against fraud and double brokering.
What to check
- Name match: the legal name and DBA on the rate con match the FMCSA record for that MC.
- Authority type and status: the record shows broker authority, and it's active.
- Bond or trust: a property broker must have a $75,000 surety bond (Form BMC-84) or trust fund (Form BMC-85) in effect; FMCSA won't register a broker until it is (49 CFR 387.307).
- Contact details: call the phone number on the FMCSA record, not the one in the email, and confirm the load number and the person who sent it.
- Email domain: established brokerages normally use their own domain. A free webmail address claiming to be a large broker is a classic warning sign.
What federal rules require of brokers
A broker is a person who, for compensation, arranges or offers to arrange transportation by an authorized motor carrier (49 CFR 371.2). It may not offer brokerage in any name other than the one on its registration, and may not represent its operation as a carrier; its advertising must show that it's a broker (49 CFR 371.7). It must keep a record of each transaction for three years, which each party may review (49 CFR 371.3).
If a bond or trust payment drops the fund below $75,000, the surety must notify FMCSA, and the broker's authority can be suspended unless the fund is restored (49 CFR 387.307). A broker whose bond is in trouble is a broker to be careful with.
What the Rate Con Checker flags
The broker identity rule extracts the MC number (5 to 7 digits after "MC") and the DOT number (5 to 8 digits after "DOT" or "USDOT") and shows links that open the FMCSA SAFER snapshot for each. Then:
- Broker email on a free domain (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Outlook, AOL, iCloud, Proton, Live, MSN): red flag.
- No MC or DOT number found: flag.
- Numbers found: a note with the links, because the checker can't verify them itself.
The checker doesn't look anything up; it runs entirely in your browser. Clicking a link opens FMCSA's site in a new tab.
Make it a habit
Check every new broker, and recheck brokers you haven't used in a while. Authority, bonds and contact details change, and fraudsters reuse real companies' names and numbers. The minute it takes is the cheapest insurance in trucking.