To arrange freight between shippers and carriers across state lines for pay, you need broker operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The process is not hard, but the order matters, and the system you file in changed in 2026.
This is a practical overview, not legal advice. FMCSA changes its forms, fees and systems, so confirm each step on FMCSA’s site before you file.
1. Set up the business
Form the company you will broker under, usually an LLC or corporation, and get an EIN from the IRS. Open a business bank account. Pick a legal name you can keep: it goes on your authority, your bond and every rate con.
2. Apply through FMCSA
You apply for a USDOT number and broker operating authority online. In 2026 FMCSA began replacing its old Unified Registration System with a new system called Motus, which includes identity verification for new applicants. Start from FMCSA’s registration pages so you land in the current system.
The application fee is $300 for each type of authority you request. Brokers of property apply for one type, so most new brokers pay $300. Your MC number comes with the grant letter.
3. File $75,000 in financial security
Every broker must keep $75,000 in financial security on file, in one of two forms:
- BMC-84: a surety bond. You pay a surety company a yearly premium, based largely on your credit.
- BMC-85: a trust fund. A trustee holds the $75,000.
Your surety or trustee files this with FMCSA, not you. Since January 16, 2026, if your security falls below $75,000 and is not replenished within seven business days of FMCSA’s notice, your authority can be suspended. Treat the bond as something to monitor, not a one-time purchase.
4. Name a process agent (BOC-3)
A process agent accepts legal papers for you in each state where you operate. Most brokers pay a blanket-agent company to cover every state. Form BOC-3 must be on file within 90 days of your application being published in the FMCSA Register, and your authority will not go active without it.
5. Wait out the protest period
After publication there is a 10-day protest period. An MC number on its own is not permission to operate. You may not book freight until your authority shows as active. Check your status in FMCSA’s public lookup before you take a load.
6. Register with UCR
Brokers working in interstate commerce also register each year with the Unified Carrier Registration program. The current fee and deadline are on the UCR site.
7. Get ready to run
Before the first load, have these in place:
- A broker-carrier agreement reviewed by a transportation attorney.
- A carrier setup process. See how to vet a carrier.
- A rate confirmation template. Our free generator will do for the first few.
- Record keeping. Brokers must keep a record of each transaction for three years under 49 CFR 371.3.
- A conversation with an insurance agent about contingent cargo and errors and omissions cover.
What it costs to get started
Only some of these costs are fixed. Get quotes for the rest, because they depend on you.
- Application fee: $300 for broker authority, paid to FMCSA.
- Surety bond premium or trust: a BMC-84 premium is a yearly cost set by the surety, largely from your credit. A BMC-85 trust ties up the full $75,000.
- Process agent: a fee to a blanket-agent company, usually paid once a year.
- UCR registration: set each year by the program.
- Insurance and legal review: contingent cargo, errors and omissions, and an attorney’s review of your agreements.
- Working capital: often the largest cost. You will usually pay carriers before shippers pay you. Our cash gap calculator shows how much that can tie up.
Mistakes that slow new brokers down
- Booking freight before the status is active. A grant letter is not enough.
- Letting the BOC-3 slip. Your authority will not go active until it is on file.
- Using a name you will change. Your legal name appears on the authority, the bond and your paperwork.
- Treating the bond as finished. A claim that takes you below $75,000 starts a short clock under the 2026 rule. See freight broker bond explained.
- Having no carrier process on day one. Your first load is when you most need a checklist.
Common questions
Is a freight broker license the same as broker authority?
Yes. People say license, but what FMCSA grants is broker operating authority, identified by your MC number.
Do I need training to become a freight broker?
No federal rule requires a course or certificate. Training can still help, because the costly mistakes are usually practical ones.
How much is the freight broker bond?
The security must be $75,000. With a BMC-84 surety bond you pay a yearly premium, set by the surety and based largely on your credit. Get more than one quote.
Can I start brokering as soon as I get my MC number?
No. You may not operate until your authority shows as active, after publication, the protest period and your filings.
Do I need my own trucks?
No. Brokers arrange freight on other carriers’ trucks. If you also haul freight yourself, you need separate motor carrier authority.