10 Questions to Ask a Freight Broker Before You Sign

A freight broker's website will always say the right things — verified carriers, dedicated support, competitive rates. The way to tell the difference between marketing copy and an actual operating standard is to ask specific questions and see how specifically they're answered.

1. Are you licensed and bonded?

Every legitimate freight broker operating in interstate commerce is required to hold FMCSA broker authority and a $75,000 surety bond (or trust fund) under the BMC-84 requirement. Ask for the broker's USDOT and MC numbers and look them up yourself on FMCSA's SAFER system. Read more in our guide to freight broker bonds.

2. How do you vet your carriers?

A vague answer ("we only use trusted carriers") is a red flag. A specific answer covers FMCSA authority checks, independent insurance verification, and signed carrier agreements — the same standard we walk through in how freight brokers vet carriers.

3. Who's my point of contact once the load is booked?

Some brokers hand you off to a call center or rotating dispatch team after booking. Ask whether you'll have a consistent point of contact who knows your load without you re-explaining it.

4. What happens if a carrier doesn't show?

No broker can promise zero no-shows, but a good one has a backup plan and communicates proactively rather than leaving you to find out the truck never arrived.

5. How is cargo insurance handled?

Ask specifically what coverage applies to your freight and what the claims process looks like if something is damaged in transit. This should be a clear, documented answer — not "don't worry about it."

6. How do you price a load?

You don't need a full breakdown of margins, but a broker should be able to explain what's driving your rate — lane, equipment type, market capacity, fuel — rather than just handing you a number.

7. What's your on-time delivery track record?

Ask for a general sense of performance. Brokers who track this seriously usually have an answer ready; brokers who don't track it at all are telling you something too.

8. Can I see references or existing shipper relationships?

A broker with an established base of repeat shippers should be comfortable pointing to that track record.

9. How do you handle specialized or non-standard freight?

If you ship anything outside standard dry van freight — flatbed, heavy haul, or construction materials like dirt and aggregate — ask directly whether the broker has real experience in that lane, not just general capacity.

10. What are your payment terms?

Get clarity upfront on invoicing, payment terms, and any accessorial charges (detention, layover, etc.) before your first load ships — not after the invoice arrives.