Get a free quote online with a soft credit pull.
As the nation's largest volume bond producer, we negotiate the best rates.
Your bond will be accepted, or we’ll refund your payment in full.
What is a Freight Broker Bond?
The BMC-84 (also known as a freight broker surety bond) is a specific type of surety bond that protects shippers/motor carriers, which is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) in order to obtain a brokerage authority.
What is a Freight Broker Bond Used For?
Having a BMC-84 bond helps ensures that you, as the broker, abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules and regulations. Should you fail to do so, a claim can be made against your bond. You are then responsible to repay the claim amount.
As an example, freight brokers who do not pay motor carriers in a timely fashion may have a claim brought against their bond. This can be a costly issue for licensed freight brokers, and it can put your brokerage at risk. For these reasons, it is essential to understand what a BMC-84 is and how it works in practice.
How Much Does a Freight Broker Bond Cost?
he cost of a freight broker bond ranges from $925 to $9,000. The pricing is calculated as a small percentage of the full $75,000 bond amount, typically between one to 12%. The percentage you pay as your bond rate is based on your financial strength, including your personal credit.
"Unlike alternatives, our freight broker bonds usually don't require collateral to obtain, which is crucial for smaller freight brokers." Eric Weisbrot, Digital Marketing Manager
How to Get a Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84)
If you’re starting a new freight brokerage, you'll need to register with the FMCSA in order to obtain your freight broker authority. You will also want to ensure you have a business plan in place.
Once registered, you’ll need to get a freight broker bond (BMC-84) from a bond company and ensure your bond gets filed with the FMCSA. Find out what a surety bond is and get your free quote directly on our website.
“Ensuring your bond provider can handle claims effectively is crucial, especially in the high claim activity freight broker market. Our company has an in-house claims department to defend our clients from invalid claims.“
Eric Weisbrot, Digital Marketing Manager
You can also read our complete guide to getting your freight broker license for more detailed information.
BMC-84 or BMC-85: What’s Right for You?
To meet the requirements of becoming a licensed freight broker, you have two options: obtaining a freight broker bond (BMC-84) or a trust fund (BMC-85). They both offer advantages and disadvantages depending on the needs of you and your brokerage. Read our detailed article to determine whether you should get a BMC-84 or BMC-85.
Freight Broker E-Book Guides
We have put together several free freight broker guides that cover the most essential information you'll need to know as a freight broker. Take a look at the topics covered in our e-book guides below:
|
Image
|
These e-book guides were created specifically with freight brokers in mind, and they provide all of the crucial information you need to help ensure your brokerage thrives in this competitive profession.
Freight Broker Bonds vs. Insurance
Freight broker bonds protect shippers/motor carriers, not freight brokers.However, freight broker insurance does protect freight brokers.
Many new freight brokers that invest the bare minimum on insurance coverage quickly realize they are disqualified from working with larger shippers. Each year, more freight brokers are pulled into litigation, and ultimately go out of business due to huge judgments and legal fees they can’t afford.
Although insurance is not required to operate, the most important reasons to have it in place are to:
- Protect your bottom line
- Create increased security around your bond, and avoid leaving yourself open to paying legal fees by not purchasing insurance.
- Increase top line: by having insurance, you become more attractive in today's marketplace to shippers and wholesalers.
Frequently Asked Questions
In many cases, yes. We can approve nearly any freight broker or forwarder, even if credit is an issue. Also, no collateral is required as it is with a freight broker trust. Apply to get an instant approval. This is made possible by our high-risk market, which is exclusive to our agency. If you go to another agency, they will likely broker the bond through us, possibly costing you extra money and time.
For most freight brokers, the answer is yes. The trust fund (BMC-85) ties up your money by requiring 100% collateral, while the bond only requires an annual payment which is a percentage of the bond amount. The bond also comes with a team of claim specialists that will assist you in fighting false claims, which is priceless since the freight broker business has a high frequency of false claims. Learn how your brokerage can stand out from the crowd with $100,000 excess bond coverage.
A $75,000 bond is required for licensed freight brokers. We strongly advise that all freight brokers are compliant before they continue operations so that they keep their authority and avoid unnecessary fines.
Technically, there is no physical bond form, as it is an electronic bond filing which we will handle for you. However, you can take a look at the official FMCSA BMC-84 form that was previously used. Once your bond is filed by our team, you can view it on the FMCSA website.
You must contact us immediately, as we have a team of claim specialists here to find a resolution for you. It is essential that you work with an expert in the surety industry to help avoid the costs of false claims. Learn more about how to ensure you choose the proper bond company.
From Our Customers
