A freight broker bond is a $75,000 surety bond that every freight broker in the United States must have before the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will grant broker authority. It is filed on form BMC-84. Its purpose is to make sure carriers and shippers get paid if the broker fails to pay them.
Freight forwarders are subject to the same $75,000 requirement.
What the bond actually does
The bond is not insurance for the broker. It protects the people the broker deals with.
Three parties are involved:
The principal: the broker, who buys the bond.
The obligee: the FMCSA, which requires it.
The surety: the company that issues the bond and guarantees payment.
If a broker does not pay a carrier, or breaks its agreement with a shipper, the unpaid party can make a claim against the bond. If the claim is valid, the surety pays it, up to $75,000 in total. The broker must then repay the surety. A bond is a guarantee, not a way to pass the cost to someone else.
BMC-84 vs BMC-85
There are two ways to meet the $75,000 requirement.
BMC-84 surety bond | BMC-85 trust fund | |
|---|---|---|
What it is | A bond issued by a surety company | A trust holding $75,000 in assets |
Upfront cost | An annual premium, a fraction of $75,000 | The full $75,000, held by the trustee |
Who files it | The surety, electronically with the FMCSA | The trust provider |
Who uses it | Most new brokers | Brokers who prefer to fund the full amount |
Most new brokers choose the BMC-84 because it does not tie up $75,000 in cash.
How much does a freight broker bond cost?
You do not pay $75,000. You pay an annual premium to the surety, quoted as a percentage of the bond amount.
The premium depends mainly on:
Personal credit of the owners. This is the biggest factor.
Business financials and how long the company has operated.
Industry experience.
Claims history on any previous bond.
A new broker with strong credit pays noticeably less than one with poor credit or past claims. Get quotes from more than one surety or bond agency, because prices differ for the same applicant.
How to get a freight broker bond
Apply for your USDOT number and broker authority with the FMCSA. You will need the MC number for the bond.
Request quotes from surety companies or bond agencies that handle BMC-84 bonds.
Complete the application. Expect a credit check and questions about the business and its owners.
Pay the premium.
The surety files the BMC-84 electronically with the FMCSA. You do not file it yourself.
File your BOC-3 process agent form if you have not already.
Your authority is not granted until the bond and BOC-3 are on file. The full sequence is in how to get a freight broker license.
What changed in 2026
FMCSA rules that took full effect in January 2026 tightened the requirement:
The $75,000 must stay fully available. If claims or other draws reduce it, the broker is notified and has seven business days to restore it.
If it is not restored, authority is suspended. The broker cannot legally arrange loads until the security is back in place.
Trust funds (BMC-85) must be held in cash or assets that can be turned into cash quickly.
In practice, one unpaid carrier claim can now put a broker's authority at risk within days. Paying carriers on time is a compliance matter, not only good practice.
How to keep your bond safe
Pay carriers on the agreed terms, and keep proof.
Keep clean records for every load: rate confirmation, bill of lading, proof of delivery, invoice and payment. Disputes are settled on documents.
Vet carriers before every load. Many bond claims start with a load that was double brokered and a real carrier that never got paid. See what double brokering is and how to prevent it.
Respond to any claim notice immediately. The clock is short.
A TMS that stores the documents and payment status for each load makes this much easier than spreadsheets and email. Our guide to freight broker software covers what to look for.
See what an AI-native TMS looks like.
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