Freight Broker License: Requirements, Cost and How to Get It

What people call a "freight broker license" is officially broker operating authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is a federal registration, identified by an MC number, that allows a business to arrange interstate freight transportation for compensation.

There is no exam and no required course. The process is an application, a bond and a filing.

Freight broker license requirements

To get and keep broker authority you need:

• A registered business (LLC, corporation or sole proprietorship) and an EIN.

• A USDOT number.

• Broker authority (MC number), applied for through the FMCSA registration system.

• $75,000 in financial security: a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust.

• A BOC-3 filing naming process agents in the states where you operate.

How to get a freight broker license, step by step

1. Form your company in your state and get an EIN from the IRS.

2. Apply to the FMCSA for a USDOT number and broker authority. Since May 2026 this is done in the FMCSA's Motus registration system. You choose "Broker of Property" for general freight.

3. Pay the application fee.

4. Get your bond or trust. The surety or trust provider files the BMC-84 or BMC-85 with the FMCSA. See the freight broker bond explained.

5. File the BOC-3. Most brokers use a blanket process agent service that covers every state.

6. Wait for the protest period to end. Your application is published, and anyone may object during this window.

7. Authority becomes active once the bond and BOC-3 are on file and the waiting period has passed. Do not arrange any loads before then.

How much does a freight broker license cost?

Check the FMCSA website for the current fee before you apply, because the registration system is being updated.

The licence itself is the small cost. The larger one is working capital: carriers expect payment within days, and many shippers pay in 30 days or more.

How long does it take?

Plan for several weeks from application to active authority. The fixed part is the public notice period. The variable part is how quickly your bond and BOC-3 are filed. Having both ready to file as soon as you receive your MC number avoids most delays.

Do you need a state freight broker license?

No state issues its own freight broker licence. Broker authority is federal, and it covers interstate freight nationwide.

That applies to the states people ask about most:

• Texas: no state broker licence. Register your business with the state and obtain FMCSA authority.

• Florida: the same. A Florida business registration plus FMCSA authority.

• California and other states: the same.

What states do require is the usual business set-up: registering the entity, and any state or local tax registrations that apply to your company. If you will broker freight that moves only within one state, check that state's rules for intrastate transportation.

Keeping your licence

Authority can be suspended or revoked. The common reasons:

• The bond lapses or falls below $75,000. Under rules in full effect since January 2026, a broker has seven business days after notice to restore it.

• The BOC-3 is cancelled and not replaced.

• The FMCSA registration is not kept up to date. Registration details must be updated every two years.

Brokers are also required to keep a record of each transaction. Keeping the rate confirmation, bill of lading, proof of delivery and payment record for every load in one place makes this routine. See our guide to freight broker software.

Licence or agent?

If the bond and the working capital are out of reach for now, you can work as a freight agent under an existing broker's authority and split the margin. Many brokers start this way. The wider picture is in how to become a freight broker, and if the role itself is new to you, start with what a freight broker is.