Freight fraud — particularly double brokering — has exploded in recent years. The FBI and FMCSA both report significant increases in trucking fraud. As a carrier, you can be victimized in two ways: hauling a load you're never paid for, or unknowingly participating in a scam that makes you criminally liable. Here's how to protect yourself.
What is double brokering?
Double brokering happens when a broker takes a load from a shipper, gives it to a "carrier" who is actually another broker, and that second broker gives it to an actual carrier. The second broker often disappears with the payment and the original carrier never gets paid. It's illegal under FMCSA regulations and can constitute wire fraud.
Warning signs of freight fraud
- Rate is significantly higher than market — "too good to be true" loads are often scams
- Broker asks you to call a different number than what's on the load board — scammers post real loads then redirect calls to themselves
- Broker MC number doesn't verify on FMCSA — always check safer.fmcsa.dot.gov
- Broker tries to change payment instructions after you've already hauled
- Rate confirmation has no broker MC number or it's different from what you verified
- Broker pressures you to dispatch immediately without time to verify
- Shipper has never heard of the broker when you call to verify pickup
- Email domain is suspicious — real brokers don't use gmail.com for business correspondence
How to verify a broker is legitimate
- Get their MC number from the load board or rate confirmation
- Go to safer.fmcsa.dot.gov and search by MC number
- Verify: Operating Status = "Authorized for Brokerage," insurance/bond is on file, entity name matches what you were given
- Call the broker's main listed phone number (not the number on the load — look it up independently) to confirm the load
- Check the broker on Carrier411 or similar services for payment reviews
What to do if you suspect you've been scammed
- Document everything — save all emails, texts, and rate confirmations
- File a complaint with the FMCSA at nccdb.fmcsa.dot.gov
- File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
- Contact your state attorney general's office
- If you're not paid, file a claim against the broker's surety bond
- Consult a transportation attorney
⚠ Cargo theft is also on the rise
Beyond double brokering, cargo theft — where criminals pose as carriers, pick up loads, and steal the freight — cost the industry over $223 million in 2023. Always verify the carrier identity at pickup if you're a shipper, and as a carrier, always verify you're picking up from a legitimate shipper location before loading.