license and permit surety bond

Freight Broker Bond

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Freight Broker Bond Quick Facts:

  • Who needs it: Freight brokers and freight forwarders licensed by the FMCSA
  • Bond amount: $75,000 (set by federal law, the same in every state)
  • Also known as: BMC-84 bond, property broker bond, transportation broker surety bond
  • Annual premium: Typically $1,500 to $3,500, based on a soft credit pull of the owners
  • First-year collateral: $25,000 cash, typically refunded at renewal if no losses
  • When required: Before the FMCSA grants your authority, and renewed annually to keep it
  • Alternative: BMC-85 trust fund (requires depositing the full $75,000)

Last updated: May 28, 2026

$75,000 Freight Broker Bond (BMC-84)

If you are starting a freight brokerage or renewing your authority, the federal government requires you to carry a $75,000 freight broker bond before you can legally operate. It is also called a BMC-84 bond, a property broker bond, or a transportation broker surety bond. Whatever you call it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will not grant or maintain your broker authority without it.

 

We have been writing surety bonds since 1971, and freight broker bonds are one of the trickier products in the market right now. Read the qualification section below before you call. It will tell you in plain terms whether you can get approved, what it costs, and what to expect. If you have held a freight broker bond before and want to move fast, call us at 800-333-7800 or request a free quote online.

Video Guide: Watch our video about Freight Broker Bonds.

Do You Qualify, and What Will It Cost?

Freight broker bonds are not like most surety bonds, so it helps to know the lay of the land before you apply.

The market reality

These bonds are considered higher-risk because of significant fraud and losses across the freight broker industry in recent years. Because of that, many surety companies have stopped writing them altogether. The ones that remain underwrite carefully. We still write them, and we work with the carriers who still have an appetite for this business, but you should expect real underwriting rather than an instant rubber stamp.

If you have held a freight broker bond before

Good news. If you have carried a freight broker bond previously, we can usually get you approved with no collateral. Your annual premium will typically run between $1,500 and $3,500, based on a soft pull of the personal credit of the company owners. A soft pull does not affect your credit score.

If this is your first year

If this is your first freight broker bond, you will be required to put up $25,000 in cash collateral in addition to your premium. Here is the part most people do not know: if you complete your first year without any losses or claims, that collateral is typically refunded when you renew for year two. Your annual premium is still in the $1,500 to $3,500 range, again based on a soft credit pull of the owners.

If that fits your situation, let us get you bonded. Call 800-333-7800 or start your free quote.

What Is a Freight Broker Bond?

A freight broker bond is a financial guarantee required by the FMCSA, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates interstate commerce and motor carrier safety. The bond protects the motor carriers and shippers you work with. If you fail to pay a carrier or otherwise violate FMCSA rules, those harmed parties can file a claim against your bond, up to the full $75,000.

 

The requirement comes from the federal MAP-21 law, which set the financial responsibility amount at $75,000 for all brokers and freight forwarders. Because it is a federal requirement, the amount is the same whether you operate in California, Texas, or anywhere else. There is no state-by-state variation in the dollar figure.

 

How a Freight Broker Bond Works

Every surety bond involves three parties, and the freight broker bond is no different:

  • The Principal is you, the freight broker or forwarder required to carry the bond.
  • The Obligee is the FMCSA, the agency requiring the bond.
  • The Surety is the bonding company that issues the bond and backs the guarantee.

If you meet all your obligations, the bond simply renews each year and nothing happens. If you fail to pay a carrier or shipper, they can file a claim. The surety investigates, and if the claim is valid, the surety pays the harmed party up to $75,000. You are then required to repay the surety in full. That repayment obligation is exactly why underwriting matters and why first-year brokers post collateral.

 

Freight broker bonds run for one year and must be renewed annually. If your bond lapses or is canceled, the FMCSA can suspend your operating authority.

 

New FMCSA Rules for 2026

As of January 16, 2026, the FMCSA enforces stricter financial responsibility rules, and they matter for how you stay compliant:

  • If your available bond security drops below $75,000, you must notify the FMCSA within two business days.
  • If you do not replenish it within seven calendar days, the FMCSA can suspend your operating authority, and that suspension shows up on your public Company Snapshot.
  • The rules also tightened what can be held in a BMC-85 trust fund. Acceptable assets are now limited to cash, irrevocable letters of credit from a federally insured bank, and treasury bonds. The FMCSA estimates that more than 90% of existing trust providers no longer qualify.

The practical takeaway: for most brokers, a BMC-84 surety bond is now the cleaner and more affordable path to staying compliant, because you pay a premium rather than tying up the full $75,000.

 

BMC-84 Bond vs. BMC-85 Trust Fund

The FMCSA gives you two ways to meet the $75,000 requirement:

  • BMC-84 surety bond. You pay an annual premium (a fraction of the $75,000) and the surety backs the full amount. This is what most brokers choose because it does not lock up your cash.
  • BMC-85 trust fund. You deposit the full $75,000 into a trust. That is a lot of working capital to freeze, and after the 2026 rule changes, far fewer trust providers even qualify.

For most brokers, especially newer ones who need their cash for operations, the BMC-84 bond is the practical choice.

 

What Is a Freight Broker?

A freight broker, sometimes called a third-party logistics firm, is a licensed company that connects shippers with the motor carriers who haul their freight. Brokers negotiate rates, arrange transport, and keep the records for each transaction. They do not own the trucks. They coordinate the movement of freight between the people who have it and the people who haul it.

 

Freight brokers are not the same as freight agents. A freight agent is an independent salesperson who works on behalf of a broker. The broker holds the FMCSA authority and the bond. All brokers and forwarders must also complete the Unified Carrier Registration and pay the annual UCR fee.

 

How to Get Your Freight Broker Bond With SBA

The process is straightforward once you know which category you fall into:

  1. Reach out. Call us at 800-333-7800 or request a quote online. Tell us whether this is your first freight broker bond or a renewal.
  2. Soft credit pull. We run a soft pull on the company owners’ personal credit. This does not affect your credit score.
  3. Review your terms. We tell you your premium and, if you are a first-year broker, walk you through the $25,000 collateral and how it gets refunded at renewal.
  4. Get bonded. You pay your premium (and post collateral if applicable), and we file your bond so you can secure or keep your FMCSA authority.

Freight Broker Bond FAQs

How much does a freight broker bond cost?

The annual premium typically runs between $1,500 and $3,500, based on a soft pull of the company owners’ personal credit. First-year brokers also post $25,000 in cash collateral, which is typically refunded at renewal if there are no losses in the first year.

Do I need collateral for a freight broker bond?

If this is your first freight broker bond, yes. First-year applicants post $25,000 in cash collateral, typically refunded when you renew for year two with no losses. If you have held a freight broker bond before, we can usually approve you with no collateral.

Why are freight broker bonds harder to get now?

Recent fraud and losses across the freight broker industry led many surety companies to stop writing these bonds. The carriers that remain underwrite carefully. We work with the carriers who still write this business, so we can usually find you a path to approval.

Will checking my credit hurt my score?

No. We use a soft credit pull on the company owners to price your bond. A soft pull does not affect your credit score.

What is the difference between a BMC-84 bond and a BMC-85 trust?

A BMC-84 bond lets you pay an annual premium while the surety backs the full $75,000. A BMC-85 trust requires you to deposit the entire $75,000 yourself. After the 2026 FMCSA rule changes, most brokers choose the BMC-84 bond because it does not tie up their cash.

How fast can I get bonded?

Once we complete the soft credit pull and confirm your terms, we can move quickly. Renewals and experienced brokers are usually fastest. Call us at 800-333-7800 and we will tell you exactly where you stand.

What happens if my bond falls below $75,000?

Under FMCSA rules effective January 16, 2026, you must notify the FMCSA within two business days, and if you do not replenish within seven calendar days, your operating authority can be suspended. Keeping your bond active and in good standing is essential to staying in business.

 

Get Your Freight Broker Bond Today

Freight broker bonds are one of the toughest corners of the surety market right now, and that is exactly why it pays to work with a specialist. We have been writing surety bonds since 1971, we work with the carriers who still write this business, and we will tell you straight whether you qualify and what it will cost. No surprises when you call.

Whether this is your first bond or your tenth renewal, we can help you get bonded and keep your FMCSA authority. Get a free quote online or call us at 800-333-7800.

Questions about your specific situation? Contact us and we will walk you through it.

Table of Contents: Guide

    Freight Broker Bonds by state

    The $75,000 bond amount is federal and identical in every state, but we write freight broker bonds nationwide and maintain state-specific pages for brokers who want details closer to home. Find your state below:

    A–D

    E–H

    K–M

    N–R

    S–W