Image 1 of 1
What's Included
- DOT, MC, and BOC-3: We file your USDOT number, property broker operating authority, and BOC-3. The $300 FMCSA fee is included.
- UCR (0 Vehicles): Unified Carrier Registration for the current year.
- Carrier Network: We're always working with carriers who are looking for loads. Once you're set up, we'll add you to our list of approved brokers to contact.
- Lifetime Compliance Support: Call, text, or email us anytime with questions. Forever.
Who Needs This Package?
Anyone who wants to operate as a freight broker and arrange for freight to be carried in the US. Brokers connect shippers with carriers and take a margin on the load, and the FMCSA requires them to register just like carriers do: a USDOT number, an active property broker authority, a BOC-3 process agent, and a $75,000 surety bond or trust. This package files everything except the bond, and we point you to bond providers when you're ready.
What Happens After I Order?
We contact you to confirm the company details you entered in the cart form and collect your business verification documents: your Articles of Organization or Incorporation and your EIN confirmation letter. The names on both must match. You'll also complete the FMCSA's electronic identity verification, which requires a US identity card. Then we file your DOT number and broker authority together.
Most new applications now go into manual review at the FMCSA, which can take a few days up to a few weeks. We keep you posted throughout. Once your USDOT number is issued, your broker authority generates the next business day. We attach your BOC-3 and explain your bond requirements. When your bond is on file and the waiting period ends, your authority goes active and you can start posting loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a broker authority to be a broker?+
Yes. You must have both a DOT number and an active broker authority to broker freight legally in the US and post your shipments on load boards.
Is a broker the same thing as a dispatcher?+
No. A dispatcher works for a carrier and negotiates the highest pay for the carrier. A broker is an independent agent who is required to have an authority and negotiates the margin between the shipper and the carrier. If dispatching is what you actually want to do, you don't need this package, and our dispatching page explains that side.
What bond do I need?+
A $75,000 surety bond or trust (BMC-84 or BMC-85) must be on file before the FMCSA will activate your broker authority. We can connect you with our insurance partner for quotes.
How long does it take?+
We file as soon as we have your documents and identity verification. The FMCSA routes most new applications into manual review, which can take a few days up to a few weeks. After your broker authority is granted, the FMCSA imposes a waiting period, and your bond must be on file before it goes active. We keep you posted at every step.
Do I need an LLC and EIN before I order?+
Yes. The FMCSA's MOTUS system requires business verification documents when we file: your Articles of Organization or Incorporation and your EIN confirmation letter, with matching names. If you don't have them yet, we offer LLC filing and EIN application services so you can get everything in one place.
Why does a broker need UCR?+
The Unified Carrier Registration program covers brokers as well as carriers. Brokers register at the zero-vehicle tier, and that filing for the current year is included in this package.
Do I need a truck or insurance?+
No truck. Brokers don't operate vehicles, so there is no vehicle insurance requirement. Your financial responsibility is the $75,000 bond or trust instead.
What do I have to renew after the first year?+
Your UCR renews every calendar year, your bond renews with your surety provider, and the FMCSA requires a biennial MCS-150 update every two years. We can handle the filings when they come due, and lifetime compliance support means you can call or text us before you file anything.
Related Services
Keep Learning
Questions before you order? Call (208) 278-6722 Text (208) 398-0635 info@tiproservices.com