A freight broker must maintain $75,000 in financial security with FMCSA, either a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund. If a broker doesn't pay you, you can usually file a claim with whoever provides it. Find that provider on the broker's FMCSA record, then contact them directly.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What the bond or trust is
A freight broker must maintain $75,000 in financial security with FMCSA, either a BMC-84 surety bond or a BMC-85 trust fund.
It's generally there so carriers have somewhere to turn when a broker doesn't pay what it owes.
Find the provider
The bond or trust provider is listed on the broker's record in FMCSA's public licensing and insurance system. Search for the broker by name or MC number and open their record.
Look it up there yourself. Don't rely on a provider name the broker gives you or one from another website.
If the record doesn't show an active bond or trust, write that down and take a screenshot. It's worth knowing before you spend time on a claim.
Before you file
Providers usually want to see that you tried to collect first. That means you sent the invoice, followed up, and sent a demand letter.
Keep copies of all of it, with dates.
Related guide: How to write a demand letter for unpaid freight
What you'll usually need
- The broker's name and MC number.
- The signed rate con.
- Your invoice.
- The signed bill of lading or proof of delivery.
- Your demand letter and proof you sent it.
- Your record of follow-ups.
Each provider has its own claim form and process. Contact them and ask for it.
Things to know going in
There may be a deadline to file. Ask the provider what it is, and don't wait.
The security is a fixed amount for each broker. If a broker owes a lot of carriers, there may not be enough to pay every claim in full.
A claim usually isn't fast. If the amount matters a lot to you, talk to an attorney who handles transportation claims.
How Lumen handles this
Lumen doesn't file bond claims. You contact the provider yourself. What Lumen does is keep the paper trail a claim usually asks for.
- Your rate con, delivery paperwork, and invoice stay together on the load.
- Lumen tracks how long the invoice has been out.
- At day 30, Lumen marks the invoice Overdue and drafts a demand letter. You review it and confirm before it sends.
- Lumen is free right now.