Free broker checklist
Double-Brokering Red-Flag Checklist
Check off any warning sign you see, from booking to payment. One flag is not proof of fraud, but every flag is a reason to stop and verify the carrier independently.
Free · No account needed · Nothing you enter is saved
No red flags checked (17 to review)
Before you book
Confirm you are talking to the company on the FMCSA record.
At booking and dispatch
Watch for signs the load is being passed to someone else.
At pickup and in transit
Compare what arrives with what you booked.
At invoicing and payment
Payment changes are a common point of fraud.
If something does not add up
- Pause the load or payment change if you can.
- Call the carrier at the phone number on its FMCSA record, not the number you were given. Use the MC & USDOT lookup to find it.
- Tell the shipper, and keep every email, text, rate confirmation and document.
- Report suspected fraud to FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database (opens in a new tab) and, where appropriate, law enforcement.
Based on FMCSA's broker and carrier fraud guidance (opens in a new tab) and common industry practice. General guidance, not legal advice. See also carrier identity verification.
Frequently asked questions
- What is double brokering?
- Double brokering is when a carrier or broker accepts a load and passes it to another company without the shipper's or original broker's knowledge or consent. It can also involve identity theft, where someone poses as a legitimate carrier.
- Does one red flag mean a carrier is committing fraud?
- No. Many flags have innocent explanations. Treat any checked item as a reason to stop and verify independently, using contact details from the FMCSA record rather than the ones you were given, before the load moves or payment changes.
- What should I do if I suspect double brokering?
- Pause the load or payment if you can, verify with the carrier at the phone number on its FMCSA record, inform the shipper, keep records of every communication, and report fraud to FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database and, where appropriate, law enforcement.
- Can software prevent double brokering?
- No tool can guarantee it. Carrier monitoring helps you notice authority, insurance and contact changes sooner, but your written process, independent verification and documentation still matter.
More free tools and guides
- Carrier Insurance & Safety LookupLook up a carrier by MC or USDOT number and see FMCSA authority, insurance on file, safety rating, inspections, out-of-service rates, and crashes.
- MC & USDOT Number LookupEnter an MC or USDOT number to see live FMCSA carrier details (authority, operating and out-of-service status, fleet size), with links to the official records.
- Freight Rate per Mile & Margin CalculatorTurn a shipper rate and carrier pay into rate per mile, deadhead-adjusted carrier pay, gross margin and the carrier pay that hits your target margin.
- Carrier vetting guidesDue diligence checklist, MC vs. USDOT, authority, insurance and safety guides.
A $30 setup fee is charged today. First month free.
Check carriers continuously, not once
Carrier Lookout keeps authority, insurance and safety information for every carrier you work with in one place, with unlimited carriers on every plan.