Carriers often hear "he's bonded" and treat it as a green light. A broker bond is not insurance for your truck, it is not a guarantee that you get paid on time, and it does not cover every kind of loss. Here is what it does.
It is a performance bond, not an insurance policy
A property broker must maintain a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund with FMCSA. The bond protects carriers and shippers who are owed money for freight the broker arranged. If the broker fails to pay a legitimate invoice, you can file a claim against the bond.
What it does not do: it does not pay for cargo claims arising from your own negligence, it does not cover your deductible, and it does not automatically pay you because a broker is slow. You have to file a claim, with documents, and the surety decides.
What you need before filing
- The signed rate confirmation showing the broker's MC number
- The BOL and delivery receipt signed by the receiver
- Your invoice, showing the agreed rate
- Proof of your attempts to collect, including emails or certified letters
Find the bond or trust on file first. Some brokers use a surety bond (BMC-85), others use a trust fund (BMC-84). The claim goes to the surety company or the trust administrator, not to FMCSA.
One bond, many claimants
The $75,000 limit is shared across every carrier the broker owes. If five carriers file claims on the same bond, they can exceed the limit and collect pro rata. That is why speed matters: a claim filed the week an invoice goes past due is worth more than one filed four months later.
What to do instead of relying on the bond
Use the bond as a backstop, not a payment plan. Before you haul, confirm active authority and a bond on file, then read the payment reviews. Carriers who get paid consistently will say so. Carriers who do not, will also say so.
Check authority and bond status
Reviewed October 28, 2026. General information for carriers, not legal advice.