Freight fraud has grown with load boards and email. A carrier can haul a load in good faith and never be paid, or have its identity used by someone else to steal freight. Prevention is mostly a matter of slowing down and checking.
Red flags on a load offer
- A rate far above the market for the lane, with pressure to commit right now.
- An email domain that does not match the broker's real website, or a free email account.
- A phone number that does not match the one listed for the broker's authority.
- Requests to change where the load is delivered after pickup.
- A broker whose authority is very new, inactive or recently changed hands.
Red flags about your own identity
- Brokers calling about loads you never booked.
- Unexpected changes to your FMCSA registration contact details.
- Requests for your login details or a copy of your setup packet from someone you have not verified.
A short verification routine
- Look up the broker's authority yourself on FMCSA's official site, not through a link they send.
- Call the number listed there, not the one in the email, to confirm the load.
- Check the broker's credit and payment history through your factoring company or a credit service.
- Get the rate confirmation in writing before dispatching the truck.
If something seems wrong
Stop before pickup if you can. Call the broker on its verified number, tell your factoring company and insurer, and keep every message. You can report fraud to FMCSA through its national consumer complaint database.
Our red flags card (PDF) fits by the phone for every dispatcher.
General information. Your factoring company, insurer and attorney can advise on a specific situation.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or regulatory advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible agency or a licensed professional.
