FREE CARRIER GUIDANCE
Suspected double brokering: document and verify the load chain
An unexpected company in a load’s chain deserves investigation. Identify who made each agreement, who arranged transportation and who actually carried the freight.
Published and source-checked October 10, 2026 • Freight Broker Complaint • Educational guidance
Unpaid freight, identity confusion and unsafe decisions about a disputed load.
Map the parties
Create a separate entry for the shipper, each arranger, the contracting carrier and the actual hauling carrier. Record where every name and identifier came from. Do not merge companies just because their names look similar.
Compare the paper trail
Build a side-by-side record of the agreements and pickup/delivery evidence.
- Who issued each rate confirmation and who accepted it?
- Which carrier name appears on the BOL/POD?
- What did the shipper’s pickup record show?
- Who gave dispatch or destination instructions?
- Was another arrangement disclosed and authorized?
- Which company owes whom under each agreement?
Investigate authority and identity
Official company records help check identity and authority, but a registration does not authenticate the person messaging you. Verify contact channels and ask authorized parties to explain discrepancies. Not every multi-party arrangement establishes unlawful brokerage.
Protect the freight while resolving payment
FMCSA cautions that the real broker and hauling carrier may both be victims of fraud. Its guidance also warns against holding a load hostage for payment. Keep payment disputes separate from verified delivery and safety instructions; seek qualified assistance if obligations are contested.
Report facts, not a verdict
Describe the suspected arrangement, the evidence and what remains unknown. Use applicable official reporting channels yourself. FBC does not label a party guilty, publish a blacklist or automatically stop an LFS AOS load.
Sources and scope
Official references checked for this guide. Confirm current instructions at the destination before acting. This is general education, not legal advice or an investigation finding.
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