Freight fraud: how to spot it before you haul
Freight scams rarely look like scams. They arrive as a good rate from a real company name, and by the time the payment fails or the load disappears, the people behind them are gone.
Written by Gabriel Gonzalez
Freight fraud in numbers
Freight fraud is the use of deception, usually a stolen or fake identity, to take a load or a payment that belongs to someone else. You avoid it by verifying every broker and carrier against FMCSA's own records, calling back only on the numbers listed there, and walking away from any deal that hides who is hauling.
Every freight fraud scheme ends the same way: a load or a payment goes to someone who did not earn it. For a small carrier, a single lost load or unpaid invoice hits cash flow immediately.
I have spent more than 22 years at Simplex, including nearly 16 as COO, working on revenue and operations. The carriers that avoid fraud treat verification the way a lender treats credit: nobody gets a load until they pass the checks.
The full briefing, read aloud
8 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Gabriel Gonzalez.
Key takeaways
Freight fraud runs on borrowed identities
Most schemes use a real carrier's or broker's name, USDOT number, or email, so the paperwork looks legitimate.
Double brokering has no legal definition
FMCSA says the term usually means brokering without proper authority, and federal law prohibits that.
Verify against FMCSA, not the email
Check SAFER or Motus, and call back only on the phone number FMCSA's record shows.
Some red flags mean stop
Being asked to haul under another carrier's name, a "blind" destination, or a rate far above market.
Report fast, and don't hold the load
FMCSA lists who to notify, and it says holding a load hostage until you are paid is illegal.
USDOT and MC numbers are not for sale
FMCSA's March 2026 bulletin says it will inactivate numbers sold, bought, or leased outside a legitimate corporate transaction.
In this articleContents
What is freight fraud?
Freight fraud is using deception to take a load or a payment. FMCSA describes its core as using another motor carrier's USDOT number without authorization, or acting as a broker without registering with FMCSA, and calls both criminal acts.
The losses are growing faster than the number of incidents. Verisk CargoNet recorded 3,594 supply chain crime events in the U.S. and Canada in 2025, about the same as in 2024, but estimated losses rose 60% to nearly $725 million, and the average theft reached $273,990.
CargoNet expects theft-by-deception groups to focus more on misdirecting shipments already tendered to legitimate carriers. That puts carriers in the middle of the scheme, not on its edge.
FMCSA sees the same pattern in its own records. It lists identity theft, hijacked FMCSA accounts, sold motor carrier numbers and PINs, and fake registrations, and says some of it may come from foreign actors.
What are the most common freight scams?
Most freight scams are variations on five schemes, and each one borrows trust from a real company.
| Scheme | How it works | Who loses first |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier identity theft | Loads are booked under a real carrier's name, USDOT number, or a look-alike email | The shipper or broker, and the real carrier's reputation |
| Unauthorized (double) brokering | Someone without broker authority takes a load and re-brokers it to another carrier | The carrier that hauls it and never gets paid |
| Fictitious pickup | A truck arrives under the contracted carrier's name and leaves with the load | The shipper, and the carrier whose name was used |
| Account hijacking | Someone takes over a company's FMCSA account and changes its records | The registered company, and everyone who checks its record |
| Phishing | Fake emails and links steal logins to email, load boards, or FMCSA accounts | Whoever's login is taken, then their partners |
Is double brokering illegal?
Brokering without authority is. "Double brokering" itself is not defined in statute or regulation, and FMCSA's 2023 guidance says most people who use the term mean acting as a broker without proper authority.
Under 49 U.S.C. 14916, only a broker registered with FMCSA that has met the financial security requirement may broker interstate freight. Anyone who knowingly allows a violation is liable for a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation and to the injured party for all valid claims, jointly with the company's officers, directors, and principals.
FMCSA has said it can pursue that penalty only through the Department of Justice in federal court. Separately, its penalty schedule sets a minimum of $13,676 per violation for operating as a broker without registration.
Why is a USDOT or MC number for sale a red flag?
Because it can't legally be sold. FMCSA's March 19, 2026 bulletin says a USDOT number belongs to the same legal person forever, and that operating authority may not be sold, leased, or rented outside a legitimate corporate transaction. When FMCSA finds one, it will move to inactivate the USDOT number and revoke the related registrations.
CargoNet notes that many complex theft schemes rely on acquiring existing carriers with strong load histories. An "aged" authority offered for sale is a warning sign, not a shortcut.
How to avoid freight fraud: verify before you haul
Freight fraud prevention comes down to checking identity against FMCSA's records, not against what the other party sends you. These steps follow FMCSA's own prevention guidance.
Step 1: Look up the company in FMCSA's records
Search the SAFER Company Snapshot by USDOT number, MC number, or name. For filings after May 18, 2026, FMCSA points users to Motus public search, because its older Licensing and Insurance system now shows only historical records.
Don't accept a PDF of an authority certificate as proof. FMCSA says hard copies of certificates do not represent active authority; the official record does.
Step 2: Call back on the number FMCSA shows
If the phone number you were given doesn't match SAFER, call the SAFER number to discuss the load. If SAFER shows no phone number, FMCSA suggests not contracting until you can confirm the transaction. Don't trust the top search result either: FMCSA warns that scammers create fake profiles.
Step 3: Check the paperwork with whoever issued it
Even insurance certificates can be fraudulent. If a certificate, rate confirmation, or carrier packet looks off, research the numbers and call the issuing companies directly. A broker's $75,000 bond is your backstop if it doesn't pay, which our guide to truck factoring explains.
Step 4: Match the truck at pickup
Confirm the name and numbers on the truck that shows up match the carrier on the contract, and record the tractor and trailer plates. FMCSA suggests requesting photos of the truck and trailer and comparing them with the carrier packet. If a load is ever stolen, those records matter to law enforcement.
Step 5: Stop the deal on these red flags
- The broker asks you to present yourself as a carrier with a different name, or asks your driver to lie about who they work for
- You question the destination and are told it's a "blind load"
- The broker is quick to agree to pay you more
- The rate far exceeds the current market rate
Identity is only half the check. A real broker can still pay slowly, so run a credit check too; our freight planning team can do it for you.
What should you do if you're a victim of freight fraud?
Report it quickly, and warn the people who rely on your identity. FMCSA recommends these steps:
- File a complaint in FMCSA's National Consumer Complaint Database, and contact the FMCSA Contact Center
- Report scams to the FTC and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, and contact local police or your state attorney general
- Report the incident to the U.S. DOT Office of Inspector General hotline
- Check that the phone numbers on your SAFER record are visible and correct
- Tell your insurance company, every load board you use, and your factoring company that your information is being misused
- Post a warning on your website and social media for your customers
What if you hauled a fraudulently brokered load?
Find out who is paying the freight on the load and ask to be put in contact with their brokerage. FMCSA says the real broker is often a victim too, and that holding a load hostage until you get paid is illegal.
If the cargo arrives damaged, the claim follows its own process; see our guide to documenting damaged cargo.
What changed in 2026?
The biggest change is in registration. FMCSA's Motus system launched on May 19, 2026, and requires identity verification for new applicants and for existing registrants the first time they log in. Business verification by CLEAR checks legal names, addresses, ownership, and company officials.
Motus also randomizes newly issued USDOT and docket numbers to help prevent fraud. Existing numbers don't change, but a new number no longer tells you when a company registered.
In Congress, the House passed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 2853), which covers organized theft from interstate shipments, 348 to 60 on May 12, 2026. As of September 2026, it sits with the Senate Judiciary Committee and is not law.
Some articles online claim FMCSA doubled the broker bond or raised double-brokering fines in 2026. We found no such rule in the Federal Register as of September 24, 2026, and the property broker bond is still $75,000 under 49 CFR 387.307.
How Simplex helps carriers avoid freight fraud
Fraud gets through where a check is skipped. We help with the checks, the cash flow, and the coverage.
Credit checks before you haul
Our freight planning team runs credit checks and can advise which companies are suitable to work with and which to avoid.
Factoring that carries payment risk
Simplex works with OTR Solutions on a non-recourse trucking factoring program. Ask us which non-payment events the agreement covers.
Cargo coverage that fits the risk
We quote and place commercial truck insurance, including cargo coverage, and a licensed agent can walk you through how your policy treats theft.
Frequently asked questions
What is freight fraud?+
What is double brokering in trucking?+
How can carriers avoid freight scams?+
Where do I report freight fraud?+
Can I hold a load until the broker pays me?+
Can I buy an MC number with history?+
Where this information comes from
The rules and guidance below come from FMCSA, federal law, and the Federal Register, with theft data from Verisk CargoNet, checked on September 24, 2026.
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1
FMCSA — Broker and Carrier Fraud and Identity Theft
What FMCSA treats as fraud, its prevention checks and red flags, where to report, and the rule against holding loads hostage.
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2
U.S. Code — 49 U.S.C. 14916
Who may broker freight, the $10,000 civil penalty, and liability to the injured party and to company officers.
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3
Federal Register — Definitions of Broker and Bona Fide Agents (2023)
FMCSA's statement that double brokering is not a defined term, and how 14916 penalties are pursued.
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4
Federal Register — Availability of Motus (91 FR 23144)
The registration fraud FMCSA has seen, and Motus identity and business verification.
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5
FMCSA — Do Not Sell, Purchase, or Lease a USDOT or MC Number
The March 19, 2026 bulletin on selling or leasing numbers and authority, and FMCSA's enforcement response.
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6
FMCSA — Registration Alerts
Why a paper authority certificate is not proof of active authority.
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7
Verisk CargoNet — 2025 Cargo Theft Analysis
2025 theft events, estimated losses, average theft value, and the outlook for theft by deception.
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8
Congress.gov — H.R. 2853
The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act's House passage and current status in the Senate.
Written by
Gabriel Gonzalez
Chief Revenue Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Revenue Officer at Simplex Group, with more than 22 years at the company, including nearly 16 years as Chief Operating Officer. His background combines revenue strategy with deep operational experience, giving him a strong perspective on how compliance, risk, permits, cash flow, and operational readiness affect a carrier's ability to grow profitably.
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