MC Broker Authority + BMC-84 + BOC-3 — we handle every FMCSA screen so you don't have to
FMCSA requires every freight broker to post a $75,000 financial guarantee — your broker authority only goes active after it's on file. There are two ways to cover it:
You lock the full amount in a trust deposit. It's your money — but it's frozen and not working for you.
A surety company guarantees the $75,000 for you. You only pay an annual premium — the rate depends on your credit history. We pull quotes from several providers and lock in the cheapest one.
Today: a quick call, we collect your documents — and get to work. No LLC or EIN yet? We'll register them.
1–2 business days: we file your Broker Authority application through FMCSA Motus and walk you through Login.gov identity verification (government ID + face scan — we guide every step; the system is brand new and picky).
In parallel: BMC-84 quotes from several surety providers based on your credit — we pick the cheapest bond.
After the FMCSA protest period: we file the BMC-84 and BOC-3 — your authority goes ACTIVE. The whole journey usually takes 1–3 weeks.
Already have a DOT number and only missing the bond? We get your BMC-84 issued in 24–48 hours.
One flat fee for the full turnkey setup.
These are the exact questions people type into Google and ChatGPT about becoming a freight broker, answered with the numbers, the forms and the CFR sections.
Budget roughly $500 to $600 in one-time fees plus the bond premium, before any service fee. The fixed pieces are the $300 FMCSA filing fee for broker authority (paid once in Motus, non-refundable), the BOC-3 process agent designation (FMCSA charges $0, a blanket agent typically $35), UCR in the lowest bracket ($46 a year in 2026; brokers without trucks always pay the 0-2 vehicle bracket), and your state LLC fee ($100 to $125 in NJ, $125 in FL, $200 in NY plus New York's mandatory newspaper publication). The variable piece is the $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond: you pay a surety an annual premium that is a small percentage of $75,000, set by your credit. TruckerNavi's turnkey Broker Authority service is a flat $499 on top of the federal fees, BOC-3 included: call (315) 871-0833.
| Item | Amount | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| FMCSA broker authority application | $300, once per authority type, no refunds | FMCSA, inside Motus |
| BOC-3 process agent designation | $0 federal fee; blanket agent typically $35 (included in TruckerNavi's $499) | Process agent |
| UCR, 0-2 vehicle bracket (all brokers) | $46 per year (2026 fee) | UCR plan via your base state |
| BMC-84 surety bond | $75,000 requirement; annual premium set by credit, from about $1,000 a year with good credit | Surety company |
| State LLC filing | $100 to $125 NJ, $125 FL, $200 NY (plus NY publication) | Secretary of State / Division of Revenue |
| TruckerNavi Broker Authority service | $499 flat, support until ACTIVE | TruckerNavi |
$300. FMCSA does not issue a "broker license" as such; what you apply for is broker operating authority (an MC number), and the application fee is $300 per authority type, paid by card inside Motus at submission. FMCSA does not refund application fees, and the fee does not cover activation: the authority goes ACTIVE only after your $75,000 BMC-84 (or BMC-85) and BOC-3 are on file. If those filings do not arrive within about 90 days, FMCSA dismisses the application and a new one costs $300 again under the same USDOT and MC numbers. With TruckerNavi the $300 goes straight to FMCSA, and our $499 service fee covers the filing work, bond shopping and support until ACTIVE (see what the $499 covers).
The requirement is $75,000, but you do not hand over $75,000: with a BMC-84 surety bond you pay a surety company an annual premium, typically from about $1,000 a year with good credit, and the surety guarantees the full amount to FMCSA. The premium is re-underwritten at every annual renewal against your personal credit. The surety files the bond electronically with FMCSA on Form BMC-84; nothing is paid to FMCSA for the bond itself. The alternative, a BMC-85 trust fund, means parking $75,000 in cash. TruckerNavi pulls quotes from several sureties and picks the lowest as part of the $499 Broker Authority package; the premium is paid directly to the surety, never through us. Run your numbers in the broker startup cost calculator.
Yes, as an identifier, even with zero trucks. Federal law (MAP-21) requires every broker to hold a USDOT number, and a broker application in Motus produces both numbers: a USDOT number that identifies your company in FMCSA's database (Motus shows it with a "B" suffix for broker authority) and an MC number that carries the broker authority. The USDOT number does not make you a motor carrier: a broker with no vehicles files no BMC-91 insurance, registers nobody in the Clearinghouse and runs no Drug and Alcohol program. If you already hold a USDOT number for a trucking company, broker authority is still a separate filing and a separate $300 fee, usually under a separate LLC. TruckerNavi files everything for you in the $499 package: (315) 871-0833.
About 14 to 21 days from filing in a clean case, when the bond and BOC-3 go on file promptly; FMCSA's own published estimate for new applicants is up to 20 to 25 business days, longer if the application is pulled for review. The sequence: your MC number is assigned when the Motus application is submitted, FMCSA publishes the notice in its Register, a 10-day protest period runs, and once the BMC-84 and BOC-3 are on record the status flips to ACTIVE. FMCSA sends no email on activation, so the status has to be checked in SAFER or Motus. The slow link is almost always the bond: surety underwriting and filing can take a few days, which is why we request quotes on day one. TruckerNavi files the application within 1 to 2 business days of receiving your documents ($499 package); the full sequence is in our step-by-step broker authority guide.
Because the $300 buys the application, not the activation. Pending means FMCSA is waiting on at least one of three things: the $75,000 BMC-84 bond (or BMC-85 trust) has not been filed by your surety, the BOC-3 process agent designation is missing, or the 10-day protest period has not closed yet. Open your record in Motus or SAFER and look at the insurance and BOC-3 rows: the blank one is the culprit. There is also a clock: if the filings are not in within about 90 days, FMCSA dismisses the application and re-filing costs another $300. If you filed yourself and got stuck, TruckerNavi reviews the docket and closes the gap for $499; a missing bond is usually a 24 to 48 hour fix. Call (315) 871-0833.
Yes. 49 CFR Part 366 (sections 366.1T through 366.6T) requires every broker to designate a process agent in each state where it has an office or writes contracts (49 CFR 366.4T(b)), and FMCSA will not activate broker authority without a BOC-3 on file. FMCSA charges $0 for the filing: the roughly $35 you see quoted is the blanket process agent's fee, not a federal fee. FMCSA's BOC-3 instructions allow a broker or freight forwarder with no commercial vehicles to file its own BOC-3, but in practice a blanket agent covering all 50 states is filed electronically the same day. The BOC-3 is filed after you have your MC number, not before. TruckerNavi files it free inside the $499 Broker Authority package (see what the $499 covers).
Yes. FMCSA sets no experience, exam, office or training requirement for property broker authority: the legal checklist is a legal entity with an EIN, the $300 filing in Motus with Login.gov identity verification, a $75,000 BMC-84 bond, a BOC-3 and UCR. A broker's entire "fleet" is a laptop and a phone. The honest part: no experience raises the business risk, not the legal bar. Brokering is sales, carrier vetting and daily phone work, and since January 16, 2026 FMCSA suspends a broker whose available bond amount falls below $75,000 and is not replenished within 7 days. TruckerNavi sets the company up for $499 and tells you on the first call if a brokerage is not the right fit; start with a broker's first 90 days.
A dispatcher does not need authority; a broker does. A dispatcher works for the motor carrier under a written agreement, books loads in the carrier's name and is paid by the carrier, so no MC number and no bond are required. A broker arranges transportation for the shipper, contracts with carriers in its own name and keeps the margin, which requires broker authority and the $75,000 BMC-84 (49 CFR Part 371). The line is crossed when a "dispatcher" negotiates with shippers, takes payment from the shipper, has no written contract with the carrier, or picks which of several carriers gets a load: FMCSA's final guidance of June 16, 2023 on the definitions of broker and bona fide agent treats that as brokering without authority. If you already dispatch for several carriers and want to bill shippers directly, the $499 Broker Authority package is the legal route: (315) 871-0833.
Both satisfy the same $75,000 broker financial responsibility requirement; the difference is whose money sits behind it. A BMC-84 is a surety bond: a surety company guarantees the $75,000 and you pay an annual premium, typically from about $1,000 a year with good credit. A BMC-85 is a trust fund agreement: you deposit the full $75,000 with a financial institution and the cash stays frozen. Both are filed electronically with FMCSA by the surety or trustee, and both fall under the suspension rule in force since January 16, 2026 (available security below $75,000 and not replenished within 7 days suspends the authority). For almost every new brokerage the BMC-84 wins on cash flow. TruckerNavi shops BMC-84 quotes from several sureties inside the $499 package; more in our broker knowledge hub.
TruckerNavi's turnkey brokerage setup is $499. Paid separately: the $300 FMCSA federal filing fee for MC Authority and the annual BMC-84 surety bond premium paid to the bond provider (typically from about $1,000/year with good credit). BOC-3 filing is included free.
The BMC-84 is a $75,000 surety bond that FMCSA requires before it will activate your broker authority. It is NOT insurance: the bond guarantees that carriers and shippers get paid if the broker fails to meet its obligations. Instead of depositing $75,000 in cash (the BMC-85 trust fund option), you pay a surety provider an annual premium.
The premium depends on your credit history (checked by SSN) and is a small percentage of the $75,000 requirement: with good credit it typically starts around $1,000/year, and it rises sharply for scores below 620. The bond renews annually with re-underwriting, so after 1–2 claim-free years your rate usually drops. We pull quotes from several providers and pick the lowest.
Motus is FMCSA's new unified registration system, launched May 19, 2026. It replaced URS and the FMCSA Portal. All new brokers register only through Motus: you need a Login.gov account and identity verification (a government ID plus a face scan from your phone). The system is new and often flags applications over small errors — we walk clients through the entire process.
No. The FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse only applies to companies with CDL drivers. A freight broker with no drivers is not required to register in the Clearinghouse or run a D&A program.
Yes. Broker authority is a separate FMCSA registration. In practice, a brokerage is almost always set up under a separate legal entity (LLC) to keep the risks apart and avoid conflicts of interest with your carrier business. We register the LLC + EIN if you don't have them yet.
If your LLC and EIN are ready, we file the application in Motus within 1–2 business days, and your MC number is assigned after filing. Then comes the FMCSA protest period plus the BMC-84 and BOC-3 filings — broker authority typically goes active within 1–3 weeks. If you already have a DOT number and only need the BMC-84, we can get the bond issued in 24–48 hours.
Yes — that's exactly what the BMC-84 is for: instead of depositing $75,000 into a trust (the BMC-85 option), you pay a surety company an annual premium — typically from about $1,000/year with good credit. The surety company guarantees the full amount to FMCSA on your behalf.
We'll walk you through the whole process in a 10-minute call — free, in English, Russian, or Ukrainian.
Broker MC Authority. The heart of the package: your broker authority application with FMCSA. Since May 19, 2026 every new registration goes exclusively through the Motus system, and "just fill out a form" no longer works: Motus requires a Login.gov account, identity verification, and it does not forgive data errors. We prepare the application, file it, and track its status in Motus and SAFER all the way through. The $300 FMCSA federal filing fee is not included — it is paid directly to the government at filing.
LLC and EIN, if you don't have them yet. A brokerage starts with a legal entity and a tax ID. If you're starting from zero, LLC registration and the EIN are already included in the $499 — no extra charge.
BOC-3 — free. This is the designation of process agents in every state: without a BOC-3 on file, FMCSA will not activate your authority even if everything else is ready. We file it at no charge.
BMC-84 bond shopping. The BMC-84 vs BMC-85 breakdown is higher up on this page. Our part of the job is collecting quotes from several surety providers against your credit history and picking the cheapest: with good credit the annual premium usually lands around $1,000–1,500. You pay that premium directly to the bond provider — bond money never passes through us.
Login.gov and support until ACTIVE. The identity verification step in Login.gov (a government ID plus a face scan from your phone) is where most do-it-yourself applicants get stuck. We go through it together with you and stay in touch until SAFER shows ACTIVE.
And note what's deliberately not on this list — because a broker doesn't need it: no truck, no CDL, no ELD, no carrier insurance, no Clearinghouse registration. A freight broker's entire "fleet" is a laptop and a phone.
Week 1. A call, your documents, and — if needed — the LLC and EIN. Then Login.gov verification and the Motus filing: your MC number is assigned right after submission. In parallel we request BMC-84 quotes, so the bond is ready before the protest period runs out.
Weeks 2–3: the protest period. After filing, FMCSA publishes your application in its register, and for 10 days any interested party can formally protest it. In practice, protests against a brand-new brokerage are exotic: the clock simply ticks, and that is normal. Your application isn't "stuck" or "lost" during this window — that's how the procedure works. We use this window to file the BMC-84 and the BOC-3.
The finish. Once the protest period expires and both the bond and the BOC-3 are on file, FMCSA flips your authority to ACTIVE — from that moment you can legally broker freight. A realistic horizon for the whole journey is usually 3–4 weeks; with clean documents and decent credit it can go faster, but we make a point of not promising "an MC in a week."
A good fit: dispatchers who already run other people's trucks and know the market from the inside; trucking company owners who want a second, brokerage "leg" of the business (under a separate LLC — see the FAQ above for why); and people with sales or logistics experience who want a company with no iron — no truck, no lease, no mechanics.
Not a fit: anyone expecting passive income — brokering is sales, phone calls, and carrier management every single day. Anyone unprepared for financial discipline: the bond is an annual payment, and since January 16, 2026 FMCSA suspends broker authority if a bond shortfall isn't cured within 7 days. And anyone with no US documents at all: Motus requires verification with a US state ID or driver license — a foreign passport won't pass (what to do in that case is covered below, in common situations). If we see on the consultation call that a brokerage isn't what you need right now, we'll say so.
We are TruckerNavi Inc, in business since 2019, with offices in NY, NJ, and FL. We work in English, Russian, and Ukrainian — and we work 7 days a week: Saturday and Sunday are regular working days for us, because they are for our clients too. Besides brokerages, we set carriers up with the $499 Authority Bundle — so we see the market from both sides: through the broker's eyes and through the carrier's. And we don't disappear after launch: Registered Agent service is $149/year, and if you also run a trucking company — Safety Compliance from $99/month and a Mock DOT Audit for $399. Reach us at (315) 871-0833, WhatsApp +1 (929) 347-4410, or quick@truckernavi.com.
The classic DIY scenario: the Motus application went through, the MC number exists, but the authority won't activate. Nine times out of ten the reason is visible right in your Motus record or on SAFER: the BOC-3 is missing, the bond is missing — or the protest period simply hasn't expired yet. If the BOC-3 is already filed and the BMC-84 shows pending, it means the surety provider hasn't filed the bond with FMCSA yet — that's something to resolve with the provider, not to wait out. We review your docket, tell you exactly what's missing, and close the gap; if it's only the bond, it's usually a 24–48 hour fix.
Motus stalls at identity verification: Login.gov accepts a US state ID or driver license, and a foreign passport won't pass. The practical first step is getting a state ID in your state — citizenship is not required, though the issuing rules differ state by state. While the document is in progress, we don't waste the time: we register the LLC, obtain the EIN, and collect bond quotes — so once the ID is in hand, all that's left is the filing. Bring us your specific situation on a free call and we'll map out the options.
Very. Since January 16, 2026 an immediate-suspension rule is in effect: if a broker bond shortfall isn't cured within 7 days, FMCSA suspends the authority — no drawn-out process. A cancellation letter from your surety is not an "I'll deal with it next week" item; it's a today item. In these cases we immediately request quotes from other providers and move the bond so there is no gap in coverage. If you've received such a letter — call us; we work weekends too.