Obtaining a Freight Broker License in Mississippi

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Learn how to become licensed as a freight broker, and speak with an Single Source Insurance agent today about purchasing the BMC-84 bond you�ll need to operate as a freight broker.

Who Needs a Freight Broker License?

To operate legally in the United States, all freight brokers must be registered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The result of that process is the issuance of a freight broker operating authority, which functions as a license. Learn more about what freight brokers do to facilitate the movement of cargo and what is involved in becoming a freight broker.

What Are the Steps in the Licensing Process?

Much of the work that goes into becoming a freight broker occurs well before submitting an application for an operating authority. Tasks you�ll need to accomplish in preparing to apply include:

  1. Establishing a legal business entity if you plan to operate your own freight brokerage firm. This involves choosing an appropriate legal structure and registering your business with the Mississippi Secretary of State.
  2. Choosing which type of operating authority to apply or��Broker of Household Goods� or �Broker of Property (except Household Goods),� or both.
  3. Selecting a process agent in every state where you will have an office or write contracts or a blanket process service company that has agents in all states. You must list all of your process agents on a single Form BOC-3�(Designation of Process Agents)and file it with FMCSA.(If you designate a blanket process service firm, the company can do that for you.)
  4. Purchasing a $75,000 freight broker bond (Form BMC-84) that designates CSA as the bond’s “obligee” requiring the bond. There is an option to set up a Trust Fund Agreement (Form BMC-85) instead of buying a surety bond, but most applicants prefer not to tie up $75,000 when they can purchase a surety bond for far less.

When you apply for your operating authority, you�ll do so using the Unified Registration System (URS). The system will guide you through creating an URS account, completing the online application, uploading the necessary documents, and paying the $300 registration fee. As soon as you pay the fee, URS will give you your MC number (MCN), as proof of your registration. You can expect your operating authority documents to arrive in the mail within 10 business days.

Why Is a Freight Broker Surety Bond Required?

In purchasing a BMC-84 freight broker you agree to comply with FMCSA regulations governing freight brokers. Any violation that causes FMCSA or a shipper or carrier financial harm can result in the inured party filing a claim against the bond.� If this occurs, as the bond�s �principal,� you are legally obligated to pay the claim if the bond�s guarantor, the �surety,� finds it to be legitimate.

How Are Freight Broker Bond Claims Paid?

As the bond�s principal, you are solely responsible for paying any valid claim. However, because the surety has guaranteed your payment, the surety will pay a claim initially and then be reimbursed by you. If you don�t repay the surety on schedule, you can be sued by the surety and end up paying court costs and legal fees on top of the claim amount.

What Does It Cost?

Freight broker bonds are subject to underwriting to determine the premium rate you will pay. The primary underwriting concern is the risk of the surety not being reimbursed readily for claims paid on your behalf. �That risk is measured largely on the basis of your personal credit score. With a good credit score, your premium rate should be in the range of 2% to 4%. If you have a lower credit score, your premium rate will be higher because the risk to the surety will be considered greater.

Our surety bond professionals will get you the freight broker (BMC-84) bond you need at a competitive rate.

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