Why it matters
The carrier is the company legally responsible for your belongings in transit. Its bill of lading is your contract, and its valuation and arbitration programs apply. If you booked through a broker, the company at your door may not be the one you saw online, so you need to know its name before loading day.
What each must show
| Carrier | Broker | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. DOT number in ads | Yes | Yes, plus MC number |
| Physical location in ads | Not specifically required by this rule | Yes |
| Status statement | Its registered name | Must say it's a broker and doesn't transport |
| Carrier names | Its own | Only those it has written agreements with |
Sources: 49 CFR 375.207 and 49 CFR 371.107.
Estimates from a broker
A broker can give you an estimate only on behalf of a carrier that has agreed in writing to adopt it, based on that carrier's tariff. The carrier must still release your goods at delivery if you pay up to 110% of a non-binding estimate.
How to check
- Look up the U.S. DOT number in FMCSA SAFER. The record shows whether a company is registered as a carrier, a broker or both.
- Before moving day, ask for the carrier's name and U.S. DOT number, then look it up too.
- On the day, check that the name on the truck and the bill of lading match.
Questions for a broker
- Which carrier will move me, and what's its U.S. DOT number?
- Has that carrier agreed in writing to the estimate?
- Whose bill of lading will I sign, and when will I get it?
- Who do I file a claim with?
- Where is your physical office?
Which is better?
Neither is automatically better. A broker can find capacity when carriers are full, while a carrier gives you one company from quote to delivery. Problems start when you don't know who's moving you, or when an estimate isn't backed by that company.
As for us, our registration page shows where we stand and how our federal record will read once it's issued.