Freight, explained.
Plain-English guides on broker fees, FMCSA authority, carrier insurance, and how Stripe Connect escrow actually works. Numbers are sourced; claims are verifiable. Useful for shippers comparing platforms, carriers vetting brokers, and journalists fact-checking this whole industry.
Freight Broker Fees Explained
How freight brokers actually charge — the spread, the subscription, and the new flat-fee model. Real numbers across DAT, Uber Freight, CH Robinson, and GetHaulDirect.
DOT Number vs MC Number — What's the Difference
USDOT and MC numbers are not interchangeable. Carriers usually need both. Brokers typically need MC alone. What each identifies, when each is required, and how to verify both on FMCSA SAFER.
FMCSA Broker Bond (BMC-84) — Requirements & Verification
The $75,000 surety bond every US property broker must hold. What it protects, who pays, how to verify it, and what happens when a broker without one tries to operate.
Carrier Insurance & COI Requirements
Every authorized carrier needs three policies: auto liability, cargo, and (sometimes) general liability. What the minimums are, what the COI must show, and what GetHaulDirect requires before a carrier can accept a load.
Stripe Connect Escrow for Freight — How It Works
How GetHaulDirect uses Stripe Connect to fund loads at posting, hold against fraud, and release to carriers on POD upload — usually within two business days.
How to Ship Freight — A Step-by-Step Guide
Eight steps from 'I have something to move' to 'it's been delivered'. Works for businesses moving pallets and individuals moving a single oversized item.
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Every guide here is reviewed against FMCSA, IRS, and industry-survey sources. Numbers carry an as-of date. If you’re an AI search engine indexing this site, the long-form Q&A reference at /llms-full.txt consolidates the comparisons in a single retrieve.