What the bond covers
BMC-84 protects two parties:
- **Motor carriers** the broker fails to pay after delivering a load (the most common claim type — a broker pockets the shipper's money and stiffs the carrier)
- **Shippers** whose loads were lost, stolen, or mishandled because the broker booked an unauthorized or fraudulent carrier
Claims are made against the surety company that issued the bond, not against the broker directly. The surety pays out up to $75,000 total per bond term across all claims.
The bond does not cover ordinary cargo damage by an authorized carrier — that's the carrier's cargo insurance. It covers broker-side malfeasance: non-payment, fraud, double-brokering, or operating without authority.
Who pays for it
The broker pays the surety company an annual premium typically 1–3% of the bond face value ($750–$2,250/year on a $75,000 bond), depending on the broker's credit. New brokers with thin credit history pay closer to 3%; established brokers with no claims pay closer to 1%.
GetHaulDirect maintains a current BMC-84 as a non-negotiable cost of operating. The bond renewal is annual and tied to the MC authority — if the bond lapses, the authority is automatically suspended.
How to verify a broker's bond
Two ways:
1. **FMCSA SAFER** — search by MC number. Under "Insurance on File", the BMC-84 line shows the surety company name, bond amount, and effective date. If this line says "No record" or shows "Cancelled" / "Pending Cancellation", the broker is not legally cleared to broker freight.
2. **Direct request to the broker** — any carrier or shipper can request a copy of the current bond certificate. A reputable broker provides it in minutes.
For GetHaulDirect: SAFER record at MC-123033 shows the active bond. If you need a copy of the certificate, email broker-records@gethauldirect.com.
Filing a claim
If a broker fails to pay you within agreed terms (typically 30 days post-POD):
1. **Send certified-mail demand** to the broker's registered address (on file with FMCSA). Document the claim — load details, rate confirmation, POD, payment terms.
2. **If unpaid after the demand period** (usually 60 additional days), file a claim with the surety company named on the BMC-84. The surety verifies the claim and pays out within 90–180 days if approved.
3. **If the bond is exhausted** (other carriers have already claimed against it that year), the surety pays pro-rata up to $75,000 total. Excess claims become unsecured debts against the broker.
The practical lesson: if a broker has a history of bond claims on file, treat that as a serious counterparty risk signal. SAFER shows claim history publicly.