How to Spot Double Brokering and Chameleon Carriers

What double brokering looks like

In double brokering, a company accepts your load as a carrier and then re-brokers it to another carrier without your consent — often without paying that carrier. In the worst cases the original 'carrier' is an impersonator using a real company's USDOT and MC numbers with a different phone and email.

What a chameleon carrier looks like

A chameleon carrier is a company that shuts down after safety problems or claims and reopens under a new name and USDOT number, keeping the same owners, trucks, address or phone. The new registration looks clean because it has no history.

Checks that catch them

• Call the phone number on the FMCSA record, not the one in the email, and ask for the dispatcher by name.
• Compare email domains: a free webmail address on a large carrier's paperwork deserves a second look.
• Look for other USDOT numbers registered with the same phone, email or street address — especially ones with revoked or inactive authority.
• Check how recently authority was granted and whether the company has any inspection history at all.
• Be wary of carriers who accept any rate instantly, refuse to share tracking, or ask for quick pay to a new bank account.

When to walk away

One mismatch is a reason to verify; two is a reason to stop. It is far cheaper to lose a load to another carrier than to lose the freight and pay twice.

Frequently asked questions