Reefer freight brokers: getting set up, reading the rate con, and vetting who you haul for

What reefer freight brokers check before loading you

Brokers are responsible to their shippers, so they vet carriers before handing over a load of food. Expect to be checked on:

• Operating authority. Active MC authority in your name. Some brokers require a minimum authority age.
• Insurance. Federal minimum liability for general freight is $750,000 (49 CFR 387.9), but reefer brokers commonly ask for $1,000,000 auto liability, $100,000 or more in cargo coverage, and reefer breakdown coverage. Your agent sends the certificate directly to the broker.
• Safety record. Your FMCSA snapshot, inspection history and any out-of-service rates.
• Equipment. Trailer length, reefer unit, food-grade status, and sometimes unit age or whether it can download temperature records.
• Tracking. Many require a tracking app or ELD integration for the load.

Getting these right once speeds up every new broker setup.

The temp and claims terms on a reefer rate con

The rate confirmation is the contract for that load. On a reefer load, read these lines before you sign:

If a term isn't on the rate con, it's hard to enforce later. Ask for it in writing.

Vetting a reefer freight broker

Before hauling for a broker you haven't worked with:

1. Check the authority. Search the MC number on FMCSA's Licensing and Insurance site. Broker authority should be active.
2. Check the bond. Brokers must carry a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) under 49 CFR 387.307. Licensing and Insurance shows whether it's on file and whether a cancellation is pending.
3. Confirm the contact. Call the phone number on FMCSA's record or the broker's official website, not the one in an email or load post.
4. Check payment history. Credit scores and days-to-pay from your load board or credit service tell you more than reviews.
5. Read the agreement. Watch for broad indemnity clauses, unusual fines, and back-solicitation terms.

Fraud red flags

• An MC number that doesn't match the company name, address or phone on FMCSA's record.
• A new email domain one letter off from a known broker.
• Rates well above market for the lane and day.
• Pickup or delivery addresses that change after you're booked.
• Requests to pay a fee, deposit, or "dispatch charge" to get a load.
• Pressure to roll before the rate confirmation is signed.

Double brokering, where a load is re-brokered to a carrier without the shipper knowing, often shows up this way. If something feels off, stop and verify before you load.

Brokers, boards and dispatchers

Most reefer spot freight reaches owner-operators through brokers, posted on load boards or offered directly. Our guide to reefer load boards covers the boards; refrigerated freight covers the FDA duties that sit behind many of these terms. To check whether a broker's rate is worth taking, run it through the rate per mile and load profit calculator.

A dispatcher is a different role from a broker: we work for you, the carrier, and the broker pays you directly under your own authority. If you're still learning the equipment, start with what a reefer truck is. To see how we book loads with brokers, visit reefer loads.