# Broker Authority vs Motor Carrier Authority

Canonical: https://www.fasttruckauthority.com/guides/broker-authority-vs-motor-carrier-authority
Category: Operating Authority
Published: 2026-05-02
Updated: 2026-05-02
Read time: 8 min read

> Broker authority and motor carrier authority are separate FMCSA filings with separate fees, separate bonds (BMC-84 vs BMC-91 primary liability), and separate MC numbers.

## TL;DR

> Broker authority (MC-B) and motor carrier authority (MC) are separate FMCSA filings. Each carries a $300 fee, its own MC number, and its own financial-responsibility filing — BMC-91/91X for carriers and the $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond for brokers. A company that hauls and brokers needs both.

## Key takeaways

- Broker authority and motor carrier authority are filed separately on Form OP-1, with separate $300 FMCSA fees.
- Motor carriers post a BMC-91 or BMC-91X primary liability filing under 49 CFR §387.7–§387.9; brokers post a $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond under 49 CFR §387.307.
- A motor carrier brokering loads under MC-only authority is a federal violation; FMCSA actively prosecutes double-brokering by carriers without MC-B.
- A single BOC-3 process-agent designation covers all of a company’s authorities.
- A first-year stack with both authorities runs $11,000–$16,000 once liability insurance and the bond premium are factored in.

## Cited entities

- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Motor_Carrier_Safety_Administration)
- 49 U.S.C. § 13902 — Registration of motor carriers (https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/13902)
- 49 CFR Part 365 — Rules governing applications for operating authority (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-365)
- 49 CFR Part 387 — Minimum levels of financial responsibility (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-387)

## FAQ

### Can one company hold both broker and motor carrier authority?

Yes — and many do. A motor carrier that also brokers overflow loads files two separate OP-1 applications, pays two separate $300 FMCSA fees, and receives two separate MC numbers. Each authority type has its own insurance and bond requirements: motor carriers need a BMC-91 or BMC-91X for primary liability, and brokers need a BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust fund for $75,000.

### Why does FMCSA make brokers and carriers file separately?

Under 49 USC §13902 the two roles have different statutory definitions and different financial-responsibility rules. A motor carrier physically moves the freight; a broker arranges transportation for compensation but never takes possession. The bond requirement under 49 CFR §387.307 is unique to brokers — it protects shippers and carriers if the broker fails to pay. Combining the two authorities into a single filing would defeat the purpose of the separate bond.

### What is the difference between BMC-84 and BMC-91?

BMC-84 is the $75,000 surety bond filed by property brokers and household-goods brokers under 49 CFR §387.307. BMC-91 (or BMC-91X) is the primary liability insurance filing for motor carriers under 49 CFR §387.7-§387.9, with a minimum of $750,000 in public liability coverage. They are not interchangeable — a broker filing a BMC-91 instead of a BMC-84 will not get MC-B authority activated.

### Can I broker loads under my motor carrier authority?

No. Brokering loads without a separate MC-B authority is a federal violation. Even if you hold active MC authority, every load you arrange between a shipper and a different carrier requires brokerage authority and the $75,000 bond. A motor carrier double-brokering loads under MC-only authority is one of the most common compliance mistakes, and FMCSA is actively prosecuting it.

### How much does it cost to get both authorities?

Two $300 FMCSA filing fees ($600 total), two service fees if you use a filer (FastAuthority charges $199 per authority for $398 in service fees), one BMC-91 insurance filing for the carrier side, one $75,000 BMC-84 surety bond for the broker side, and one BOC-3 process agent designation that covers both authorities. Total first-year stack including liability insurance is usually $11,000-$16,000.

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