Getting paid & broker credit — Ansonia, RTS, quick-pay math, and BMC-84 bond claims

Why this matters more than negotiation

You can win the rate negotiation, run the load perfectly, and still get burned. Roughly 4% of freight brokers pay slow (60+ days) and about 1% will try not to pay at all. On a $2,400 invoice with 8% net margin, a single unpaid load wipes out 12 loads worth of profit.

Check broker credit before you accept a load. Every time.

The three broker credit services

1. Ansonia Credit Data

• The industry standard. Used by every factor.
• Scoring: DTP (Days-to-Pay) average across the last 12 months
• What's a good number: under 35 days = strong; 35–45 = normal; 45+ = watch; 60+ = decline unless you're willing to wait
• Access: free basic lookup through most factoring apps (RTS, TAFS, Apex)

2. RTS ProCredit

• Provided by RTS factoring as part of their app
• Same DTP concept plus proprietary risk score
• Access: free with RTS factoring account

3. InternetTruckstop / DAT Broker Credit

• Included with DAT or Truckstop load board subscription
• Similar DTP score
• Bonus: shows recent unpaid claims and dispute history

What to look for, in 30 seconds

Before you commit to a load:

1. 1Search the broker's MC number in your factor's app
2. 2Confirm:

- DTP under 45 days - No unpaid claims filed against them in last 90 days - Authority active for 2+ years (new MCs are risky) - Bond active (BMC-84 or trust fund BMC-85)

Decline if any two are red.

Quick pay vs 30-day — the real math

Most brokers offer 3 payment options:

• Standard: net 30 (some net 45)
• Quick pay: paid in 24–72 hours for 2–5% fee
• Factoring: your factor pays you same/next day for 2–4% fee

Real example: $2,400 invoice

At first glance, net 30 wins. But:

• Cost of not having cash for 28 days = you can't fuel or make truck payment
• Alternative: you use a line of credit or credit card floating the gap at 18–24% APR

Break-even analysis:

• 3% fee for immediate cash = equivalent to a 36% APR loan (3% × 12 months)
• 2.5% factoring = 30% APR equivalent
• Only worth net 30 if you have 60+ days of operating cash in the bank AND revenue is stable

For most new O/Os in year 1: factor everything. Once you have 3 months of operating cash, evaluate case-by-case.

The BMC-84 bond — your safety net

Every freight broker in the US must maintain either:

• BMC-84: a $75,000 surety bond, OR
• BMC-85: a $75,000 trust fund

If a broker refuses to pay you a legitimate invoice, you can file a claim against their bond. This is your #1 recovery tool.

How to file a BMC-84 claim — the 3-step process

Step 1: Notice and demand (do this at day 30 unpaid)

Send the broker a written demand for payment by both email and certified mail. Include:

• Rate confirmation
• Signed BOL (proof of delivery)
• Invoice with due date
• Statement: "This invoice is now past due. Payment demanded within 10 business days. If not received, we will file a claim against your BMC-84 surety bond."

Keep the certified mail receipt. This is your evidence.

Step 2: Look up the bond company

Search the broker's MC number at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Under "For-Hire Authority Status" you'll find the bond company name and policy number.

Common bond providers: Great American, Pacific Financial, JW Surety Bonds, RLI, etc.

Step 3: File the claim with the bond company

Contact the bond issuer directly (their number is on the SAFER record). Provide:

• Broker MC + bond policy number
• Signed rate confirmation
• Signed BOL / POD
• Invoice with due date
• Copy of the demand letter and certified mail receipt
• Any email correspondence with the broker

Timeline:

• Bond company acknowledges: 5–10 business days
• Investigation: 30–60 days
• Payment (if approved): 60–90 days from filing

Important limits

• $75,000 bond covers ALL claims against that broker collectively
• If a broker has $250,000 in unpaid claims across multiple carriers, claims are pro-rated
• You have 90 days from delivery (not from invoice date) to file — file early
• If the bond is exhausted, the broker's authority is revoked — but you're likely out the money

Prevention beats claims

• Check credit before every load with a new broker
• Refuse net 30 from any broker with < 2 years authority
• Require signed rate confirmation before dispatch — always
• Get signed BOL immediately — photograph before you leave dock
• Invoice within 24 hours of delivery — most brokers have a 48-hr rule that voids invoices submitted late

The "TIA broker" myth

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is a broker trade group. Membership is voluntary. TIA members are generally more reputable, but membership is not a guarantee of payment. Check credit anyway.

Homework

• Set up a broker credit lookup in your factoring app
• Add "check credit before dispatch" to your load acceptance checklist
• Save a demand letter template to your email drafts
• Bookmark SAFER for MC lookups
• Decide your quick-pay vs factoring policy in writing — stop deciding load-by-load

Next up: Detention, TONU, layover, lumper billing — money you're already owed.