Freight Fraud Terms Glossary

A broker surety bond form used for broker financial responsibility records.

A broker trust fund agreement used for broker financial responsibility records.

FMCSA authority that allows a property broker to arrange transportation by authorized motor carriers.

A person or entity pretending to be a broker or using a broker identity without authorization.

Theft or unlawful diversion of freight, including fraud-based pickup or delivery schemes.

A release or appointment identifier used by a shipper to release freight.

A unique number recorded on a trailer or container seal to detect tampering or mismatch.

Cargo theft that uses deception, false identity, fictitious pickup, or account takeover tactics.

Higher exposure created when freight is left parked or communication slows over weekends or holidays.

Unauthorized use of a carrier's name, USDOT number, MC number, documents, or contact channels.

A collection of onboarding documents such as W-9, authority, insurance, contacts, and agreements.

A document summarizing insurance coverage details and issuer information for review.

A person or service communicating load details for a carrier, subject to authorization checks.

A person or entity pretending to be a motor carrier or using carrier records without authorization.

The party named to receive notice or proof on a certificate of insurance.

A shipment document used to record the freight, parties, pickup, delivery, and handling details.

An agreement that sets operational and payment terms between a broker and a carrier.

Time-based compensation or claim for delay at pickup or delivery under agreed terms.

Delay-related compensation or claim when a driver is held beyond the expected schedule.

The act or document used to offer a shipment to a carrier or broker.

A receipt for loading or unloading labor, usually needed for accessorial billing.

Proof of delivery, usually a signed or otherwise confirmed delivery record.

A document listing rate, lane, parties, terms, and shipment instructions.

The party shipping the freight or controlling pickup instructions.

A tax form commonly included in onboarding packets and payment documentation.

A load arrangement where freight is passed to another carrier or broker without clear authorization.

Misrepresentation, identity misuse, document manipulation, or deception in a freight transaction.

A mismatch or behavior that calls for more verification, not proof by itself.

Passing a load to another party without the authorization required by the transaction documents.

A contact confirmed through an official or independently known company channel.

A web or email domain designed to resemble a legitimate company or official domain.

A marketplace where loads and truck capacity are posted for possible matching.

An email made to appear as if it came from another person, company, or domain.

The current operating or broker authority condition shown in official FMCSA records.

The FMCSA SAFER page that summarizes identifying and status information for a company.

A doing-business-as name that may differ from the legal entity name.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. agency that maintains key carrier and broker records.

FMCSA Licensing & Insurance Public, used to review authority and financial responsibility records.

An FMCSA docket number used for certain interstate operating authority records.

FMCSA authorization for regulated transportation or broker activity.

FMCSA's Safety and Fitness Electronic Records system, including Company Snapshot records.

A number assigned by FMCSA to identify motor carriers and other regulated entities.

The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center for reporting cyber-enabled crime through the official domain.

The FMCSA National Consumer Complaint Database for eligible safety, broker, carrier, and registration complaints.

A notice of assignment stating that payment should be made to a factoring company.

Notice of assignment, often used when invoices are assigned to a factoring company.

A direction that payment on an invoice should go to a party such as a factor.

A payment option offering faster payment under stated terms and fees.

A factoring arrangement where responsibility for unpaid invoices may shift back under the contract.

A public financing statement that may be relevant to secured interests and payment-direction questions.