A load arrangement where freight is passed to another carrier or broker without clear authorization. In a freight fraud review, use this term as a record label rather than as a conclusion about a company or person.
Boundary note: Use this term carefully. It may involve legal, payment, insurance, or law-enforcement issues, and this site does not provide professional advice or make findings about specific parties.
Records can be outdated, spoofed, or changed after a check. Recheck official FMCSA, insurance, bond, and legal records before booking or tendering freight.
Why it matters
This term matters because it helps separate a verification step from an unsupported accusation.
Common confusion
Operational warning signs are often confused with proof. Use careful wording until facts are confirmed through records or official channels.
Example in a freight transaction
The carrier on the BOL is not the carrier named on the broker's rate confirmation, and no written authorization explains the change.
What this term does not prove
A mismatch does not prove intent; it shows the document trail needs a party-by-party review.
Desk check
- Compare rate confirmation, BOL, and delivery records.
- Identify who tendered the load to whom.
- Preserve both versions before asking for explanations.
Records to compare
- The first message or document that introduced the name, number, domain, or instruction.
- Official records and known contacts that can confirm or contradict the transaction identity.
- A timeline showing when each red flag appeared and what verification step followed.
Official source context
For this term, start with Broker and Carrier Fraud and Identity Theft from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Use it as a source context point, then check the live official page for current wording or status before acting.
Related terms
Source References
- Broker and Carrier Fraud and Identity Theft Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. primary source. Last checked 2026-06-01. FMCSA guidance on broker and carrier fraud, unauthorized USDOT use, suspicious links, SAFER phone comparison, NCCDB, OIG, FTC, and IC3 reporting pointers.
- Licensing & Insurance Public Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. primary source. Last checked 2026-06-02. Official public portal for authority, insurance, and broker financial responsibility records.