Double brokering is easiest to stop before the truck leaves the dock. Here are the ten warning signs brokers and dispatchers watch for.

The 10 red flags

1. The rate is too good. A carrier accepting a below-market rate may plan to re-broker it.
2. Brand-new or mismatched authority. Recently activated MC numbers or details that don’t match the company name.
3. Carrier info doesn’t match dispatch. The truck, trailer, or driver differs from what was booked.
4. Pickup from an unexpected location. The load is collected somewhere other than agreed.
5. The driver can’t confirm load details. They don’t know specifics the booked carrier would.
6. Reluctance to share equipment or driver info up front.
7. Pressure to skip verification. Urgency used to push past your normal checks.
8. Inconsistent contact details. Email domains, phone numbers, or names that don’t line up.
9. Your load reappears on a load board. A clear sign it’s being re-posted.
10. The pickup identity and location don’t match the agreement. The single most reliable tell.

The common thread

Nine of these ten signs come down to one thing: a gap between what you agreed to and what actually happened at pickup. Close that gap and most double brokering collapses.

Verify the pickup, not just the paperwork

A GPS-locked QR code on the bill of lading confirms the real carrier was physically at the pickup location at the right time. See the full double brokering guide.