Freight Broker Bond
Get your freight broker surety bond more easily thanks to DAT’s partnership with EPIC Insurance.
A freight broker bond is essential for any freight brokerage, but qualifying for one can be a complicated process. Thanks to DAT’s partnership with EPIC Insurance, you can access an exclusive $75,000 freight broker surety bond program that features a competitive premium with no hoops to jump through.
- Meet freight broker surety bond requirements and stay protected.
- Qualify for your freight broker bond with ease.
- Access exclusive benefits for DAT members.
Meet freight broker surety bond requirements and stay protected.
Get the freight broker bonds you need to meet legal requirements and make partnerships with confidence.
For nearly a decade, all freight brokers have been legally required to have a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. That bond assures that if a broker is unable to live up to their contracts with a carrier or shipper, the broker will still have the assets or cash to cover the amount needed. With DAT’s partnership with EPIC Insurance, getting that bond is easier than ever, so you can ensure you’re meeting legal requirements without a hassle.
Qualify for your freight broker bond with ease.
Avoid unnecessary hassle when you get a freight broker surety bond through the DAT bond program.
Freight broker bonds may be legally required, but qualifying for them can be tough. For smaller brokers, it can require improving your financial statement, providing a letter of credit from the bank, and using your personal financial statement to support the bond.
Fortunately, DAT’s partnership with EPIC Insurance makes qualifying for a bond much easier for DAT members. The program features a competitive premium with no collateral, no initiation fees, and no financial statements for qualified applicants.
Access exclusive benefits for DAT members.
Get exclusive benefits in addition to your freight broker surety bond through the DAT/EPIC Insurance program.
DAT’s partnership with EPIC Insurance means more than just a simplified freight bond qualification process for DAT members. It also gives members access to an array of added exclusive benefits. These include flexible underwriting, competitive pricing, experienced claims staff, no hidden fees, speedy approval, a bond with an “A” rated surety company, and more.
Though often conflated with an insurance policy, a freight broker bond is actually a distinct type of protection. An insurance policy is an agreement that an insurance company will use its own funds to pay for defined risks of loss in exchange for a premium payment. A surety bond, on the other hand, is a guarantee that a freight brokerage will have the cash or assets to cover legitimate bills from carriers and shippers. The surety is not assuming risk, but rather using the broker’s money to pay the bills if they aren’t able to pay them themselves. A freight broker bond is underwritten based on a broker’s reputation, credit history, and financial strength.
By law, freight brokers are required to have either a surety bond or a trust fund worth $75,000. With a surety bond, you pay an annual premium to a surety company that then works to mitigate bond claims on your behalf. A trust fund, on the other hand, requires that you provide the full $75,000 upfront. Unlike surety bonds, which are regulated by the government, trust funds are unregulated.
A freight broker bond price, which is defined by the annual premium paid to a surety company by a broker, can vary based on a brokerage’s specific circumstances. The annual premium will typically depend on a broker’s risk. That risk is determined based on factors like how many years your company has been in business, your company’s credit score, and your company’s financial condition.
On average, the annual premium for a freight broker bond is anywhere from $4,000 to the mid $5,000s. Companies who have been in business for many years and have good credit scores can expect to pay less than those who have been in business for less time or who have worse credit scores.
One of the most common questions new brokers ask is how to get a freight broker bond. While each surety company will have different requirements, there are a few common pieces of paperwork that you need to qualify. These include:
- Proof of insurance
- Company financial statements
- A signed indemnity form allowing the company to act on your behalf
- An application form
However, when you get your freight broker bond through the DAT and EPIC Insurance program, you can bypass much of this paperwork.
Yes, you can! But you may need to meet some additional criteria for the surety company to give you a bond given that the length of time you’ve been in business is one of the key elements surety companies use to qualify applicants.
For example, the surety company may need to check the personal credit scores for the principals of the brokerage. The surety company may also need collateral to secure the bond.
There are many benefits to getting your freight broker surety bond through the DAT and EPIC Insurance bond program. Not only do you get to take advantage of a program that features a competitive premium as well as no initiation fees, no collateral, and no required financial statements for qualified applicants, you also get access to flexible underwriting, speedy approval, experienced claims staff, no hidden claims or underwriting fees, and a bond from an “A” rated surety company.
“Claims like this typically take two to three months, but it only took two weeks with Loadsure.”
- John Coviello, President GMG Transwest Corp
"Loadsure is a no-brainer. I don't remember ever really having to sell it. It's just something that makes sense and the price is right. It’s another tool that makes me even better."
- Patrick O’Loughlin, COO, Regiment Logistics
Get your freight broker surety bond with ease!
With the DAT and EPIC Insurance program, qualified applicants can get their required freight broker bond without jumping through unnecessary hoops. Find out how our simple application process and speedy approval can help your business thrive!