Serious about building a brokerage that lasts? The next 12 months matter more than ever. Starting January 16, 2026, the FMCSA is enforcing new financial security rules that will reshape how brokers handle their BMC-84 bonds and BMC-85 trust funds. This isn’t just bureaucratic noise. It’s a line in the sand between “hobby brokers” (or crooks!) and real operators. 💡 What’s Actually Changing The FMCSA isn’t raising the $75,000 requirement, but it’s tightening what counts as financial security: - Only federally regulated institutions (FDIC banks, trust companies, credit unions) can now act as trustees. - Trust funds (BMC-85) must hold assets that can convert to cash within seven days — only cash, Treasury securities, or irrevocable letters of credit qualify. - The FMCSA gains new enforcement powers. If your financial security dips below the requirement, your operating authority can be suspended immediately. In short: they’re cracking down on under-backed or non-compliant trust fund providers that have caused chaos in the industry. ⚖️ Why This Matters to You For years, some brokers have treated the BMC-85 as a cheaper workaround to the bond. That shortcut is now closing. If you’re using a trust fund, it’s time to double-check: - Is your trustee a federally regulated institution? - Can your assets be liquidated in 7 days? - Are your filings up to date with FMCSA? If any of those answers are “I’m not sure,” that uncertainty could put your authority — and reputation — on the line. 🧠 The Bigger Picture The FMCSA isn’t just setting stricter rules; it’s cleaning up the industry. This is your chance to get ahead of the crowd by tightening your compliance, reviewing your business structure, and ensuring your financial backing is rock solid. Think of it this way: if a shipper is choosing between two brokers, one with verified compliance and one still “sorting things out,” who do you think they’ll trust with their freight? 🚀 Your Next Moves Here’s what I recommend doing right now:

Worth a listen • Why freight fraud is escalating and what makes agents vulnerable. • The most common fraud tactics used against brokers and carriers. • The role of culture, training, and communication in prevention. • What agents should do immediately when they suspect fraud. https://everythingislogistics.com/freight-fraud-action-plan-for-agents/

I built an automation that pulls the latest list of active carriers directly from the FMCSA database — filtered by state, status, and business type. 💡 Want to see how you can: ✅ Extract active carriers in your state ✅ Filter by individual owner-operators or companies ✅ Get real-time, up-to-date data for your logistics needs No more manual searching or outdated lists — all automated and ready to use! Interested in a demo or want to boost your freight business with verified carrier data? Drop a comment or DM me!

Just weeks after losing its case in the Sixth Circuit, Total Quality Logistics (TQL) is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in—again—on whether brokers can be held liable when carriers they hire crash. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tql-takes-its-loss-in-a-broker-liability-case-to-the-supreme-court Broker Transparency and Liability: A Legal Retrospective (Both require a log-in - both free)

According to DAT: "Indianapolis, often called the "Crossroads of America" and a "warehouse freight market," is the largest of Indiana's five freight markets. This is due to its central role as a logistics hub with strategic infrastructure supporting national distribution and supply chain operations. Located with a single-day drive to more than 70% of the U.S. population, shippers are currently holding elevated inventories imported ahead of new tariffs, generating increased freight volumes for regional hauls. Truckload carriers positioned in or near import-heavy corridors out of Indianapolis or aligned with upstream wholesale distributors, stand to benefit from the current environment as inventories begin to move into consumer markets ahead of back-to-school demand, restocking for holiday shopping seasons (including Black Friday and Cyber Monday), and year-end inventory buildup by retailers and manufacturers."