How to Verify a Customs Broker or Freight Forwarder Before You Hire One
Check the CBP license and permit, FMC OTI license or FMCSA authority, bonds and red flags — a 5-minute checklist that protects your shipment.
Updated October 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Why verification matters
A customs broker acts in your name with CBP — you sign a power of attorney and you, as importer of record, stay legally responsible for what it files. Freight forwarders handle your goods and often your money for freight and duties. A five-minute check before you sign avoids most problems.
Checking a customs broker
- Ask for the filer code and license number. Look the code up with our filer code lookup — it should belong to the company you’re talking to and be marked as a permitted broker.
- Confirm the national permit. Since CBP’s broker modernization, brokers hold a national permit that lets them file at any port. Every broker in our directory appears on CBP’s permitted list.
- Ask who the licensed individual is. A brokerage company must have a licensed officer responsible for its customs business.
- Get a written fee schedule and confirm how duty payments are handled (direct ACH to CBP or through the broker).
Checking a freight forwarder or 3PL
- Ocean: ask for the FMC OTI license (ocean freight forwarder or NVOCC).
- Truck within the U.S.: check the FF (forwarder) or MC (broker) docket for active authority and the $75,000 bond — our forwarder and 3PL pages show both.
- Insurance: ask for a certificate of insurance and the liability limits that apply to your cargo; consider separate cargo insurance for high-value goods.
Red flags
- Can’t or won’t give a license number, filer code or docket.
- Phone or address doesn’t match the license record.
- Asks you to pay duties to a personal account, by gift card or crypto.
- Quote far below every other offer, with fees “to be confirmed”.
- Pressure to skip the power of attorney or sign blank forms.
Shipping by truck? truckload.broker shows trust scores and red flags for every licensed freight broker.
Find a licensed logistics partner
Every company in our directory holds an active CBP or FMCSA license. Browse by state and city, compare license records and contact companies directly.
- Only companies with active federal licenses
- License numbers shown so you can double-check
- Free to use, no sign-up
Verify a provider before you hire
Look up any CBP filer code, MC or FF number to see the licenses on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a customs broker is licensed?
Ask for its CBP filer code and license number. Licensed brokers with a current national permit appear on CBP’s permitted broker list — every customs broker on logistic.broker comes from that list.
Are individual customs brokers legitimate?
Yes. CBP licenses individuals as well as companies. Individuals must pass the Customs Broker License Exam; companies must employ at least one licensed individual officer.
What bond does a freight forwarder need?
FMCSA requires freight forwarders and property brokers to keep $75,000 of financial security on file. Ocean intermediaries licensed by the FMC post their own bonds as well.
Related guides
- Incoterms 2020 Explained: All 11 Terms, Who Pays What (With Chart)
- How to Import Goods into the U.S.: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Importers
- Customs Broker vs Freight Forwarder: What’s the Difference and Do You Need Both?
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and rates change — confirm requirements with CBP, FMCSA or the FMC before you ship.