Freight Broker FAQ

Yes — a broker-shipper agreement is required before we can book your first load. This is a standard FMCSA-required document that protects both sides: it defines rates, payment terms, cargo liability, and insurance responsibilities for every shipment. The process is simple and fast — fill out your business details on our Shippers page and we'll email you the agreement link within minutes. Once signed, we can start quoting and moving freight immediately.

A spot rate is a one-time market price for a single shipment, based on current truck supply and demand. It changes daily. A contract rate is a negotiated price agreed upon for recurring freight on specific lanes over a set period — typically 6–12 months. Spot is faster and more flexible; contract gives you price stability and guaranteed capacity. See our full guide.

Freight rates are determined by: (1) Lane — origin and destination ZIP codes; (2) Equipment type — dry van, reefer, flatbed, etc.; (3) Weight and dimensions — heavier or longer loads cost more; (4) Market conditions — current truck supply and demand on your lane; (5) Accessorials — fuel surcharge, liftgate, layover, etc. IZY provides all-in quotes with no hidden fees.

Cost-Plus pricing means you pay the actual verified carrier cost plus a flat 15% brokerage margin. We can provide the carrier invoice on request so you see exactly what the carrier was paid. This is full open-book pricing — ideal for high-volume shippers who want complete transparency. See our Quote Terms for details.

Spot market quotes from IZY Logistics are valid for 24 hours from the time of issuance — this is industry standard. Freight rates fluctuate with market conditions, so we cannot guarantee a price beyond this window. Contract rates are locked for the agreed term (typically 6–12 months). See our Quote & Payment Terms for full policy.

File a freight claim immediately upon delivery — note any damage on the BOL before the driver leaves. You have 9 months from delivery to file a formal claim under the Carmack Amendment. IZY Logistics will assist with carrier communication and documentation. All our carriers carry minimum $100K cargo insurance. See our freight claims guide for step-by-step instructions.

A Bill of Lading is the legal contract between the shipper and carrier. It documents what was picked up (commodity, weight, pieces), the pickup and delivery locations, and the agreed terms. It is the primary document for freight claims — never let a driver leave without signing a clean BOL if freight arrives damaged. Read our complete BOL guide.

A fuel surcharge is an additional charge added to your base freight rate to account for diesel price fluctuations. It is calculated as a percentage of the linehaul rate, indexed to the DOE (Department of Energy) weekly retail diesel price. IZY Logistics includes FSC in all-in spot quotes so there are no surprises. See our full fuel surcharge guide.

Accessorial charges are additional fees beyond the base freight rate for non-standard services. Common accessorials include: liftgate pickup/delivery ($75–150), inside delivery, residential pickup/delivery, detention (when loading/unloading exceeds 2 hours), layover, team driver, and hazmat fees. IZY itemizes all accessorials upfront — never surprise charges after delivery.

Detention is a charge applied when a truck is held at pickup or delivery beyond the free time — typically 2 hours. Rates are usually $50–100 per hour. Detention protects carriers and their drivers from unpaid waiting time. IZY Logistics always notifies you before detention charges accumulate and works to resolve delays at the facility level first.

Yes. IZY Logistics arranges hazmat freight for all 9 DOT classes. For standard classes (2–6, 8–9) we work directly with hazmat-endorsed carriers — this includes flammable liquids (Class 3), gases (Class 2), corrosives (Class 8), oxidizers (Class 5), toxic substances (Class 6.1), and miscellaneous hazardous (Class 9).

Class 1 (Explosives) and Class 7 (Radioactive Materials) are handled through our professional specialized partners — ATF-licensed carriers for explosives and NRC-licensed carriers for radioactive materials. These shipments require direct consultation due to federal licensing, routing restrictions, and security protocols and cannot be quoted online.

For all hazmat classes, use our detailed quote form — select your freight type and choose your DOT class in the Hazmat / Dangerous Goods field. For Class 1 or Class 7, call us directly at +1(877)IZY-LOGS. Learn more about hazmat freight →

A dry van is a standard enclosed trailer with no temperature control — used for general freight, packaged goods, consumer products, and most manufactured goods. A reefer (refrigerated trailer) has an active refrigeration unit that maintains a set temperature range — required for produce, food products, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive cargo.

Power only means the carrier provides only the tractor (truck cab) — you provide your own trailer. This is common for drop-and-hook operations, dedicated trailer fleets, and situations where shippers own specialized trailers. IZY Logistics arranges power only coverage across all 48 contiguous states. Learn more about power only.

Federal highway limits cap a standard truckload at 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight. The usable payload is typically 42,000–45,000 lbs depending on the tractor and trailer weight. Loads exceeding these limits require oversize/overweight permits, which IZY Logistics can coordinate through our flatbed team. Learn more about flatbed and oversize freight.

Every carrier in our network is verified through Descartes MyCarrierPortal before their first load. We check: FMCSA operating authority status, safety rating (Satisfactory or unrated only), insurance certificate ($1M auto liability, $100K cargo minimum), and fraud/double-broker risk. Carriers with Conditional or Unsatisfactory safety ratings are not used.

Double brokering occurs when a carrier accepts a load and then illegally re-brokers it to another carrier without the shipper's knowledge. It creates liability gaps and is prohibited by FMCSA regulations. IZY Logistics prevents this through Descartes MyCarrierPortal fraud detection, carrier identity verification, and explicit anti-double-brokering language in all carrier rate confirmations.

Visit our carrier onboarding page to submit your application. You'll need your MC number, DOT number, insurance certificate ($1M auto liability, $100K cargo), and W-9. We review applications within 24 hours. Qualified carriers are added to our network and begin receiving load offers immediately.

Yes. IZY Logistics LLC holds: FMCSA Broker Authority MC #1615290 (active), USDOT #4191217, and a $75,000 surety bond as required by federal law. You can verify our authority at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov by searching MC #1615290.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) sets federal standards for the sanitary transportation of human and animal food. It requires carriers transporting food to maintain proper temperature controls, document equipment cleanliness, and follow shipper-established temperature requirements. IZY Logistics ensures all reefer carriers moving food products are FSMA compliant.

The Carmack Amendment is the federal law that governs carrier liability for freight loss or damage in interstate shipments. Under Carmack, carriers are liable for the full actual value of goods lost or damaged, unless they've established a released value limitation. Shippers have 9 months from delivery to file a claim and 2 years from denial to sue. IZY Logistics can assist with Carmack claim filings.

IZY Logistics provides tracking through our proprietary TMS integrated with carrier ELD data and GPS. You can track any active shipment at izylogistics.com/tracking using your load number. We also provide proactive updates at pickup confirmation, in-transit check calls, and delivery confirmation. For urgent updates, call +1(877)IZY-LOGS 24/7.

We are developing API connectivity for high-volume shippers with existing TMS platforms. Contact us at izylogistics.com/contact to discuss your integration requirements and timeline. Currently we support EDI-style load tendering via email for enterprise accounts.