In order to start a brokerage, one must obtain the following items:

• Broker Authority – Obtain through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) www.fmcsa.dot.gov/online-registration.  Complete Form OP-1. There is a one-time $300 application fee.
• Surety Bond or Trust Fund – Within 60-days of receiving their MC# from FMCSA a broker must obtain a surety bond or trust fund from a bank or bonding company. The cost varies depending on your personal credit. You are required to carry a $75,000 bond or trust.  TIA offers the TIABond at the $75,000, $100,000, and $250,000 levels.
• Processing Agent – All broker applicants must designate a process agent in each State in which offices are located and in which contracts will be written. Process agents who will accept legal filings on applicant’s behalf are designated on FMCSA Form BOC-3. Form BOC-3 must be filed within 90 days after the date notice of the application is published in the FMCSA Register. *TIA has an agreement in place with LogistecTTS to file the BOC-3 on behalf of our Members. TIA tries streamlines this process to 30-days. https://member.tianet.org/tianetorg/docs/GovernmentAffairs/BOCForm2018.pdf  
• Brokers are required to submit an annual filing of information required within the UCR agreement.  www.ucr.in.gov.

The TIA Model Contracts are exclusive to TIA Members only. TIA has a Contracts Committee comprised of industry leading 3PLs, freight forwarders, transportation attorneys, and insurance experts that develop and update these contracts on a regular basis to ensure they reflect any changes to the regulatory or legislative environment. TIA Members that modify the Model Contracts (other than the blanks) must remove the TIA logo. To view all the Model Contracts, click here.

In order to be eligible for FIATA membership, you must first be a TIA member. If you are already a TIA member please fill out this form and send it to TIA for approval. We will then send it back to you signed and stamped.

If you feel one of our members have violated the code of ethics, you can file a TIA ethic’s complaint using this form. Simply fill it out and fax it to (703) 836-0123 Attn: Ethics Committee.

TIA Members should create accounts and file reports on TIA Watchdog. Additionally, Section 32919 of MAP-21 (P.L. 112-141), established a $10,000 fine per occurrence for those entities arranging transportation for compensation, which are not properly registered and licensed and companies that double broker freight (unauthorized brokerage activities). By placing this language into law, it affords private parties the ability to take action for themselves for unauthorized brokerage activities, without relying on the Federal Government. FMCSA recommends that entities file complaints regarding unregistered brokerage activities through the National Consumer Compliant Database, until a broad enforcement program is implemented.

TIA Members should create accounts and file reports on TIA Watchdog. Additionally, TIA Members should file a report immediately with CargoNet, to ensure the appropriate law enforcement action is taken in a timely manner.

Go to www.tiawatchdog.com and click on “Request an Account”, accounts are only given to members.

TIA offers a suite of online and in-person educational courses to advance your employees from our introductory New Employee Orientation to TIA’s Certified Transportation Broker. Learn more.