> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://loadwork.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Broker authority badges and what they mean

> Load Work checks every broker against FMCSA and shows a green, red, or gray authority badge. Learn what each color means and how to respond.

export const PageFooter = ({path}) => <p style={{
  marginTop: '3rem',
  paddingTop: '1rem',
  borderTop: '1px solid var(--border-color, #e5e7eb)',
  fontSize: '0.875rem',
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      Tell us and we'll fix it
    </a>.
  </p>;

export const AskSupport = ({subject, question, children}) => <Note>
    {children}
    {' '}
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      Email support about this
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    — we answer within one business day.
  </Note>;

Load Work checks every broker's FMCSA operating authority and displays the result as a colored badge on load cards and broker profiles. The badge is the fastest at-a-glance trust signal on the platform.

Load Work checks each broker's FMCSA operating authority and shows the result on every load card and broker profile page.

| Badge                       | Color | What it means                                                  |
| --------------------------- | ----- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Active broker authority** | Green | The broker's authority is active and on file with FMCSA        |
| **Unverified**              | Red   | Authority is inactive, or no broker authority on record at all |
| *(no badge)*                | Gray  | Load Work hasn't been able to check yet                        |

On a broker profile page, the badge appears as a chip next to the MC/DOT line. An unverified broker's profile chip reads **"Authority pending"** — this is the same as the red "Unverified" badge on load cards.

<Warning>
  A red badge is not proof of fraud, but it does warrant a closer look. Legitimate brokers carry an active MC number. If you can't confirm authority through FMCSA yourself, proceed with extra caution.
</Warning>

## What each badge means in practice

**Green: Active broker authority**

The broker has an active MC number on file with FMCSA. This is the strongest single signal that the broker is legitimate and legally authorized to arrange freight. You should still verify the MC number yourself on [safer.fmcsa.dot.gov](https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov) before you book, but green means Load Work has already confirmed it.

**Red: Unverified**

The broker's authority is inactive, or no broker authority exists at all. This does not prove fraud. Some legitimate brokers let authority lapse temporarily. But a red badge means you should pause and verify independently. Do not accept a load from a red-badge broker without checking FMCSA yourself.

**Gray: Not checked yet**

Load Work has not yet been able to verify this broker against FMCSA. This happens with new or infrequent posters. Treat gray the same as red: verify the MC number yourself before you commit.

## Where the badges appear

* On every **load card** in search results, next to the broker name
* On the **broker profile page**, as a chip next to the MC/DOT line
* In the **broker directory** list, as the leftmost column

## Reading the chip on a broker profile

The chip next to a broker's MC/DOT reflects the same three states as the load-card badge.

* When Load Work has **confirmed active FMCSA authority**, the profile chip shows that active state, and the same broker's loads carry the green **Active broker authority** badge on the board.
* When authority is **inactive, missing, or not yet checked**, the chip reads **Authority pending**. This corresponds to the red **Unverified** badge on load cards.

<AskSupport subject="Broker authority — what the verified chip says on a profile" question="I'm looking at a broker profile in Load Work and I want to be sure I'm reading the authority status correctly. What exactly does the status chip say when a broker's FMCSA authority is confirmed active, and how is that different from 'Authority pending'?">
  Seeing a status on a broker profile that this page doesn't cover?
</AskSupport>

## What to do when you see a red or gray badge

1. Click **View broker** on the load card to open the broker profile.
2. Copy the MC number from the profile.
3. Look it up on [safer.fmcsa.dot.gov](https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov).
4. If the authority is active there but red here, the data may be syncing. If it is inactive or missing everywhere, proceed with extreme caution or skip the load.

<Warning>
  A red badge is not proof of fraud, but it does warrant a closer look. Legitimate brokers carry an active MC number. If you can't confirm authority through FMCSA yourself, proceed with extra caution.
</Warning>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Vet a broker before you call" icon="user-check" href="/trust/vet-a-broker-before-you-call">
    A step-by-step checklist for checking a broker before you pick up the phone.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Load rating explained" icon="circle-check" href="/trust/load-rating-explained">
    How Load Work scores every load and what the 0-100 ring means.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<PageFooter path="/trust/broker-authority-badges" />