In today’s fast-paced logistics world, the term freight fraud is getting thrown around a lot. From double brokering to identity theft, stories of scams in the freight industry seem to pop up every day. But is fraud really as widespread as it seems—or are we blurring the lines between true criminal behavior and bad business practices?

Experts are raising concerns that the industry might be mislabeling common operational issues as fraud. For instance, double brokering (where a broker passes a load to another broker without permission) is often called fraud, but technically it's a contractual violation—not a crime in most cases. Similarly, disputes over payment or missed loads can stem from poor communication or lack of due diligence, rather than intentional deception.

Facebook Fraud

Fraudulent carriers are buying old USDOT numbers—often through Facebook or online forums—to hide past violations and revoked authority. By changing contact details but keeping the original number, they appear more established and bypass vetting systems. This violates FMCSA rules, as USDOT numbers are tied to specific businesses and can't be transferred this way. The practice allows unsafe operators to stay active under a false identity, posing risks to the freight industry and public safety.

Chameleon carriers

Repeatedly change USDOT numbers and company names to hide past violations and avoid detection. They appear legitimate on vetting platforms but use deceptive tactics like swapping placards and fake LLCs to stay active. This makes it difficult for brokers, shippers, and regulators to identify who’s really operating, posing serious safety and compliance risks.

Board Credentials

Fraudsters steal load board login credentials from legitimate carriers—often through phishing or weak passwords—and use them to post fake capacity under real USDOT numbers. Automated systems then assign loads without verifying the true identity, allowing scammers to intercept freight unnoticed. This highlights a major flaw in automation: without human oversight, it's easy for bad actors to exploit the system.

Impersonate email accounts

Fraudsters hack into legitimate carriers’ email accounts and impersonate them using the same domain, signature, and USDOT number. They communicate directly with brokers and shippers to book loads, making everything appear legitimate—while the real carrier has no idea it’s happening.

Document Alteration

Fraudulent carriers manipulate shipment documents—such as altering piece counts, forging signatures, or faking proof of delivery—to collect payment for incomplete or stolen loads. These forged documents often get submitted before issues are detected, making the fraud harder to catch.

Double-brokering

Occurs when a carrier accepts a load and secretly passes it to another carrier without permission. This hides the true carrier, increases risk, and makes accountability difficult. Fraudsters use it to bypass disqualification or steal profit. Standard advice to "vet carriers" often falls short against this complex and widespread issue.

While buying a business isn’t illegal, this type of transaction—done quickly, anonymously, and without proper oversight—often violates federal regulations. The FMCSA clearly states that USDOT numbers are linked to a specific business and tax ID. Any real change in ownership requires a brand-new USDOT registration—not just a name swap.

By taking over an older USDOT number, these carriers appear more experienced than they are, allowing them to pass basic vetting checks that might otherwise flag them.

This deceptive practice not only undermines trust in the industry—it breaks the rules and puts everyone on the road at risk.