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How to become a licensed Freight Broker in Kansas. FMCSA operating authority, $75,000 surety bond required. No additional state license required. Total initial fees: $1,311-$10,676. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Freight Broker — FB
Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
68% of data points are verified against official sources. 12 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
No
Additional State License
$300
FMCSA Fee
$75,000
Surety Bond
$176
UCR Annual Fee
Required
Business License
$1,311-$10,676
Total Initial Fees
All freight brokers must comply with these federal requirements regardless of state
VerifiedOperating Authority (MC Number)
Required
MC number (Motor Carrier number) obtained via FMCSA Form OP-1
FMCSA Registration Fee
$300
One-time FMCSA application fee for Operating Authority
Surety Bond / Trust Fund
$75,000
$75,000 trust fund (BMC-85) as alternative to surety bond (BMC-84)
BOC-3 (Process Agent)
Required
Designation of process agents (BOC-3) must be filed covering all US states, territories, and the District of Columbia
Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)
Required
Annual fee: $176
USDOT Number
Required
Freight broker authority is regulated at the federal level by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). All brokers must obtain an MC number, maintain a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund, designate a process agent (BOC-3), register with the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program, and obtain a USDOT number. These requirements apply uniformly across all 50 states.
State-specific business and licensing requirements
Mostly verifiedAdditional State License
Not Required
VerifiedBusiness License
Required
Mostly verifiedState Registration Details
Register with Kansas Secretary of State; obtain state tax registration
Sales Tax Considerations
Check with Kansas Department of Revenue for sales tax applicability to freight brokerage services.
While freight broker authority is federally regulated, most states require standard business registration (LLC, corporation, etc.) and may have additional requirements such as a state business license, sales tax registration, or specific state-level broker permits. Requirements vary significantly by state.
Education, Training & Industry Certifications
VerifiedFederal Education Required
No
Recommended Training
While not required by FMCSA, freight broker training courses are strongly recommended. Programs typically cover regulations, operations, sales, and carrier/shipper relations.
Industry Certifications
There is no federal education requirement to become a freight broker. However, completing a freight broker training course is strongly recommended to understand industry operations, regulations, and best practices. Industry certifications such as the TIA Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) designation can enhance credibility and demonstrate professional competency.
Insurance Coverage & Surety Bond
Mostly verifiedSurety Bond Cost Range
$750-$10,000 per year (typically 1-10% of $75,000 bond amount, varies by credit score)
Cargo Insurance
Not required for brokers by FMCSA, but recommended. Protects against cargo loss/damage claims.
General Liability
Recommended minimum $1,000,000 general liability coverage for business protection.
Contingent Cargo
Recommended for additional protection. Covers cargo when the carrier's insurance is insufficient.
The FMCSA requires a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. Annual bond premiums typically range from $750 to $9,000+ depending on credit score and business history. While cargo insurance and contingent cargo insurance are not federally mandated for brokers, they are strongly recommended and often expected by shippers and carriers.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
FMCSA Application Fee One-time fee for FMCSA Operating Authority application (Form OP-1) | $300 |
Surety Bond Annual Premium Annual premium varies by credit score; typically 1-10% of the $75,000 bond amount | $750-$10,000 |
BOC-3 Filing Fee One-time fee paid to a process agent service | $30-$50 |
UCR Annual Fee 2024-2025 annual UCR fee for brokers with 0-2 vehicles | $176 |
State Business License Fee Approximate range for Kansas business registration and licensing | $50-$165 |
Total Initial Fees Includes FMCSA application ($300), UCR ($176), BOC-3 (~$35), surety bond premium ($750-$10,000), and state business license fees. Bond premium varies significantly by credit score. | $1,311-$10,676 |
Renewal Requirements & Ongoing Obligations
VerifiedAnnual — must renew UCR registration before December 31 each year
UCR Renewal
Annual — surety bond must be maintained continuously; lapses trigger FMCSA revocation proceedings
Surety Bond Renewal
Not Required
Continuing Education
Operating Authority Renewal
FMCSA Operating Authority (MC Number) does not expire, but UCR and surety bond require annual renewal/maintenance
Regulatory Board
Freight broker operating authority (MC number) does not expire, but brokers must maintain their surety bond continuously and renew UCR registration annually. There is no federal continuing education requirement for freight brokers. Failure to maintain the surety bond or UCR registration can result in revocation of operating authority.
Kansas sits at the center of major east-west freight lanes. No additional state freight broker requirements.
Freight brokerage is primarily regulated at the federal level by FMCSA. State requirements are limited to business registration and licensing.
An FMCSA Operating Authority (MC Number) is required before arranging any interstate freight transportation.
The $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) must be maintained continuously — lapses can result in authority revocation.
UCR registration must be renewed annually before December 31 for the following year.
Kansas does not require any additional state-level freight broker licensing beyond federal FMCSA requirements.
Business registration with Kansas Secretary of State is required to legally operate in Kansas.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Kansas.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#39 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Cargo and Freight Agents (SOC 43-5011)
Entry Level
N/A
25th percentile
Median
$42,400
-12% vs. national avg ($48,420)Experienced
N/A
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
Source: BLS OEWS – Cargo and Freight Agents (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2022-2032
Projected Growth
+7%
High DemandNew Jobs
N/A
over 10 years
Annual Openings
N/A
per year (avg.)
N/A currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2022-2032 (September 2023)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 4–6 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: FMCSA Registration & Licensing
4–6 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: FMCSA Registration & Licensing
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Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2025-01-15
Kansas does not require an additional state license beyond federal FMCSA operating authority. A state business license is required. Register with Kansas Secretary of State; obtain state tax registration All freight brokers must obtain FMCSA operating authority and a $75,000 surety bond. State business registration is managed through the Kansas Secretary of State.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority and the FMCSA.