Double brokering happens when the party that booked a load re-brokers it to a different carrier without telling — or getting permission from — the shipper or original broker. Done deceptively, it’s a major red flag in freight and a common vehicle for fraud and non-payment.
The danger is that the freight ends up with an unvetted, uninsured carrier, and payment can vanish along the chain. It’s why shippers and brokers insist on working with authorized carriers and treat the rate confirmation as binding to the carrier that signed it.