Guide
Broker scorecard: score payers on what they did, not what they said
Vetting tells you who a broker is before the first load. A scorecard tells you how they behaved after ten.
In short
- Use three numbers per broker from your own records: days to pay, short pay rate and open disputes.
- Give each a score of 2, 1 or 0 using thresholds you choose. Add them up.
- Review the scorecard every month. A broker can move up or down.
- Vetting comes first and stays. See broker vetting. The scorecard covers the time after.
Hook. In the example, 1 broker scores 0 out of 6 across 14 loads, while the best one scores 5. Nobody had to guess. The invoices already held the answer.
Three numbers that already exist
You do not need a rating from anyone else. Your own invoices record the invoice date and the deposit date. Your remittances show short pays. Your notes show disputes. A scorecard just puts the three side by side.
The figure shows a grid. Each broker gets a dot per metric. Green is good, amber needs watching and red is a problem. Three reds in a row is a broker to review before the next load.
For a broker you have not worked with, use the trust timeline, which reads public FMCSA data by USDOT number.
Build it in five steps
Pull the last 90 days
All loads with that broker. Same window for every broker.
Compute three numbers
Weighted days to pay, short pay rate, open disputes.
Set thresholds
Write your own cutoffs for 2, 1 and 0 and keep them fixed.
Add the scores
Total out of 6. Put the verdict next to the name.
Act on the bottom
Review brokers who score low before the next load. Ask, or pass.
The three metrics
| Metric | How to compute | Score 2 | Score 1 | Score 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days to pay | Weighted average, invoice to deposit | 35 or fewer | 36 to 45 | Over 45 |
| Short pay rate | Loads paid short / loads | 5% or less | Up to 15% | Over 15% |
| Open disputes | Count of unresolved disputes | 0 | 1 to 2 | 3 or more |
Worked example EXAMPLE VALUES
Example data. Three invented brokers over 90 days. The thresholds are in the table above and are our example, not a standard.
| Broker | Loads | Days to pay | Short pay rate | Open disputes | Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broker A | 12 | 32 | 8.3% | 0 | 5 / 6 | Keep booking |
| Broker B | 9 | 41 | 0.0% | 1 | 4 / 6 | Watch |
| Broker C | 14 | 52 | 28.6% | 3 | 0 / 6 | Review |
Broker A has one short pay in 12 loads and pays in 32 days. Broker C has 4 short pays in 14 loads, 3 open disputes and takes 52 days. Its score is 0. Check the volume too: Broker C is the biggest by loads, so a decision about it is a business decision, not just a score. The scorecard makes the cost visible. Pair it with the exposure cap: the cap says how much you can have open with one broker, the scorecard says whether you want more. Keep the scorecard on one sheet with a date, and note any action you took, so next quarter you can see if it worked.
Where it goes wrong
- Too few loads. Two loads tell you little. Mark small samples as unrated.
- Changing thresholds to fit. Fix them first, then score.
- Ignoring rate. A slow payer at a high rate may still pay. Add rate per mile next to the score.
- Scoring only the worst invoice. Use the weighted average, not one bad day.
The formulas
Each part scores 2, 1 or 0. The maximum is 6.
Be fair and factual
A scorecard is your own record for your own decisions. Do not publish it or send it to other parties. Check the contract before you refuse or reroute a load. Not legal advice.
We do not give legal, tax or financial advice. Your contracts come first.
Questions
How many loads before a score means anything?
There is no fixed number. Mark small samples as unrated and wait for more history.
Should I include a broker I only use as a backup?
Yes, if you have 3 or more loads. Otherwise leave them unrated.
What do I do with a low score?
Ask for faster pay or a better rate, pass on new loads, or both. See broker payment delay.
Is this a credit score?
No. It is a simple internal tally from your own invoices.
Related: broker vetting, broker not paying, red-flag checker, days to cash, all guides.
See what your last 20 loads show.
One short form. We reply by email with the next step, and a one-page report follows. Free, no obligation.
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