100+ Free TIA CTB Practice Questions

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Question 1

Score: 0/0

Carrier factoring works in what way?

The factor pays the shipper directly

The carrier waits 60 days to be paid by the broker

The carrier sells (assigns) its broker invoice to a factoring company at a discount and is paid quickly; the broker then pays the factor at the original invoice terms

Factoring is the same as bonding

to track

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: TIA CTB Exam

$75,000

FMCSA Broker Bond Minimum

MAP-21 (49 USC 13906)

9 months

Cargo Claim Filing Window

Uniform BOL / 49 CFR 370

30 / 120 days

Carrier Acknowledge / Settle Claim

49 CFR Part 370

$1,050 / $1,325

Course + Exam Fee (Member / Non-Member)

TIA CTB Program

3-4 months

CTB Course Length

TIA CTB Program

7 BASICs

CSA Safety Categories

FMCSA SMS

3 years

Broker Recordkeeping

49 CFR 371.3

The TIA CTB is a voluntary, multi-section online proctored exam administered after a 3-4 month TIA course. Tuition + exam runs roughly $1,050 (TIA member) / $1,325 (non-member). The exam covers four pillars — operations, regulatory/legal, financial, and risk — and candidates must pass all sections within three exam periods or re-enroll. The credential signals broker competence on FMCSA authority (MC number, $75,000 broker bond, 49 CFR Part 371), Carmack Amendment, BOL types, carrier vetting (CSA BASICs, SAFER, insurance), pricing (spot/contract, fuel surcharges, accessorials), and the TIA Code of Ethics.

Sample TIA CTB Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your TIA CTB exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under MAP-21 and the FAST Act, what is the minimum surety bond or trust fund amount a property broker must maintain on file with the FMCSA?

A.$10,000

B.$25,000

C.$75,000

D.$100,000

Explanation: Since the MAP-21 Act (2013), every property freight broker must maintain a $75,000 surety bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) on file with the FMCSA. The pre-MAP-21 amount was $10,000.

2Which FMCSA form is used to apply for new operating authority as a property broker?

A.OP-1

B.MCS-150

C.BOC-3

D.BMC-91

Explanation: Form OP-1 is the application for motor property carrier and broker authority filed with the FMCSA. MCS-150 is the biennial update, BOC-3 designates process agents, and BMC-91 is a carrier liability filing.

3A property broker designates agents for service of process in each state using which FMCSA form?

A.BMC-84

B.BOC-3

C.OP-1

D.MCS-90

Explanation: BOC-3 is the designation of process agents filing every broker and carrier must keep on file with FMCSA. The form names an agent authorized to accept legal service in every state where the broker operates.

4Federal broker regulations governing the duties and recordkeeping of property brokers are codified primarily in which part of the Code of Federal Regulations?

A.49 CFR Part 387

B.49 CFR Part 371

C.49 CFR Part 395

D.49 CFR Part 376

Explanation: 49 CFR Part 371 contains the federal regulations specific to brokers of property, including recordkeeping (Section 371.3), misrepresentation, rebates, and accounting duties.

5Under 49 USC 14916, engaging in unlawful brokerage activities without registration can result in civil penalties of how much per violation?

A.$1,000

B.$5,000

C.$10,000

D.$25,000

Explanation: 49 USC 14916 establishes civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation for any person who knowingly engages in brokerage activities without proper FMCSA broker authority, plus personal liability for individual officers.

6Under 49 CFR 371.3, how long must a broker retain records of each transaction?

A.1 year

B.3 years

C.5 years

D.7 years

Explanation: 49 CFR 371.3 requires brokers to keep a record of each transaction for a period of three years. Records must be available for inspection by parties to the transaction.

7When a property broker holds itself out as a carrier (motor carrier of property), it is engaging in what activity that has specific regulatory implications?

A.Co-brokering

B.Dispatching

C.Operating as a freight forwarder

D.Double brokering by holding itself out improperly

Explanation: A property broker that holds itself out as a carrier and assumes legal carrier responsibilities is acting as a freight forwarder, which requires separate FMCSA authority (different from broker authority) and triggers Carmack carrier liability.

8An MC number issued by the FMCSA represents what?

A.A motor carrier tax ID

B.Motor Carrier operating authority

C.Motor Coach safety rating

D.Mileage Certification number

Explanation: The MC (Motor Carrier) number is the operating authority issued by FMCSA. A broker must hold its own MC number with broker authority designation; carriers transporting freight need a separate carrier MC authority.

9A broker is reviewing a carrier's authority and notes the FMCSA status is 'Inactive — Failed to File BMC-91X.' What does this most directly mean?

A.The carrier's safety rating has lapsed

B.The carrier has not maintained required public liability (auto) insurance on file

C.The carrier has not filed a hazmat certification

D.The carrier has not paid its UCR registration

Explanation: BMC-91/BMC-91X is the FMCSA filing that demonstrates the carrier maintains required public liability (auto) insurance. An 'Inactive — Failed to File BMC-91X' status means the required insurance evidence is not on file, so the authority is inactive.

10Which FMCSA-published score system rates motor carriers in seven BASIC categories for prioritized intervention?

A.CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability)

B.ISS (Inspection Selection System)

C.SMS (Safety Measurement System)

D.PRISM

Explanation: CSA — Compliance, Safety, Accountability — is FMCSA's enforcement program, and the Safety Measurement System (SMS) scores carriers in seven BASIC categories: Unsafe Driving, HOS Compliance, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, Hazardous Materials, and Crash Indicator.

About the TIA CTB Exam

The TIA Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) is the leading voluntary professional credential for property freight brokers and 3PL intermediaries in North America. Candidates complete a 3-4 month TIA-administered online course and then pass a multi-section multiple-choice exam covering Brokerage Operations, Regulatory and Legal Expertise, Financial and Pricing Acumen, and Risk Management. CTB holders agree to abide by the TIA Code of Ethics, which prohibits practices such as undisclosed kickbacks, misrepresentation, and double brokering.

Assessment

Three-component multiple-choice exam covering the CTB curriculum

Time Limit

Approximately 4 hours total across the three components

Passing Score

Pass/fail by section; TIA does not publish a fixed percentage

Exam Fee

$1,050 TIA members / $1,325 non-members (course + exam) (Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA))

TIA CTB Exam Content Outline

~25%

Brokerage Operations Mastery

Load lifecycle, rate confirmations, dispatch, BOL/POD handling, tracking, settlement, and customer service.

~25%

Regulatory and Legal Expertise

FMCSA broker authority (OP-1, BOC-3, $75,000 broker bond), 49 CFR Part 371, 49 USC 14916, Carmack Amendment, CMR, indemnification, and confidentiality.

~25%

Financial and Pricing Acumen

Spot vs. contract rates, RFP/routing guides, fuel surcharges (EIA diesel index), accessorials, freight margin %, DSO, factoring, quick pay, and working capital.

~25%

Risk Management

Carrier vetting (SAFER, the seven CSA BASICs, safety rating), insurance (E&O, contingent cargo/auto, COIs and additional insured), claims process, fraud prevention, double brokering, and the TIA Code of Ethics.

How to Pass the TIA CTB Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Pass/fail by section; TIA does not publish a fixed percentage
Assessment: Three-component multiple-choice exam covering the CTB curriculum
Time limit: Approximately 4 hours total across the three components
Exam fee: $1,050 TIA members / $1,325 non-members (course + exam)

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TIA CTB Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the TIA CTB course textbook cover to cover and outline each chapter — the exam draws directly from the curriculum.

2Memorize the regulatory anchors: MAP-21 raised the broker bond minimum to $75,000, broker rules sit in 49 CFR Part 371, unlawful brokerage penalties live in 49 USC 14916, and records must be kept for three years.

3Learn the five Carmack defenses (Act of God, public enemy, shipper, public authority, inherent vice) and the standard claim timing — 9 months to file, 30 days to acknowledge, 120 days to pay or decline.

4Drill the seven CSA BASICs (Unsafe Driving, HOS, Driver Fitness, Controlled Substances/Alcohol, Vehicle Maintenance, Hazardous Materials, Crash Indicator) and the three FMCSA safety ratings (Satisfactory / Conditional / Unsatisfactory).

5Know the difference between BOL types: straight (non-negotiable), order (negotiable, must be surrendered), through (multi-carrier), and master/house (forwarder / forwarder customer).

6Practice fuel-surcharge math from the EIA U.S. Retail On-Highway Diesel index using base price and mpg assumptions, and the standard margin calculations (margin % over revenue vs. over cost).

7Memorize the core EDI transactions: 204 (load tender), 990 (response), 214 (shipment status), and 210 (carrier invoice).

8Study the TIA Code of Ethics and TIA Watchdog program — exam questions emphasize ethical decision-making, especially around double brokering, kickbacks, misrepresentation, and payment-redirection fraud.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TIA CTB?

The Certified Transportation Broker (CTB) is the Transportation Intermediaries Association's voluntary professional credential for property freight brokers and 3PL intermediaries. It is earned by completing a 3-4 month TIA-administered online course and passing a multi-section exam covering operations, regulatory/legal, financial, and risk management.

How is the CTB exam structured?

The CTB exam is a multi-section, multiple-choice online proctored exam delivered in three components, typically taken in one approximately 4-hour sitting or across up to three exam periods. Each section is graded pass/fail.

What does the CTB program cost?

Tuition plus exam costs approximately $1,050 for TIA members and $1,325 for non-members. Individual section retakes are $125 (member) / $175 (non-member); full course re-enrollment is $325 (member) / $400 (non-member).

What experience do I need to take the CTB?

TIA recommends at least two years of transportation/brokerage industry experience before pursuing the CTB. New brokers often complete the TIA New Broker Course first and then pursue CTB once they have practical operating experience.

How long does it take to prepare?

The TIA CTB course runs three to four months across one of three annual trimesters. TIA estimates 60-180 hours of total study time depending on prior experience, with textbook reading, online modules, instructor-led sessions, and self-paced review.

Does TIA publish CTB pass rates?

No. TIA reports results pass/fail by section but does not publish specific section-level or first-time pass-rate percentages. Candidates are notified of pass/fail status approximately one week after the exam.

What happens if I do not pass all three sections?

Candidates have up to three exam periods to pass all three sections. Section retakes cost $125 (member) / $175 (non-member). If all sections are not passed within three exam periods, candidates must re-enroll in the course.

Does CTB replace my FMCSA broker authority?

No. CTB is a voluntary professional credential. Every working freight broker must still hold FMCSA broker authority (MC number via OP-1), maintain the $75,000 broker bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85), and file BOC-3 process agents regardless of CTB status.

Is the CTB the same as the FMCSA Broker Authority?

No. CTB is a TIA professional credential; FMCSA broker authority is a federal license. CTB demonstrates curriculum competence and ethics commitment, while FMCSA broker authority is the legal permission required to operate as a property broker.