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How to Start a Trucking Company: The Steps, in the Order That Works

Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated November 10, 2026

The short answer
  • Decide what you will haul first. For-hire, private, and broker operations need different filings.
  • Most for-hire interstate carriers need a USDOT number, MC authority, a BOC-3, an insurance filing, UCR, and a Motus account.
  • Your authority does not become active until your insurance and BOC-3 are on file with FMCSA.
  • Expect a new entrant safety audit within your first 12 months of operating (you are monitored as a new entrant for 18 months), so set up your records from day one.

Starting a trucking company is mostly a matter of doing things in the right order. Apply in the wrong order and you can end up paying for insurance on a truck that cannot legally move, or waiting on a filing you could have had ready. Here is the sequence for a small for-hire carrier, starting with one truck.

The steps

  1. 1. Decide what you will haul, and where
    Whose freight, whether it crosses state lines, and how heavy your vehicles are decide most of your filings. Hauling your own goods or staying in one state changes the list.
  2. 2. Form the business and get an EIN
    Pick a structure with your attorney or accountant and get your EIN from the IRS. Use the exact legal name everywhere, because mismatches slow later filings.
  3. 3. Line up a truck and insurance quotes
    You do not need the insurance in force on day one, but you need to know what it will cost. FMCSA's minimum for general freight in vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more is $750,000 in liability coverage.
  4. 4. Get your USDOT number and MC authority
    New applicants go through FMCSA's registration system and pay the $300 authority fee. Your authority does not become active yet.
  5. 5. File your BOC-3
    A process agent files this for you. It is required before your authority can go active.
  6. 6. Have your insurance filed
    Your insurer files proof of coverage with FMCSA, such as form BMC-91 or BMC-91X. Ask for it as soon as you have your MC number.
  7. 7. Wait for the authority to go active
    Check your status on FMCSA's public record before you take a load. Until it is active, you cannot haul regulated freight for hire across state lines.
  8. 8. Register for UCR
    Interstate carriers with vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more register every year.
  9. 9. Set up the Clearinghouse and drug testing
    If your truck requires a CDL, you need a Clearinghouse account and a drug and alcohol testing program, even as a one-truck owner-operator.
  10. 10. Sort out your state and tax items
    Most interstate trucks over 26,000 lbs need IRP plates and IFTA. Trucks of 55,000 lbs or more owe the Form 2290 heavy vehicle use tax. Some states add their own weight-distance taxes.

For step 2, we do not form companies or file EINs. You can form your LLC online, and this guide covers the EIN for a trucking company.

Before you take your first load

  • Driver file: every driver needs a qualification file, including a current medical certificate. Owner-operators count as drivers.
  • Hours of service: learn the limits and keep the required records of duty status, on an electronic logging device if your operation needs one.
  • Maintenance: keep inspection and repair records for each truck from the start.
  • Motus: FMCSA registration changes go through Motus, so set up your account early.

What comes after

WhenWhat
First 12 monthsNew entrant safety audit (new entrant monitoring lasts 18 months)
Every yearUCR, plus Form 2290 if it applies
Every quarterIFTA returns, if you have an IFTA license
Every two yearsMCS-150 update
Anytime it lapsesInsurance or BOC-3 problems can suspend your authority. See reinstatement.

More detail: how to get an MC number, what your own authority costs, and lease-on vs own authority.

Common questions

Do I need an LLC to start a trucking company?

FMCSA does not require a particular business structure. Many owner-operators choose an LLC, but that is a legal and tax decision. Ask an attorney or accountant, and form the business before you apply so your FMCSA record has the right legal name.

Can I start a trucking company with one truck?

Yes. An owner-operator with one truck under their own authority follows the same federal steps as a larger carrier, including the Clearinghouse if the truck requires a CDL.

How much does it cost to start a trucking company?

The largest costs are usually the truck and insurance. FMCSA's authority fee is $300. See our guide to the cost of your own authority for what else to plan for.

Can I start without my own authority?

Yes. Leasing onto an existing carrier means you run under their authority, which can be a simpler first step. Compare the two in our lease-on vs own authority guide.

Do I need my own authority to run a trucking company without driving?

If the company hauls other people's regulated freight for pay across state lines, it generally needs authority whether or not the owner drives. Every driver must still be qualified, including a current medical certificate.

Official sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.

Related guides

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