Leasing Onto a Carrier vs Running Your Own Authority: What Owner-Operators Need
Reviewed by the ICR Filings compliance team · Updated October 20, 2026
If you own your truck, you have two ways to haul freight for pay across state lines: lease your truck and your driving onto an existing carrier and run under its authority, or get your own operating authority and book loads as your own carrier. FMCSA recognizes both. They come with very different paperwork.
Option 1: lease onto a carrier
Under a lease, you provide your truck and driving services to another motor carrier for a set period and operate under that carrier's authority. The carrier is the motor carrier of record for the loads.
What the rules require:
- A written lease that meets the federal Truth-in-Leasing requirements.
- Receipts when the carrier takes possession of your equipment.
- Markings: while leased, the truck is identified as being in the carrier's service, with the carrier's name and USDOT number. Your company name can still appear on the truck.
- A copy of the lease in the truck, or a statement from the carrier certifying that it operates the truck, with the lease details.
FMCSA guidance is clear that the carrier cannot hand its safety compliance responsibility to you. Owner-operators driving for a carrier count as its drivers for the safety rules, and the carrier is responsible for that compliance, even if you hold your own authority.
Option 2: your own authority
Running as your own carrier means you hold everything yourself:
- A USDOT number and MC operating authority ($300 FMCSA fee per authority type)
- A BOC-3 process agent filing
- Liability insurance on file with FMCSA; $750,000 is the federal minimum for general freight in vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more, and hazmat requires more
- UCR every year and the MCS-150 every two years
- A drug and alcohol testing program and Clearinghouse registration
- The new entrant safety audit in your first 18 months
Full costs are in how much it costs to get your own authority.
How to choose
| Leased on | Own authority | |
|---|---|---|
| Who finds the freight | Usually the carrier | You, through brokers and shippers |
| Insurance on file with FMCSA | The carrier's | Yours |
| Federal filings you keep up | Few or none | All of the above |
| Safety audit and compliance | Carrier is responsible | You are responsible |
| Keep the whole rate | No, you get the share set in your lease | Yes, minus your costs |
Many owner-operators lease on first to learn the business, then move to their own authority. If you do, start the authority application a few weeks before your lease ends, since FMCSA approval is not instant. See how to get an MC number, or let us file the new authority package.
Going the other way, from your own authority to a lease? See how to suspend or revoke authority you no longer use.
Official sources
- FMCSA: owner-operators and leased vehicles
- 49 CFR 376.11: general leasing requirements
- FMCSA guidance: carrier responsibility for owner-operator compliance
- 49 CFR 387.9: minimum levels of financial responsibility
- FMCSA: Get operating authority (MC number)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- FMCSA Insurance Filings Explained: BMC-91X, Minimums, and the 30-Day Cancellation Rule
- How to Get an MC Number in 2026: Step by Step Through Motus
- USDOT Number vs MC Number: What Is the Difference and Do You Need Both?
Want us to handle it?
USDOT, MC authority, BOC-3, and UCR in one package. Flat service fee, government fees shown separately. Our turnaround: submitted within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.
See New Authority Package (MC Number)