How to start a trucking company

This is a business choice, not a federal rule — you can operate as a sole proprietor. Most carriers form an LLC for liability protection. Form it in your HOME BASE state: your IRP, IFTA, and authority are all tied to your base state, so the usual "Delaware/Wyoming" advice does not fit trucking. We can connect you with a formation partner.

When: Before you register — set your legal structure first.

Your EIN is free directly from the IRS — never pay a third party for it. You need one to open a business bank account, hire drivers, or file taxes as an entity.

When: After you form your entity; before you open a business bank account or hire.

Where to do it →

Source: IRS — Employer Identification Number · reviewed 2026-06-14

Practical setup, not a regulation: keep your business and personal money separate. Most banks need your EIN and formation documents to open the account.

When: After your EIN; before money starts moving.

Not paperwork, but the decision everything else hangs on: what you will haul and where you will run. It sets your authority type, your insurance, which states you register in (IRP/IFTA), and whether you need extras like hazmat or weight-distance permits. Pin it down before you start filing.

When: Decide this first — it drives every choice that follows.

Not required by any rule, but a simple website makes you look legitimate to brokers, shippers, and factoring companies, and gives you email at your own domain. We can connect you with a partner who builds carrier websites.

When: Whenever you like — not required to operate.

Smart, not required: get a separate business line instead of using your personal cell. A cheap second number or a VoIP app keeps your personal number private, looks professional to brokers and shippers, and is easy to hand off if someone else answers your phones down the road.

When: Before you start handing your number out to brokers.

A business email — ideally at your own domain, like [email protected] — reads as far more credible to brokers, factoring companies, and FMCSA correspondence than a personal address, and keeps your business mail separate. If you get a website, email at your domain usually comes with it.

When: Set it up with your domain or a free account.

Your USDOT number is the ID FMCSA uses to track your safety record. It is required for interstate commercial motor vehicles and for many intrastate operations depending on your state. (FMCSA is modernizing registration in the new Motus system — see "Is the MC number going away?")

When: Before interstate operation (and for many intrastate operations — check your state).

Where to do it →

Source: FMCSA — Do I Need a USDOT Number? · reviewed 2026-06-14

If you haul other people’s freight across state lines for pay (or run passengers, or broker freight), you need for-hire operating authority. Private and intrastate carriers do not. (Under the proposed Motus change, authority may show as a suffix on your USDOT number instead of a separate MC number — proposed, not yet final.)

When: After your USDOT number; before you haul for hire across state lines.

Where to do it →

Source: FMCSA — get operating authority · reviewed 2026-06-14

A registered process agent must file this. We resell a partner that handles it.

When: Before authority is granted; must stay on file.

Where to do it →

Source: 49 CFR §366 · reviewed 2026-06-14

Your insurer files this electronically. $750k for most for-hire property; higher for passenger/hazmat.

When: Within 20 days of FMCSA Register publication.

Where to do it →

Source: 49 CFR §387 · reviewed 2026-06-14

You may not operate until your authority shows ACTIVE. (Not a flat "21 days.")

When: ~3–4 weeks (10-day protest + 20-day filing); longer if vetted.

Where to do it →

Source: FMCSA registration · reviewed 2026-06-14

UCR's site makes DIY easy — do it yourself there, or we'll handle it. Fees = official UCR schedule.

When: Annual; before interstate operation.

Where to do it →

Source: 49 U.S.C. §14504a · reviewed 2026-06-14

Owner-operators MUST be in a consortium for random testing — you can't self-administer. We are your C/TPA.

When: Before any driver performs a safety-sensitive function.

Source: 49 CFR §382 · reviewed 2026-06-14

The test must be passed — not just taken — before driving. We order it.

When: Negative result REQUIRED before the first dispatch.

Source: 49 CFR §382.301 · reviewed 2026-06-14

Login.gov steps are yours; we run the queries as your TPA.

When: Full query pre-employment; limited query annually.

Where to do it →

Source: Clearinghouse final rule · reviewed 2026-06-14

Even a solo owner-operator needs a DQF on themselves. We manage it.

When: Before driving; MVR within 30 days of hire + annually.

Source: 49 CFR §391.51 · reviewed 2026-06-14

Required to hold a CDL for interstate non-excepted driving. We perform the physical.

When: Valid up to 24 months — can be shorter. Renew before expiry.

Source: 49 CFR §391.41–.49 + §383.71 · reviewed 2026-06-14

A written policy is required. We provide one per DOT mode.

When: Provided to drivers before they drive.

Source: 49 CFR §382.601 · reviewed 2026-06-14

60 min drugs + 60 min alcohol for anyone making reasonable-suspicion calls. We train them.

When: Before the DER/supervisor supervises drivers.

Source: 49 CFR §382.603 · reviewed 2026-06-14

Vehicles ≥55,000 lb. E-file returns a stamped Schedule 1 in minutes — do it yourself at IRS.gov.

When: Before plating (Schedule 1 required to register).

Where to do it →

Source: IRS Form 2290 · reviewed 2026-06-14

Multi-state operation. File through your base state — link below for each state you picked. Apportioned plates are about the VEHICLE running interstate, not about holding MC authority — private and exempt-commodity carriers (USDOT-only, no MC) register IRP too.

When: After authority is active; needs your base state.

Find your state’s official links →

Source: IRP / base-state · reviewed 2026-06-14

Qualified vehicles in 2+ jurisdictions. Issued by your base state.

When: Before interstate operation; quarterly returns after.

Find your state’s official links →

Source: IFTA · reviewed 2026-06-14

The #1 automatic failure is having no drug & alcohol program. Stay enrolled and you pass.

When: Within 12 months of starting operations.

Where to do it →

Source: 49 CFR §385 subpart D · reviewed 2026-06-14

Not a regulation — this is how you actually find freight to haul. A load board connects you with brokers and shippers posting loads. We can connect you with a load board partner.

When: Once your authority is active and you are ready to haul.