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How to start a trucking company, in order

Ten steps from idea to first load. Do them out of order and you will pay for it twice — most commonly by buying a truck you cannot insure.

  1. 1Week 0

    Decide what you are actually going to haul

    Dry van, reefer, flatbed, hotshot, box truck and car hauling have completely different insurance costs, equipment costs and rate structures. Pick one before you spend a dollar — your insurance quote depends on it.

  2. 2Week 1

    Form the entity and get an EIN

    An LLC or corporation separates your house from a crash claim. File with your Secretary of State, get the EIN free from the IRS, open a business bank account in the exact legal name you will use on every filing.

  3. 3Week 1

    Get insurance quotes before you buy a truck

    Insurance is the number one reason new carriers quit. Quote $1M liability and $100k cargo with your real driving history and the exact truck you intend to buy. If nobody will write you, you have learned that cheaply.

    Insurance requirements guide →
  4. 4Week 2

    Buy or finance the equipment

    Get a pre-purchase inspection, confirm the annual inspection status, verify the VIN and title, and check the emissions compliance for the states you plan to run. Budget a maintenance reserve from day one.

  5. 5Week 2

    File for your USDOT and MC number

    One application through FMCSA's Unified Registration System, $300 per authority type. Your USDOT arrives in days, the MC authority takes about 4 to 6 weeks with the 21-day protest period.

    USDOT & MC number guide →
  6. 6Week 3

    File BOC-3 and have insurance filed electronically

    A licensed process agent files the BOC-3 for you. Your insurer files the BMC-91X. Both must be on file before FMCSA grants authority — miss the window and the application is dismissed.

  7. 7Week 3

    Set up the drug and alcohol program

    Register in the FMCSA Clearinghouse, join a consortium, name your Designated Employer Representative, write the policy, and take a pre-employment test before you drive under your own authority.

    Drug & alcohol program guide →
  8. 8Week 4

    Handle plates and taxes: IRP, IFTA, UCR, 2290

    Apportioned plates and an IFTA license through your base state, UCR at ucr.gov, and Form 2290 with the IRS if the truck grosses 55,000 lbs or more. Keep the stamped Schedule 1 — you need it to register.

    Tax and registration guide →
  9. 9Week 5

    Build the files before the first load

    Driver qualification file, maintenance file, accident register, annual inspection report, ELD installed with the paperwork packet in the cab, and DOT numbers on both doors. This is what the audit looks at.

    Day-one file checklist →
  10. 10Month 2 onward

    Book freight and survive the safety audit

    Set up broker packets, know your cost per mile, and keep the paperwork current from load one. Your new entrant safety audit lands within 12 months and it only reviews what you already recorded.

    Safety audit guide →