Top Trucking Business Start Up and Compliance FAQ's

A trucking authority gives you, as an owner operator, permission from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to transport freight and get paid to do it. 

Once our office receives the requested information, we take 3-4 business days to process the paperwork.  Once the application is submitted, the FMCSA has 21-25 business days to complete the application. A letter is mailed upon completion by the FMCSA. Obtaining insurance "activates" the authority and now you are almost ready to get those truck wheels rolling.

Our process does not require submission of the documents listed below, but the following are required for our team to process your trucking authority application:

1. Established Business Structure with your Secretary of State
2. Established Employer Identification Number (EIN)
3. Established Business Address, Email, Phone Number

The federal filings required to start a trucking business are as follows:

1. US DOT # - allows operation within base jurisdiction (home state only - aka intrastate operations).
2. Motor Carrier # - allows operation across state lines (aka interstate operations).
3. Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) - paid annually and based on vehicle count.
4. Blanket of Coverage (BOC3) Processing Agent - required filing allows legal paperwork to be serviced to your company in any state.

Understand and abide by federal and state requirements. The FMCSA issues the following regulations that are compiled under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR):

1. 49 CFR parts 300-399 FMCSA Regulations and Interpretations
2. 49 CFR part 40 Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs
3. 49 CFR Parts 100-180 Hazardous Materials Regulations
4. 49 CFR Part 571 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

• Develop an audit checklist.
• Educate your drivers.
• Ensure you have a compliance professional on your team.

CFR 393.9 Inoperable Required Lamp. A little over 6% of carriers were placed out of service for this violation.

CFR 393.75(a)3 Tire-flat and/or audible air leak. Over 97% of carriers were placed out of service for this violation.

Bottom line is...you can't.  CSA scores improve over time.  If your company has incorrect information that has been added to your score, these items can be disputed through the FMCSA's DataQ system.

Your information becomes public once you apply to become an independent owner operator. Insurance agents, factoring companies, freight dispatchers, compliance specialists, ELD representatives, fuel card providers, drug and alcohol consortiums, and many more people are looking to gain your business.  BEWARE of solicitations. 

If you like moving to the beat of your own drum, yes, you should operate under your own authority. You are responsible for everything, including your tags, finding your own loads, insurance payments, safety score and much more.

Any DOT certified inspection station can provide an annual vehicle inspection. The FMCSA requires anyone that performs annual inspections and brake inspections to be qualified according to CFR 396.25. We have a copy of the required Annual Vehicle Inspection Report on our resources tab.

Below are four major permits that your trucking company will need:

Kentucky Weight Distance Permit (KYU #) - Kentucky requires all CMVs weighing over 59,999 lbs to have a KYU Number permit.

New York Highway Use Tax (HUT) - New York requires all CMVs weighing over 18,000 lbs to have a New York HUT permit.

New Mexico Weight Distance Permit - New Mexico requires all CMVs weighing over 26,000 lbs to have a New Mexico permit.

Oregon Highway Use Tax - Oregon requires all CMVs weighing over 26,000 lbs to have an Oregon permit.