Getting authority is the easy part — staying organized is what keeps a new carrier alive. Here's the full sequence, then the back office you'll need from load one.
Set up an LLC or corporation, get your EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account. Keep personal and business money separate from day one — it saves you at tax time and protects your authority.
File for your USDOT number and MC (operating authority) through the FMCSA. There's a mandatory ~21-day vetting period before authority activates, so start early.
Register for IFTA to file quarterly fuel taxes, and pay the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (Form 2290). Track fuel and miles by state from your first load — guessing at quarter-end is how carriers get audited.
This is where new carriers leak money: missed invoices, lost PODs, no idea which loads actually made money. A TMS built for small carriers handles invoicing, settlements, IFTA tracking, document storage and cost-per-mile from the start.
Beyond the truck, budget roughly $6,000–$15,000 for filings and the first insurance down payment. Insurance dominates the recurring side.
TruckSpot Dispatch gives a brand-new carrier full dispatch, AI invoicing, settlements, IFTA and profit tracking in one place — ELD-agnostic, with a free 14-day trial.
Start your back office free for 14 days →Beyond the truck, roughly $6,000–$15,000 for authority filings, BOC-3, UCR, IFTA setup and the first insurance down payment. Insurance is the largest recurring cost.
After filing your MC and USDOT numbers, there's a mandatory ~21-day vetting period before authority activates, plus time to file insurance and the BOC-3.
Yes. Even one truck needs invoicing, IFTA tracking, settlements and document storage. A TMS handles all of it so you don't lose money to disorganized paperwork.