How to start a trucking company with one truck
How to start a trucking company with one truck? Get a USDOT number and MC authority, insure the truck, name a process agent, then add plates and taxes.
I read the federal rules and today's fees at the source. Here is the order to file, what it costs and what to watch with one truck.
Key takeaways
- $300is the FMCSA fee for MC authority. It is not refundable. A new application may take 20 to 25 business days. (FMCSA, 2026)
- $750,000is the federal minimum liability for general freight in a truck over 10,000 pounds. FMCSA grants no authority until it is on file. (eCFR, 2026)
- $8,000 to $20,000 or morea year is what owner operators on new authority report for insurance quotes. Leased on, ATBS puts it at $3,000 to $5,000. (Overdrive, 2026)
- 2 or morecovered employees must be in your random testing pool, even when you employ only yourself. (eCFR, 2026)
- 18 monthsis how long FMCSA monitors a new carrier. A safety audit comes after enough records pile up, generally at least 3 months in. (eCFR, 2026)
- $550is Form 2290 for a full year on an 80,000 pound truck, in the IRS's own example. (IRS, 2026)
- 60 daysof operating cash is what OOIDA recommends before your first load. (OOIDA, 2026)
I bought my first truck in 2019, a used 2009 Freightliner Columbia. I leased it to Landstar Ranger for 3 years, and today I run under my own authority. My About page has the full story.
One truck is the simplest way to start. It is also the easiest way to run short of cash, because one bad week stops all of your income.
This guide gives you the filings in order, what they cost and what to watch. I read the federal rules and the fees at the source on October 9, 2026.
What does it take to start a trucking company with one truck?
You need a truck, a USDOT number, MC authority, insurance on file and a process agent. Then you add plates, taxes and a drug testing program. Truckstop says the steps are the same for one truck or a fleet.
You can run one truck 2 ways. You can lease on and run under a carrier's authority. Or you can run your own authority and hold the MC number yourself.
| Own authority | Lease on | |
|---|---|---|
| Whose MC number runs the truck | Yours | The carrier's |
| Primary liability insurance | You buy it. FMCSA grants no authority without it. | The carrier usually provides it. You still buy your own cover, such as non trucking liability and physical damage. |
| Insurance per year (ATBS) | $8,000 to $12,500 | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Freight | You find it on load boards, from brokers and from shippers. | The carrier assigns it. |
This guide follows the own authority route, because that is where the filings are. To compare all 3 paths, read the Get Started guide. For the lease on route, see what lease on carriers keep.
Not sure which stage you are in? Pick your reading path on the Start Here page.
What do you need before you start a trucking company?
Have 5 things ready before you file: CDL, truck, bank account, insurance quote and 60 days of cash.
- Your CDL and a current medical card. You are the driver, so a medical card goes in your driver file.
- A truck. ATBS puts a used truck at $45,000 to $100,000 and a new one at $125,000 to $150,000. The Buying a Truck guide covers what to inspect.
- A business name, an EIN and a bank account. ATBS says an LLC can separate your personal assets from business debts. State filing fees run $50 to $300.
- An insurance quote. FMCSA tells new carriers to call their insurer as soon as the docket number arrives, so line one up first.
- 60 days of operating cash. OOIDA recommends it before your first load.
Use the exact same business name and address on every filing. FMCSA says a mismatch with your state records delays the grant (FMCSA).
Still picking a school? Check it on the federal registry first. I wrote how to check your CDL school.
How do you register with FMCSA for a USDOT number and MC authority?
You apply in Motus at motus.dot.gov. MC authority costs $300 and FMCSA does not refund it. A new application may take 20 to 25 business days (FMCSA).
- Create a Motus user profile with Login.gov and verify your identity. Then create your company account (FMCSA).
- Answer the questions on your operation, cargo and truck. If you haul other people's freight for pay, you need MC authority as well as a USDOT number.
- Pay the $300 fee. FMCSA charges one fee for each kind of authority and refunds none, even for a mistaken application.
- Call your insurance company when the docket number arrives. Your insurer files your proof of insurance. A process agent files your BOC 3 (FMCSA).
- Wait for the grant. Anyone can protest in the first 10 days after the notice appears in the FMCSA Register (49 CFR 365.203T).
- Do not haul for pay until FMCSA grants your authority. A truck that needs operating authority must not run without it (49 CFR 392.9a).
FMCSA expects your insurance within 20 days of the Register notice. If it is missing, FMCSA serves a decision that dismisses your application unless you comply within 60 days (FMCSA).
FMCSA built Motus to cut fraud, so expect an identity check. You can file the whole application yourself at motus.dot.gov.
The MC number guide covers the fees and the phase out status. The trucking authority guide covers what you file afterward.
How much insurance does one truck need, and who files it?
Federal law sets $750,000 in primary liability for general freight in a truck over 10,000 pounds. Your insurer files it with FMCSA. Quotes for new authority start near $8,000 a year.
| Coverage | Federal minimum | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Primary liability, for hire, general freight | $750,000 (49 CFR 387.9) | Truckstop says many brokers expect $1 million. |
| Cargo | None for general freight (FMCSA chart) | Truckstop recommends at least $100,000. |
| Physical damage | Not set by FMCSA | ATBS lists it with the basic policies for own authority. |
| Cost per year, own authority | Not set | ATBS: $8,000 to $12,500. Overdrive: $8,000 to $20,000 or more in recent quotes. |
Insurers treat a new authority as high risk, so you pay more in year one. Some owners report primary liability falling to $5,000 to $10,000 as their business became established (Overdrive).
Progressive's average for its new for hire transport policies in 2025 was $926 a month (Progressive). That is $11,112 a year.
Keep it paid. FMCSA says you must keep proof of insurance on file to avoid revocation. A cancellation needs 35 days of written notice (49 CFR 387.7).
I would get 3 quotes before I paid the $300 fee. If the premium breaks your numbers, you learn that before you file.
Which other filings, plates and taxes does one truck need?
Add a BOC 3, UCR, Form 2290, IRP plates, an IFTA license and an ELD. Most are small fees. IRP plates cost the most, at about $1,700 a year.
| Filing | What it does | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOC 3 | Names a process agent in every state you run in or through. Only a process agent files it for a carrier. | $20 to $40 | FMCSA, ATBS |
| UCR | Annual carrier registration. | $55 for 2027 with 1 or 2 trucks. It was $46 for 2026. | Federal Register |
| Form 2290 | Heavy highway use tax on trucks of 55,000 pounds or more. | $550 for a full year in the IRS's example of an 80,000 pound truck | IRS |
| IRP plates | Apportioned plates. The fee follows your miles in each state. | About $1,700 a year on average | ATBS |
| IFTA license | Fuel tax account. Your base state sends 2 decals per truck and takes a quarterly return. | About $10 a year for decals | IFTA Inc., ATBS |
| ELD | Logs your hours of service. | $20 to $50 a month | FreightWaves |
File Form 2290 by the last day of the month after you first use the truck. A part year is prorated, and the IRS publishes the partial period tables (IRS).
Some states add permits. OOIDA lists New York, New Mexico and Kentucky as permit states, and Oregon as permit plus bond (OOIDA).
How do drug and alcohol rules work when you are the only driver?
You are the employer and the driver, so both sets of rules apply to you. You must run a random testing program with 2 or more covered employees in the pool (49 CFR 382.103).
- A pool of 2 or more. One driver cannot be a pool alone, so join one run by a consortium or third party administrator (C/TPA). That is my reading of the rule.
- Register in the Clearinghouse as an employer. If you use a C/TPA, you name it there (49 CFR 382.711).
- Query the Clearinghouse. Employers must query each driver at least once a year (49 CFR 382.701). Plan to query yourself.
- Keep a driver qualification file on yourself. FMCSA's safety planner says every driver needs an application for employment, owner operators included (FMCSA).
FMCSA says an owner operator can act as both employer and driver (FMCSA). No testing program is also an automatic fail on the new entrant audit (49 CFR 385.321).
OOIDA lists enrollment in a testing program among your start up costs, but I found no price. Get a quote before you file.
How much cash do you need to start a trucking company with one truck?
Plan on $10,925 to $23,555 for first year filings, insurance and fees. The truck down payment and 60 days of operating cash come on top.
| Item | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MC authority | $300 | $300 | FMCSA |
| LLC state filing | $50 | $300 | ATBS |
| BOC 3 | $20 | $40 | ATBS |
| UCR for 2027 | $55 | $55 | Federal Register |
| Form 2290, full year at 80,000 pounds | $550 | $550 | IRS |
| IRP plates, average | $1,700 | $1,700 | ATBS |
| IFTA decals | $10 | $10 | ATBS |
| Insurance, first year | $8,000 | $20,000 | ATBS and Overdrive |
| ELD, 12 months at $20 to $50 | $240 | $600 | FreightWaves |
| Total | $10,925 | $23,555 | Sum of the rows above |
Then add the truck. A used truck runs $45,000 to $100,000 (ATBS). Lenders ask for up to 30% down, depending on your credit (Bankrate).
That is up to $13,500 down on a $45,000 truck, or up to $30,000 on a $100,000 truck. Bankrate says good credit might pay as little as 5.99% interest and bad credit more than 35%.
Then add your reserve. OOIDA recommends 60 days of operating capital before your first load. Work out your own number in the Startup Cost calculator.
I would not start without the reserve. Without it, you will take any load at any rate to cover the truck payment.
What does FMCSA check in your first 18 months?
FMCSA monitors every new carrier for 18 months. It audits you once you have enough records, generally at least 3 months in. The audit is pass or fail (49 CFR 385.307).
The audit reviews driver files, hours of service, maintenance, your accident register and drug testing (49 CFR 385.311).
16 violations fail the audit at once. They include having no drug and alcohol testing program, no random testing and no required insurance (49 CFR 385.321).
| Result | What FMCSA does | Your deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | Sends written notice within 45 days of the audit. Monitoring continues for the rest of the 18 months. | None |
| Fail | Sends written notice within 45 days that your registration will be revoked and you will be put out of service unless you fix the problems. | 60 days from the notice. 45 days for passenger carriers and carriers of placarded hazardous materials. |
Keep these from day one: your driver file, hours of service records, maintenance records, accident register and testing papers.
You also update your registration every 24 months. The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month, and a missed update deactivates the number (49 CFR 390.19T).
Should you lease on first or run your own authority with one truck?
I would lease on first. It costs less to start. The trade off is that the carrier sets your freight and takes its cut.
ATBS puts insurance at $3,000 to $5,000 a year leased on and $8,000 to $12,500 on your own authority. That is a gap of $3,000 to $9,500 a year.
Own authority fits when you can say yes to 3 things:
- You have 60 days of cash after the down payment and the filings.
- You have an insurance quote your numbers can carry.
- You know where your first loads come from.
Check every load against your cost per mile. Use the Cost Per Mile calculator and the Load Profit calculator. The Loads and Rates guide shows you how to read a rate con.
What goes wrong when you run only one truck?
When your one truck sits, your income stops and your bills keep running. A week in the shop costs you the freight you miss plus every fixed bill you still pay.
| Item | Per month | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Truck payment | $1,600 | The low end of ATBS's $1,600 to $2,500 for a leased truck |
| Insurance | $926 | Progressive's 2025 average for new for hire transport policies |
| ELD | $35 | The middle of $20 to $50 |
| Total | $2,561 | Sum of the rows above |
| One idle week | about $598 | $2,561 × 7 ÷ 30 |
That is before the repair bill and before the freight you miss.
ATRI puts the average cost to run a truck at $2.336 per mile in 2025, up 3.4% (ATRI). It says most fleets still struggled to make money that year (Heavy Duty Trucking).
Your own number will differ. Find it before you file, not after.
See your first year in the Owner Operator vs Company Driver calculator. If you plan to factor invoices, run the Factoring Fee calculator first. Fuel changes every trip, so price it in the Fuel Cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Can you start a trucking company with one truck?
Yes. Truckstop says many owner operators start with one truck, and the steps match a fleet's. (Truckstop)
How long does it take to get MC authority?
FMCSA says a new application may take 20 to 25 business days. More review can add 8 weeks or longer. (FMCSA)
Do you need MC authority to haul your own freight?
No. FMCSA says private carriers that haul their own cargo do not need operating authority. You need it to haul other people's regulated freight for pay. (FMCSA)
Do you need cargo insurance?
FMCSA sets no cargo minimum for general freight. Many brokers ask for it anyway, and Truckstop recommends at least $100,000. (FMCSA)
Do you need a drug testing program if you are the only driver?
Yes. Even a driver who employs only himself must run a random testing program. The pool needs 2 or more covered employees. (eCFR)
Can you haul before FMCSA grants your authority?
No. A truck that needs operating authority must not run without it. FMCSA orders the carrier out of service. (eCFR)
What is a process agent?
A person in each state who can accept legal papers for you. Only a process agent can file your BOC 3 with FMCSA. (FMCSA)
How this was checked
On October 9, 2026, I read the federal rule text on eCFR, which was current to October 7, 2026. I also read FMCSA registration pages, the Federal Register, the IRS Form 2290 instructions and the trade sources below. I used no forum posts or personal stories, because a wrong filing costs you fees and weeks.
The sums in Tables 4 and 6 are my own, from the ranges shown. In all, I read 30 sources, 12 of them sections of the federal rules.
This is not legal or tax advice. Ask a tax pro or a transportation lawyer about your own case, and get your own insurance quotes.
Evidence label: researched from federal rules and agency pages, with first hand notes on my own leasing and authority. Updated October 10, 2026. Update schedule: every quarter, and when FMCSA changes Motus or its fees.
Sources
- 49 CFR 387.9, Financial responsibility, minimum levels. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 387.7, Financial responsibility required. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 382.103, Applicability (drug and alcohol testing). eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 382.701, Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 382.711, Clearinghouse registration. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 385.307, New entrant safety monitoring procedures. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 385.311, Safety audit: Scope. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 385.319, Safety audit: Completion. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 385.321, Safety audit: Failure. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 49 CFR 392.9a, Operating authority. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 390.19T, Motor carrier identification reports. eCFR. Accessed October 10, 2026.
- 49 CFR 365.203T, Time for filing a protest. eCFR. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Get Operating Authority (Docket Number). FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Move into Motus. FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Insurance Filing Requirements. FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Form BOC 3, Designation of Agents for Service of Process. FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Guidance Q&A on 382.107: What is an owner operator?. FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Motor Carrier Safety Planner, 6.1.2 Driver Qualification File. FMCSA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement, September 1, 2026. Federal Register. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Instructions for Form 2290 (07/2026). IRS. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- IFTA Inc. information for carriers. IFTA Inc.. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- How Much Does It Cost to Start a Trucking Company?. ATBS. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Getting your own authority: Basics of filing, insurance and avoiding common mistakes (updated April 1, 2026). Overdrive. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- How to Start a Trucking Company: A 14 Step Guide, January 24, 2025. Truckstop. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Applying for Authority. OOIDA. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Commercial Truck Insurance Cost. Progressive Commercial. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Semi Truck Financing Requirements, April 15, 2025. Bankrate. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Affordable ELDs for Owner Operators on a Budget, February 20, 2026. FreightWaves. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking. ATRI. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- ATRI: Average Truck Operating Cost Reaches Record $2.336 Per Mile, July 15, 2026. Heavy Duty Trucking. Accessed October 9, 2026.