How do I get loads with a new MC number?
Prepare one complete broker setup packet (MC authority, W-9, certificate of insurance and notice of assignment if you factor), get set up with brokers that accept new authority before you need a load, start on lanes and load boards where new carriers get booked, and deliver every load on time so brokers rebook you. A dispatcher who works with new authority can do the searching and setups while you drive.
You have the truck, the insurance and an active MC. Now the hard part: how to get loads with a new MC number. Many brokers will not book a carrier until the authority is a few months old, and every broker has its own setup process. This guide is the step-by-step plan we use for loads for new authority carriers, whether you run a semi, a hotshot or a box truck.
Step 1: build one complete broker setup packet
Do this once, before you need a load. Keep it as a single PDF and as separate files.
- MC authority letter (or a screenshot of active authority on FMCSA).
- W-9 in the exact legal name on your authority.
- Certificate of insurance from your agent, with auto liability and cargo limits listed. Ask your agent how fast they can issue certificates naming each broker.
- Notice of assignment and letter of release, if you use a factoring company.
- Bank details for payment, if you do not factor.
- A short carrier profile: equipment, trailer length, lanes, contact phone and email.
A packet that is complete the first time is the quickest way through broker onboarding. Missing documents are the most common reason a new carrier waits days for setup. That is why broker setup packet help is the first thing we do for a new client.
Step 2: find brokers that accept new authority
Brokers fall into three groups:
- Will not book new MCs until the authority reaches a set age.
- Will book new MCs if the packet is complete and insurance is verified.
- Will book new MCs on certain freight (often less time-sensitive or lower value loads) while you build history.
Your job is to find groups 2 and 3 and get set up with them before you need a load. Ask directly when you call: "Do you work with new authority?" You save more time asking that up front than you spend on setups that go nowhere.
Step 3: use load boards the right way
Load boards are where most new carriers find their first loads. Filter for brokers that show they accept new authority, and call fast: good loads go in minutes. Read our load board guide and best load boards for owner-operators.
Step 4: pick first lanes that set up the next load
Do not chase the single highest rate. Pick lanes that deliver into markets with plenty of outbound freight, so the reload is easy. Use the deadhead miles calculator to see what an empty leg really costs.
Step 5: negotiate, even with a new MC
A new MC does not have to mean the lowest rate. Know your cost per mile, ask for more on short-notice loads, and walk away from freight that does not cover your costs. See how to negotiate freight rates.
Step 6: deliver perfectly and get rebooked
For the first months, every load is an audition. Be on time, answer check calls, send clear photos of the bill of lading and paperwork the same day. Brokers rebook carriers who make their job easy, and repeat freight is how a new authority stops depending on load boards.
Common mistakes new authority carriers make
- Waiting until the authority is active to start broker setups.
- Taking every cheap load to "build history" and running at a loss.
- Hauling under someone else's MC: it is risky and does not build your own record.
- Paying a large upfront fee to anyone who promises guaranteed loads. Read how to avoid truck dispatch scams.
When new authority truck dispatch helps
If you would rather drive than spend the day calling brokers, a dispatcher who works with new MC numbers can take over steps 1 to 5. At Texas Solutions we:
- Prepare your packet and handle broker setups.
- Target brokers that accept new authority for your equipment.
- Negotiate every load and plan lanes to keep deadhead down.
- Handle rate confirmations, invoicing and factoring paperwork.
- Answer 24/7 by call, text or WhatsApp.
Your first load is dispatched free. After that, the fee is 5% of weekly gross for OTR semis, 7% for hotshots and 8% for box trucks, with no setup fee and no long-term contract. No one can guarantee loads or rates. See dispatch for new authority, or if you have not filed yet, MC number and authority setup.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't brokers book my new MC number?
Many brokers set a minimum authority age, often a few months, or ask for insurance history to manage risk. Others will book new carriers if the packet is complete and insurance is verified. The work is finding the second group.
How long before more brokers will work with my new authority?
It varies by broker. Many open up after a few months of active authority and clean delivered loads. Every load you deliver on time builds the history brokers check.
What is in a broker setup packet?
Your MC authority letter, W-9, certificate of insurance listing the broker as certificate holder, and a notice of assignment if you factor. Many brokers also ask for bank details, a signed broker-carrier agreement and references.
Can a dispatcher help a new authority carrier get loads?
Yes. New authority truck dispatch means the dispatcher targets brokers that accept new MC numbers, keeps your packet ready, negotiates rates and builds repeat lanes for you. Texas Solutions works with new MC from day one and dispatches your first load free.
