New MC? Start here
The full guide from your USDOT number to your first load: every step, what it costs, the checklist, and the guides and tools that help.
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How do I start with a new MC number?
Set up your business and EIN, apply to FMCSA for a USDOT number and MC authority, have your insurance and BOC-3 filed, wait out the protest period, register UCR, IRP, IFTA and drug testing, then send a complete carrier packet to brokers that accept new authority and book your first load.
From USDOT number to first load
- 01
Set up the business
Form your LLC or corporation, get an EIN and open a business bank account, so the authority is in the right legal name.
- 02
Apply for USDOT and MC authority
Register with FMCSA for a USDOT number and for-hire operating authority (your MC number). Check every answer before you submit; mistakes cost weeks.
- 03
File insurance and BOC-3
Your insurance agent files proof of liability coverage with FMCSA, and a process agent files your BOC-3. Authority cannot go active without both.
- 04
Wait out the protest period
FMCSA posts your application for a protest period. Use the time to prepare your broker packet, choose a factoring company and set up your ELD.
- 05
Register UCR, IRP, IFTA and drug testing
Interstate carriers register for UCR, IRP plates and an IFTA account in their base state, and join a drug and alcohol consortium before the first load.
- 06
Get set up with brokers and book the first load
Send one complete carrier packet to brokers that accept new authority, then book loads that leave you in a good market for the next one.
How to get loads with a new MC → Dispatch for new authority →
Who you pay, and for what
Government fees, insurance and taxes are paid directly by you. Our help is optional.
| Item | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FMCSA registration | FMCSA | Paid when you apply. FMCSA lists the current fee on its website. |
| BOC-3 process agent | A process agent company | Usually a small one-time fee. |
| Liability and cargo insurance | Your insurance company | Down payment plus monthly premium; depends on your truck, driving record and lanes. |
| UCR, IRP plates and IFTA | Your base state and UCR | Depends on the number of trucks and the states you run. |
| MC authority setup help | Texas Solutions | $275 one-time, optional. We check and file in the right order. |
| Dispatch | Texas Solutions | First load free, then a percentage of gross by truck type. No setup fee. |
Checklist before your first load
- Active MC authority and USDOT number
- Certificate of insurance listing auto liability and cargo
- W-9 in the legal business name
- Notice of assignment, if you use factoring
- Copy of your CDL (owner-operator)
- Voided check or ACH details
- ELD installed and working
- Drug and alcohol consortium enrollment
- Signed dispatch agreement
Haul now with an MC lease
Lease on to an established partner carrier's authority, with dispatch included, while your own MC is processed.
How new MCs keep the truck loaded
Start where new MCs get booked
Some brokers accept brand-new authority; many wait a few months. Target the first group from day one.
Keep the packet ready
One clean PDF with authority, W-9, COI and notice of assignment gets you set up in minutes.
Do not chase every cheap load
Know your cost per mile and walk away from loads that do not cover it.
Deliver perfectly
On-time pickups, quick check calls and clean paperwork are how brokers decide to rebook you.
Read next
How to Get Your MC Number and Trucking Authority
Step-by-step guide for new owner-operators: USDOT number, MC operating authority, BOC-3, insurance filing, UCR, and what to set up before you haul.
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How to Get Loads With a New MC Number: A Guide for New Authority Carriers
How to get loads with a new MC number: broker setup packet checklist, brokers that accept new authority, first lanes and new authority dispatch.
Read article →
How to Start a Trucking Company and Get Loads With New Authority
How to start a trucking company step by step: USDOT and MC, BOC-3, UCR, insurance, IRP/IFTA, ELD, factoring, broker setup and loads on new authority.
Read article →
How to Become an Owner-Operator: Lease-On or Your Own MC
How to become an owner-operator: CDL and experience, lease-on vs your own MC authority, choosing a truck, startup cash and getting your first loads.
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How to Start a Box Truck Business: Authority, Equipment and First Loads
A step-by-step plan to start a box truck business: picking a 26 ft truck, getting USDOT and MC authority, insurance, and booking loads with new authority.
Read article →
How to Start a Hotshot Business: Truck, Trailer, Authority and Dispatch
How to start a hotshot business: choosing a truck and gooseneck, CDL and weight rules, USDOT and MC authority, insurance, and finding a hotshot dispatcher.
Read article →New MC questions
How long does it take to get MC authority?
Many carriers see their authority go active a few weeks after applying, once insurance and BOC-3 filings are on record and the protest period has passed. Timelines vary, so check your status on FMCSA.
Can I get loads with a brand-new MC number?
Yes. Some brokers book new authorities from day one if your packet is complete and insurance is verified. A dispatcher who works with new MCs knows which ones.
What if I do not have my own authority yet?
You can lease on to an established partner carrier's authority with our MC lease program and haul while your own authority is processed.
Do you help with the filings?
Yes. MC authority setup is $275 one-time. Government fees, insurance and BOC-3 costs are paid directly by you.
Ready for your first load?
We work with new MC numbers from day one, and your first load is dispatched free.
Calculate your dispatch fee · Call · Text · WhatsApp · Request a callback