Start a Trucking Company in Eight Steps

Step 1: Write a business plan

Just like you’d begin a new job with a fresh perspective and set of goals, you’ll also want to start your new trucking company with an organized plan. A business plan is your roadmap to success and can be refined as your business grows. It helps you get organized, identify goals, articulate your value proposition, and presents potential obstacles down the road.

Writing a business plan might seem like a lot of work. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Download our business plan template to help you get organized and on the right track.

Step 2: Legally establish your company

Operating your trucking company as a properly structured corporation or Limited Liability Company (LLC) sets boundaries between your personal assets and business liabilities. In addition to protecting your personal property as a business owner, incorporating offers several legal, tax, and business advantages. Use our Business Startup Wizard to decide which structure is the ideal fit for your new trucking company.

When you form a corporation or LLC, you will need to take the following steps:

• Appoint a registered agent. A registered agent is the state’s way of communicating with a business entity and is required by law in most states. As the official point of contact for the secretary of state, the registered agent must be present at a physical address (not a P.O. Box) to sign for and receive legal notices, state mandates, wage garnishments, and tax documents during specific business hours. It is critical for registered agents to be consistently accessible. A missed delivery could jeopardize your company’s good standing with the state or enable a lawsuit to proceed against you without your knowledge.
• Obtain your EIN to open a bank account. Your employer identification number, or EIN, is like a social security number for your business. This nine-digit number is required to open a business bank account and must be present on all tax filings for the life of your business.

We can help: Our incorporation specialists teams can help you start an LLC or corporation, obtain an EIN, and serve as your business’s registered agent.

Step 3: Obtain necessary business licenses and permits

Most state, county, and local governments require companies to have the right licenses and permits in place before they open their doors. There are more than 150,000 filing jurisdictions across the country, all with independent requirements. Depending on your service and where you operate your trucking company, any number of licenses and permits may apply to your business.

Every owner-operator should determine if the following items are required to run a successful trucking company:

• A commercial driver’s license (CDL) and any necessary endorsements: Federal law requires drivers of commercial motor vehicles to obtain a CDL. Contact your state’s licensing agency for more details.
• A USDOT number: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses trucking companies’ unique USDOT number to identify the company when conducting inspections, audits, and investigations.
• A Motor Carrier Operating Authority (MC number): You may need to obtain more than one MC number for your trucking business, depending on your business operations.
• A BOC-3 filing: Every motor carrier, broker, and freight forwarder is required to designate a process agent that can file Form BOC-3, or blanket of coverage, on their behalf with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA). Only one completed form may be on file and it must include all states for which agency designations are required. One copy must be retained by the carrier or broker at its principal place of business. As a process agent in all 50 states, our CSC team can handle your BOC-3 filing(s).
• International Registration Plan (IRP) credentials and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decal: Trucking companies offering services in or across multiple states must obtain IRP credentials and IFTA decals for their vehicles.

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Our team specializes in BOC-3 filings and business license portfolio management across multiple jurisdictions.

Step 4: Buy or lease the right equipment

The proper equipment can make the difference between success and failure. When selecting equipment for your trucking company, consider the following items:

• Can the vehicle accommodate the needs of your cargo? For instance, if you are transporting perishable items, you might consider a refrigerated compartment.
• Is buying or leasing equipment a better option for your new business?

This is an opportune time to conduct additional research and leverage your network connections. Speak to professional truck drivers that have made the transition to owner-operator and take the time to compare options before you make a purchasing decision.

Step 5: Select the proper insurance coverage

As an owner-operator you will need to obtain business insurance for your new trucking company. The most effective way to secure the best premium is to contact several agents and consider the following options before you make a decision on a policy.

• Primary liability insurance
• Cargo insurance
• Physical damage insurance
• Passenger accident insurance

Step 6: Understand and track your income and expenses

A key factor in operating a successful business is creating a system to track income and expenses. Regarding transportation companies, this is especially important in terms of logistics, because payments are often received weeks or months after delivery, and it can be difficult to track expenditures while you’re on the road.

To help avoid common startup obstacles, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Subscribe to bookkeeping software or hire an accountant. Online accounting software like Xero can help you track your income and expenses even while you’re away from home. They can also help you find an accountant or bookkeeper to help keep you on track.
• Understand when and how you’ll be paid for deliveries. Shipping contracts often provide for payment 30 to 90 days after delivery. Such delays can be managed, but only if you are aware of them ahead of time.
• Maintain thorough records of business expenses. Keep a file of invoices, receipts, and check stubs so you can prove your expenses if necessary.
• Keep your personal and business finances separate. Maintain separate bank accounts for business and personal use.

Step 7: Find loads and grow your business

When you first start a trucking company, you’ll have find freight to transport. One option for new freight companies is to use load boards to find customers.

Another option would be to start building relationships with potential customers through marketing and networking efforts. Contact local shippers directly and meet prospective customers where they do business. A good place to start would be relevant small business trade shows or industry groups or the DAT Load Board for Truckers, available for download on Android and Apple operating systems.

Pro tip: Outsourcing and delegating administrative tasks will help you focus on what you do best to grow a successful business. At incorporate.com, our teams can manage regulatory business filings while you’re on the road, freeing you up to do what you do best.

Step 8: Stay in compliance

Owning and operating a business means staying up to date on time-sensitive filing requirements, ranging from IFTA’s quarterly tax returns to multi-year renewals for CDLs. Failure to keep up with these requirements can result in loss of good standing or significant penalties. This includes staying compliant with your state’s corporate reporting requirements. Failure to do so can cause the state to revoke your corporation’s or LLC’s existence. At incorporate.com, we offer business compliance packages to help you meet your business licensing and annual reporting requirements.

Ready to Start a Trucking Company?

Make it happen with incorporate.com―from formations to ongoing business filings, we help you stay on track as your business grows. We specialize in a range of business services, such as:

• Free Business Name Check
• Forming an LLC or Corporation
• Registered Agent Service
• Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Annual Reports
• BOC-3 filings
• Business License Research
• DBA “Doing Business As” Name
• Operating Agreements
• Bylaws
• Certified copies of LLC or corporation documents