FOR NEW MOTOR CARRIERS
You got your DOT authority.
Now what?
You did the hard part. But nobody handed you step two — just a stack of acronyms (BOC-3, UCR, Clearinghouse) and a New Entrant Safety Audit that can shut you down before your first load. Answer three questions and get your exact, in-order checklist — cited to the regulation. Then let us handle the parts that keep you compliant, so you can haul instead of chase paperwork.
YOUR PLAN
Tell us about your authority
Three quick questions — your authority type, your truck, and where you run.
Get your cited checklist
Your exact requirements, in order, each linked to the federal rule and official site.
We handle the hard parts
Consortium, Clearinghouse queries, and driver qualification files — run for you.
PERSONALIZED CHECKLIST
Tell us about your authority
Answer three questions and we'll generate your exact compliance checklist — cited to the federal regulation.
No states selected
Want to read through every step in detail? See the full DOT authority guide →
KEEP YOUR CHECKLIST CLOSE
Get your checklist by email
We'll send your personalized requirements so you can work the list at your own pace — and the compliance steps that trip up most new carriers, we'll run for you.
- FMCSA DOT drug testing consortium enrollment
- Driver Qualification File management
- FMCSA Clearinghouse queries & annual enrollment
BY STATE
Find your state's requirements
Pick a state and we'll rerun your checklist with that state's IRP, IFTA, and intrastate links. State-specific permit links appear right in your generated checklist above.
COMMON QUESTIONS
The questions new carriers actually ask
How long until my DOT authority is active and I can start hauling?
Plan on about three to four weeks. After you apply there is a 10-day protest period, then roughly a 20-day window to get your BOC-3 process agent and insurance on file — and it can take longer if FMCSA selects you for vetting. You cannot legally haul until your authority shows ACTIVE. (Despite the common "flat 21 days" answer you will see online, it is these two windows back to back.)
Source: FMCSA — get operating authority
I just got my authority — what do I actually have to do next?
In order: file your BOC-3 and insurance so your authority goes active; put your drug & alcohol program in place (join a consortium, pass a pre-employment test, register for the Clearinghouse, build your driver qualification file, get your DOT physical); register your truck (IRS Form 2290, IRP plates, IFTA); and pass your New Entrant Safety Audit within 12 months. The tool above builds your exact list with the official link for each step.
How much does it cost to get compliant?
It depends on your operation and how many trucks and drivers you run. The government filings — UCR, IRS Form 2290, and IRP plates — have official fees set by those agencies. Our compliance services (consortium, Clearinghouse queries, driver files, physicals) are quoted up front with no surprises; enroll and you will see your exact pricing before you pay.
What is a BOC-3?
It is a filing that names a process agent — someone authorized to receive legal documents for you in every state. Under 49 CFR Part 366 it must be on file before your authority goes active, and a registered process agent has to file it for you.
Source: 49 CFR §366
Do I need a drug & alcohol consortium if I am a one-truck owner-operator?
Yes. Under 49 CFR Part 382 an owner-operator cannot run their own random testing program — you must belong to a consortium / third-party administrator (C/TPA), and you need a negative pre-employment test before your first dispatch. We are your consortium.
Source: 49 CFR §382
Do I need both a USDOT number and MC (operating) authority?
It depends on what you haul. If you carry your own goods (private) or operate only within one state (intrastate), you generally need a USDOT number but not MC authority. If you haul other people’s freight across state lines for hire, you need both. Pick your authority type in the tool to see exactly what applies to you.
What is the New Entrant Safety Audit, and how do I pass it?
It is a safety review FMCSA runs within 12 months of you starting operations (49 CFR Part 385, subpart D). The single most common automatic failure is not having a drug & alcohol testing program — so staying enrolled in a consortium is the biggest thing that keeps you passing.
Source: 49 CFR §385 subpart D
Last reviewed June 2026 · cited to 49 CFR + FMCSA rules.
Ready to check the hardest boxes off your list?
You've got the plan. We'll run the parts that keep you compliant — the drug and alcohol consortium, driver qualification files, and FMCSA Clearinghouse queries — so you can get back to hauling.
Enroll in the consortium