How to Start a Trucking Company
Get your authority, insurance, and first load in 60–90 days.
Trucking is a licensing-heavy business — the paperwork is what stops most people, not the driving. This roadmap gets you legally on the road with the software to actually stay profitable.
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- 1
Validate the lane
ValidationDecide freight type (dry van, reefer, flatbed, hotshot) and target lanes. Talk to 5 brokers before spending money.
- 2
Form an LLC
LegalRegister a single-member LLC in your operating state for liability protection. Budget $50–$500 depending on state.
- 3
Get your USDOT and MC number
LegalFile through FMCSA. Budget $300 for the MC application plus BOC-3 filing.
- 4
Commercial insurance
InsuranceGet quotes for liability + cargo + physical damage. Expect $8,000–$14,000/year for a new authority.
- 5
Buy a domain and website
WebsiteEven a one-truck operation needs a professional web presence for brokers and shippers. Hostinger's Website Builder gets you online in an afternoon.
🟣Recommended toolHostinger — Fast, affordable web hosting with a beginner-friendly control panel. - 6
Business email and phone
CommunicationsSet up a real @yourcompany.com email and a business line. Brokers won't call gmail addresses back.
- 7
Set up a CRM for broker relationships
CRMTrack every broker you've worked with, rates paid, and lane history. HubSpot's free CRM does this without any monthly cost.
🧡Recommended toolHubSpot — All-in-one CRM covering sales, marketing, and customer service. - 8
Dispatch and load-board access
OperationsDAT or Truckstop subscription. Budget $150/month.
- 9
Bookkeeping and factoring
FinanceSet up QuickBooks and a factoring relationship — 30–60 day pay from brokers will otherwise kill cash flow.
- 10
Run your first three loads
LaunchPrice them at market, deliver on time, and ask for a review. Reputation compounds fast in trucking.