Starting a new trucking company requires careful planning and goal-setting, just like starting a new job. A well-crafted business plan is essential for success, providing a roadmap for growth and helping you stay organized and focused. At Easy Truck Permits, we understand the importance of a solid business plan, and we’re here to help.

Structuring your trucking company as a corporation or LLC not only safeguards your personal assets from business liabilities, but also provides numerous legal, tax, and business benefits. To determine the optimal structure for your trucking company, try our Business Startup Wizard. Once you’ve decided on a structure, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent and obtain an EIN to open a bank account. Our team experts can assist with these processes, as well as serving as your registered agent..

To form a corporation or LLC for your trucking company, you will need to take the following steps:
Appoint a registered agent:
A registered agent is a crucial component of forming a corporation or LLC. They act as the state’s point of contact with the business entity and are required by law in most states. The registered agent must be present at a physical address, not a P.O. Box, during specific business hours to sign for and receive important legal notices, state mandates, wage garnishments, and tax documents. It’s essential for registered agents to be consistently accessible since a missed delivery could harm your company’s good standing with the state or allow a lawsuit to proceed without your knowledge.

Obtain your EIN to open a bank account:
Obtaining an EIN is an essential step in setting up your trucking company as it allows you to establish a separate identity for your business and helps to identify your business for tax and other legal purposes.
Our team experts can assist you with starting an LLC or corporation, obtaining an EIN, and serving as your business’s registered agent. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help you get your trucking company up and running smoothly.

To find customers for your trucking company, you can use load boards or build relationships through marketing and networking efforts. Load boards can be accessed easily online, while building relationships requires outreach and attending industry events. A good resource to find customers is the DAT Load Board for Truckers, available on Android and Apple operating systems.

This allows you to spend more time on revenue-generating activities, such as finding new customers and increasing your profits. By outsourcing administrative tasks to a trusted partner like Easy Truck Permits, you can also ensure that all regulatory filings are completed accurately and on time, helping you avoid costly penalties or legal issues. Focus on growing your business and leave the paperwork to us.

To operate a successful trucking company, every owner-operator should ensure they have the required licenses and permits in place. This is because most state, county, and local governments mandate companies to have the appropriate licenses and permits before starting operations. With over 150,000 filing jurisdictions in the country, each with its own unique set of requirements, it can be a daunting task to determine which licenses and permits 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.

Our team has extensive experience and expertise in BOC-3 filings and business license portfolio management across multiple jurisdictions. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can support your trucking company’s success.