Getting authority

Get Authority to Operate (MC Number) | FMCSA

Your Own Authority. Your Own Insurance. | For Owner-Operators

https://www.blueridgetmllc.com/

3rd one is who I used.

 

www.fmcsa.us.dot.gov you can do it all yourself on line. cost 300.00. As soon as you apply, your phone will ring off the hook by people that seen your application published in the Federal Register and want to sell you their services for IRP, IFTA, process agents etc. Join OOIDA and as a member they will do the process agents for free. Plus they have help if you have questions.

 

Ooida

 

www.OOIDA.com

 

Ooida did mine.

You can do it yourself but for me it was just much better to let them do it. They do it every day all the forms are exactly right and if you have any question or problem they will take care of it. I think it was a little more than double what it would cost you to do it yourself.

For a $45 a year membership they offer a lot. Any problems you have or any questions about compliance or new rules or permits or anyting they can help you.

 

I'm conflicted on offering any advice on this. On the one hand, I applaud the OP for reaching out to the community for advice. It's good to see someone know their limitations and seek help. There's nothing better than learning from someone else's mistakes and not repeating them.

On the other had, and I really am not trying to be smarmy, the process is kind of a first trial of your business acumen. Those of us who've been operating for a while constantly complain about the quality of drivers and how it's too easy to get authority. This is the first step in the weed-out process. If you can't navigate this initial process, are you truly the right person to run a business?

So, I guess my advice is this: Do it yourself to prove you can actually navigate the FMCSA and other bureaucracy that is now your life as an O/O. It will give you more confidence in your ability to do this. And, you don't make money by throwing it away needlessly. True, sometimes you have to spend money to make money, but this is not one of those times.

 

I don't know if I agree with Michael. It's a lot to take at the beginning. I asked for help when I started initially then I researched, researched, and so on to become independent. Also, I did join OOIDA as well. They have a lot of information on hand if there is any need. Also, you will be getting reminders by third parties at the beginning. That helps because you don't need to use their services, but they provide some things you need along the way.

 

Just got my authority and did it myself with no business background. I utilized youtube, this forum, and ooida for questions. I'm laying in bed so I'm not going to check right now but this is roughly the process. I put insurance way down on the list but I would get a quote at the very beginning if you have any idea what kind of truck and cargo you'll be pulling.

1) Form LLC from your secretary of state website if that's the route you're going
2) get EIN from Irs.gov
3) fmcsa to do your application (mcs-150 but its really just a step by step online application) should cost $300 for a 1 man operation
4) BOC 3 filing. About $25 bucks anywhere online.
5) UCR filing
6) drug and alcohol consortium. Take a pass test
7) register for the clearing house. It is simple but make sure you watch ooidas video on youtube because there is one tricky part to link it with your fmcsa portal account.
8) find a truck
9) insure the truck (1 million liability and 100k cargo for most guys) and wait for authority to finish processing (takes like 3 ####ing weeks and requires active insurance, the ########)
10) IRP and IFTA

There is nuances to most of the steps above, like minimum 750k to start authority but most the people you pull for want 1 million. Paying off a years insurance up front will get a hefty discount with some companies giving 20% off if you do.
You'll also have 100 little things to do like open a business bank account, make sure your med card is good, have accounting software, spare log books, prepass/expass, ####ing Oregon permit, NY sticker, ####ing spottedlantern fly class(kill me), the list goes on forever and some things you can't even do until you get your truck itself. Anyway, good luck to anyone starting a trucking company!