Free · real government fees
What does it cost to start a trucking company?
Pick your setup. The government fees fill in. Add your own insurance and truck quotes.
- USDOT numberFMCSA charges nothing.$0
- MC operating authorityFMCSA’s application fee.$300
- Filing serviceWe file it. A USDOT number alone is free.$99
- UCR registrationSet by how many trucks you run.$55a year
- Heavy vehicle use taxForm 2290. $550 a truck at 75,000 lb; less below.$550a year
- Drug and alcohol consortiumThe random testing pool for CDL drivers.$99a year
- Pre-employment drug testEach CDL driver, before the first trip.$69
To get rolling
$1,172
Not included: insurance down payment, truck down payment, plates and IFTA, state LLC fee. $704 of it is due again every year.
Fees: FMCSA, the UCR Plan (2027) and IRS Form 2290.
Startup cost questions
How much does it cost to get your own authority?
FMCSA charges $300 for operating authority and nothing for the USDOT number. With our filing and the UCR fee, it is $454 in total for 1–2 trucks, before insurance.
What is the biggest cost of starting a trucking company?
Insurance and the truck. FMCSA sets how much coverage you need, not the price, so get quotes before you file.