The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) charges truckers $300 for filing and issuing an operating authority. This fee includes the registration of your USDOT and MC number. Reinstating an existing authority costs $80, and requesting a name change on the paperwork has a meager $14 fee.
Filing an operating authority costs less than $500 in total, but the process comes with several hidden fees, including:
Do not blindly jump into getting an operating authority. While owner-operators get to keep 100% of their profits, they also take responsibility for running every aspect of their business. Qualifying for an owner authority is one thing, but becoming an owner-operator is another.
Reassess your trucking business multiple times before pulling the trigger. Ensure that you have a great network of shippers and brokers, understand what loads you want to take on, and have designated professionals running your different departments.
Did you decide to continue leasing to a motor carrier in the meantime? Let Assured Standard help with your insurance. Check out our piece explaining the insurance requirements on a leased carrier.
Arthur Williamson graduated with a degree in Business and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. He is knowledgeable about what small and big businesses require to keep operations moving.