Free book, 2027 edition
The New Authority, chapter by chapter
How to start a trucking company, survive year one and keep more of every mile. Each chapter answers one question, with the fees and rules checked at the source on 2026-10-29, a recording you can listen to and short official videos where they exist.
Want it as one PDF with the checklist and toolkit? Get the free book.
Part I: Launch (weeks 0-8)
Chapter 01: Decide Like an Owner
How do I know if I'm ready to start my own trucking company?An honest go/no-go check before you get your own authority: driving experience insurers want, CDL training rules, what freight pays, and the costs to plan.
Chapter 02: Build the Legal Machine
How do I set up the LLC, EIN and bank account for a new trucking company?Set up a new trucking company in the right order: name check, LLC filing, free EIN from the IRS, business bank account, state tax IDs and legal truck parking.
Chapter 03: The Paperwork Gauntlet
How do I get my USDOT number, MC number and operating authority in 2027?Every federal filing for a new trucking company, in order: Motus, the $300 authority fee, BOC-3, insurance deadline, 2027 UCR fees, IRP, IFTA and Form 2290.
Chapter 04: Money Before Miles
How much does it cost to start a trucking company in 2027?Itemized 2027 startup costs for a one-truck authority: FMCSA $300, UCR $55, Form 2290 up to $550, insurance down payment and a 3-month cash reserve.
Part II: Survive (months 1-18)
Chapter 05: The Coverage Stack
What insurance does a new trucking company need?The federal floor is $750,000 of liability, but brokers want $1 million plus cargo. The full coverage stack for a new trucking authority, layer by layer.
Chapter 06: The Underwriter's Scorecard
How do underwriters price insurance for a new trucking authority?Seven factors decide a new authority's truck insurance premium: safety record, driver MVRs, garaging, radius, commodity, equipment and coverage gaps.
Chapter 07: Stay Off the Radar
How do I keep my CSA scores clean as a new trucking company?How SMS scores new carriers, why clean inspections help, how to challenge bad data in DataQs, and what the new entrant safety audit checks in its first year.
Chapter 08: Loads or It Didn't Happen
How do I find loads and set rates as a new trucking company?Start with brokers and load boards, never haul below your cost per mile, vet every broker before you haul, plan backhauls, and build direct shipper accounts.
Part III: Scale (year 2 and on)
Chapter 09: Drivers Are the Business
How do I hire and screen truck drivers for my new trucking company?What to run before a driver turns a wheel: MVRs, PSP, Clearinghouse queries, English proficiency, the DQ file the rule requires, and how pay compares to BLS.
Chapter 10: The Ops Stack
What ELD, dashcam and telematics do I need for my trucking company?What the ELD rule requires in the cab, how dashcam video helps clear not-preventable crashes, which truck tech rules are not law, and how insurers use data.
Chapter 11: Run It By the Numbers
How do I calculate cost per mile for my trucking company?Add a month of truck costs and divide by miles driven. See how your number compares to ATRI's 2025 average of $2.336 per mile and why it's not your floor.
Chapter 12: The Long Haul
How do I build a trucking company that lasts and can be sold?Document shippers, name a backup, keep clean books, and protect your safety record with annual MVR reviews, Clearinghouse queries, PSP checks and DataQs.
Ready to price your first policy?
Send us your plan and we will quote it with the markets we work with that write new authorities.
Get a quote