Can I get my authority now?

Would it be possible for me to obtain my authority and other requirements now, before purchasing a truck, and having my CDL? I’m asking because if so I will do it and allow it to “season” so when I’m ready to go independent it’ll be established.

 

You would have to pay for insurance to have authority activated.
But you don't have the equipment, so I don't know how that would work.

 

Thanks. That’s the info I was looking for. Do you know if vehicle insurance is needed or is it general commercial insurance? If it’s regular commercial insurance, I have some in place already and can adjust it.

 

You can only get a DOT number. You can't get an MC# with out insurance.

 

Do you have a semi?

 

You need to get into the game with a cdl and driving for someone else.

the future is uncertain more now than ever.

 

You need to have insurance first. Which also means you have to have the truck first. But dont worry, getting the authority paper is quick and not difficult. And there are bureaus that will do it for you for free (just make sure they dont convince you to buy their premium services later).

 

You might start with Auto Liability for the truck with $750,000 if you don't drive it and have it parked. Most brokers will require $1,000,000 if you haul for them. But to be complaint you need to insure it for at least $750,000. Maybe the requirement minimum changed to $1,000,000. Please verify with your agent. That is why you need a truck to insure. You don't need a trailer to start your authority. Some might operate as Power only.

But there is a lot of paperwork involved aside from insurance, dot number, mc number. The DOT inspection will follow to see if you are complaint. That can happen within 12 months. Mine happened after two months! They might put you out of operations before you even start. So, you need to make sure you get what's needed.

The list below is for running interstate. You need a permit in your own state if running intrastate.

YOU NEED to ADD RANDOM DRUG POOL TESTING when you hire a driver (yourself). You need to choose a third party for that. Then pull out the MVR report on the driver hired, perform Prehire Medical Exam along with the Drug/Alcohol test along. When you get your own authority these are things you need to take care of. You don't need different state permits if you are not driving in KY or NY for example.
ADD To the list:
File MCS150, UCR, and run a drug consortiumClearing House query on the driver every year. You need one before you hire a driver and it needs to be a full report. After that, pull out partial report on yourself every year.
TALL JOY compiled a check list of things what an independent o/o needs to remember about in addition to things I mentioned above:

TALLJOE: The costs are my own. Yours may vary.

1. Truck IRP (plate registration) : $2000 every year +-
2. HVUT (Heavy Vehicle Used Tax) : $550 every year
3. UCR (Unified Code Registration) : $59.00 (+ 1.62 convenience fee if paid online) every year
4. IFTA filings : every quarter
5. IFTA renewal: $3.75 every year
6.Kentucky Weight Distance permit (KYU) - $0 - $30 every quarter
7.New Mexico Weight Distance permit - $0 - $75 every quarter
8. New York Weight Distance permit - $0-$50 every quarter
9. Insurance: every year
9.1. Auto Liability ($1million/$1000 deductible) : $6500
9.2. General Business Liability ($1 million/$1000 deductible): $250
9.3. Cargo Insurance ($100 000/$1000 deductible) : $ 1000
9.4. Physical Damage: ($40 0000 value / $2500 deductible): $ 1500
10. Biennial Report: $0. To be done at least once every two years.
11. Clearing House query: $1.25 per query every year
...anything else?.....

Important: UCR or Biennial Report fillings are easy to do on your own. I've had solicitation calls to offer to do them for me for as much as $100...




P.S.
I should also add that things such as: KY,NY,NM permits are not required if not operating there
also only Auto liability insurance is required per FMCSA (others such as Cargo, Physical Damage or Business Liability are needed per you business requirements only)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Work on your credit score and get experience driving to get lower insurance premiums, most likely Progressive. You can start here...

You need to keep a vehicle list, driver list, e-logs with receipts, annual vehicle inspections, driver application, all in your files.

 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 

You need to register a trailer only once. But you need to renew your truck's registration every year.

I forgot to mention that now DOT added a requirement for new CDL drivers to complete extra training. It is something new that just came out. I didn't mention it since it doesn't affect existing O/O drivers.