The Road Less Traveled

I have'nt put a load on the truck yet and I have already been uploading documents to the FMCSA. They sent me a letter about my audit and a list of what to upload, some of which I do not even have yet... I uploaded what I had completed at the time and will now add more to that list. So before I even start operating Im working on my audit.

 

FMCSA Limbo



Been about a week since my last post. I am currently in limbo as I have everything in place and just need the FMCSA to say it is ok to put freight on the truck. I have used this time to acquire chains, binders, tarps, straps, edge protectors, bungees etc. I found a guy on Craigslist who just wanted to get rid of his stuff so he handed it off for $350. That was a great deal and he threw in a pure sine wave power inverter, CB radio, glad hand air line with 50ft of hose and a tire pressure gauge...So Im not complaining. I needed to get a few more straps and Ill probably buy a 6 ft drop tarp.

I had the truck and trailerin the shop getting inspected and road ready and everything looks good to go. Im buying new T Handle latches so Ill be able to lock my trailer boxes and all the latches will be working correctly to secure the doors (there were a few that were rusted out). Buying a mattress for the truck this week and installing the inverter. Since I took a longer time then normal for me to get to this point I kind of expected to have to wait about two weeks for the FMCSA to catch up to me with paperwork so Im using this time to put the finishing touches on everything. Ill be 100% ready by Wednesday next week so if my timing is correct I hope to have active authority by Friday and start running a week from Monday.

 

Authority Update


I received a letter today from the FMCSA about my authority. It was exciting to open it because it would be right about the time Im expecting to have my authority approved. Ill quote the letter for you:

" The FMCSAs preliminary grant of operating authority in this proceding has become effective, but authority has not been issued because the applicant has not complied with the FMCSAs regulations for Insurance (liability form BMC-91)"

So apparently what happened is when I paid my down payment with my insurance company the deal was that they would issue my insurance and send my documents to teh FMCSA. So I waited patiently for my authority to be approved and I find out today that the insurance company dropped the ball! So I called the insurance company up and was stern but gentle, since I really need these papers filed... They are currently working on it.

I hope this does not delay the process.. Ill be ready to roll a week from today!

 

Uggh I hope it doesnt take that long.... Insurance company dropped the ball I feel like I would be active right now if it werent for that mess up.

In other news I received my IFTA stickers today..And completed my Pre-pass application. Every other area of this process is running smooth.

 

You are correct Red... I took Oscars advice and made sure I provided plenty of follow up phone calls only to find out the delay in me getting my authority was not on the top of their priority list. It's not a one day delay since I brought this to their attention it's a two week delay since the filings were supposed to be done right after I gave them a pretty sizable down payment. My phone calls were polite enough at first and then when I learned that the underwriters were filing the papers I got into the details as to why this was not already finished. I made sure they knew that on the date I got the letter saying my authority was denied it should have been my first day of operations... I also let them know that instead of fixed costs I now have carrying costs since a fixed cost would be a cost of doing business and right now Im not doing any business!