DOT Req's if I don't yet have Truck?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by braol, Jun 9, 2025 at 3:25 PM.

  1. braol

    braol Bobtail Member

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    I got my DOT and MC numbers just the other day. I have not yet bought a truck (and of course do not yet have 'active' authority). Questions: Since I don't have a truck and, thus, can't get insurance for it then I do not need a BOC-3 form, correct? While I can start to put together my own DQF (single owner/operator) it's not like they can audit this yet since I am not actively engaged in business, correct? Is there anything I actually need to file at this point, or is everything on hold until I begin operations and file the BOC???
     
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  3. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    No audit. You’re not active. I need for insurance for 3-6 weeks, until you get informed you’re good to go to get insurance.
    Call www.Ooida.com they’ll answer any questions.
     
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  4. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    Everything will be on hold until you file the BOC-3 and MCS-90 (insurance documents) because the FMCSA will not grant your final operating authority until insurance is active.

    You can file the BOC-3 anytime, don't need insurance for that, and while you are waiting to buy your truck and get insurance you can gather the rest of your paperwork.

    Just don't wait too long because if you don't file insurance within 90 days of the date of the application for operating authority they will dismiss the application and you will have to start all over.

    Why did you put the cart before the horse and apply for authority without having a truck and being ready to roll? Most new motor carriers will have their truck lined up, a quote for the insurance and everything else set up before submitting the application. It only takes 21-28 days from submission to approval, if insurance is filed within that time frame.
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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  6. braol

    braol Bobtail Member

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    I was under the impression that I could apply for the DOT and MC numbers (I already have the LLC established) and that I would not need to designate a Process Agent or get insurance until I acquired a truck. It looks like you need to at least designate (via BOC-3 Form) an agent for any legal paperwork...I get that part. But it looks like you are saying that I am under the gun to actually purchase a truck and get it insured within 90 days? I did the DOT/MC# part because I wanted to take care of that ahead of time...I figured that evidence of a DOT and MC# would demonstrate serious intent to own/run a business when it comes to establishing a business bank account, etc...
     
  7. Sons Hero

    Sons Hero Road Train Member

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    yes, you do need to have insurance on a truck within 90 days. One option would be, if you have a pick up truck, register it to the business and put it on the business insurance. My insurance adjuster told me that some people have done that.
     
  8. brian991219

    brian991219 Road Train Member

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    Yes, 90 days from the application or the application is rejected and you start all over. Your DOT/MC numbers are some of the last things you do when starting a trucking company.

    I always advise someone wanting to start a trucking company to work somewhere first, learn the business, maybe even buy tjeir truck and lease onto a carrier tomlearn what it is like owning a truck b3fore jumping into the deep end.

    At least get an insurance quote, you.may be suprised at how expensive your first year will be.
     
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  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Just a suggestion

    go get a pickup truck, something like a 1999 ford f450, they are cheap. Call around for insurance on it, tell them you are going to use it for interstate work. Then get insurance and get it licensed to be legal. Then complete your boc3 and insurance formed for the dot to become active.

    once you get active, you can change the insurance up to a tractor level.
     
  10. braol

    braol Bobtail Member

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    That is what I am going to do...carry commercial insurance on my F-150 until the MC# is finalized and then file Form OCE-46 to temporarily revoke the MC# (I just contacted FMCSA). Then I can cancel the insurance, unless I've acquired a tractor by then. I am 50y.o. with a clean driving record so my insurance quote was pretty low (only $130/mo for basic 750k coverage). That beats having to pay another $300 and having to fill out all the paperwork again. Only $80 to reinstate a suspended MC#. I'll chalk it up to "lessons learned." I can at least share my experience with another new person. Nothing worse than doing the right thing, just to find out you had it backwards.

    Thanks to everyone who kindly answered my questions. Here's my situation and plan, because everyone probably thinks I'm a 22 y.o. who thinks he's going to buy a new truck and make a fortune his first month: I'm a 50yo retired Navy and Air Force member (27 years). I am a part-time manager in healthcare. Between being burned-out on healthcare and my wife being diagnosed with cancer, I decided I needed to do something different...so I went to CDL school. I drove trucks in the Air Force for 2 years before switching over to aircraft maintenance, and then college, health care, then the Navy... My idea is to buy a used truck (somewhere in the $50k price range) and be a carrier part-time on the side while keeping my 3-day-a-week healthcare gig, that way I still have my normal income stream as a buffer as I find my way into this new career. If all goes well, and once I have a decent maintenance cash reserve, than I'd like to do trucking as my main gig. My son is 17 and is interested in trucking as a career so this might be a chance to do this together as he learns and eventually takes it over...or maybe get a 2nd truck. I realize that trucking is most likely just a different kind of stress than what I do now but sometimes you need a fresh direction in life to keep things interesting. The only reason I haven't bought a truck already is that nagging fear of a big maintenance bill on a used truck right out of the gate. I'm conservative by nature and have been doing a lot of research and asking a lot of questions of people in the industry. Thanks again to everyone who has offered constructive criticism.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
    Reason for edit: Additional Information.
    Sons Hero and blairandgretchen Thank this.
  11. Ruthless

    Ruthless Road Train Member

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    File your articles of incorporation or dba- take that filing and open your bank account with a deposit of your investment capital
    Thats how you open a business bank account/ then ask your financial institution what it takes to get a $50k line of credit

    we don’t know what we don’t know until we know it
     
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