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

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???

 

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...

 

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.