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???
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.
Page 1 of 2
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
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.tscottme, Chinatown and Old_n_gray Thank this. -
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.tscottme, Iamoverit, Ruthless and 1 other person Thank this. -
-
-
tscottme, Sirscrapntruckalot, blairandgretchen and 1 other person Thank this.
-
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.tscottme Thanks this. -
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.tscottme, Sirscrapntruckalot, Sons Hero and 2 others Thank this. -
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. -
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 ittscottme, BoostedTeg, Sons Hero and 2 others Thank this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 2