Startup Carrier Compliance Package

Your DOT Number is issued immediately after the application is submitted. You receive the DOT Number right away, but it is not considered “active” for for-hire operations until your authority is granted.

Your MC Number follows a mandatory FMCSA process. Once the application is published, there is a required protest period and processing window. Even with insurance and BOC-3 filed immediately, your MC authority cannot go active sooner than about 21 days.
If insurance or other filings are delayed, the activation timeline can run closer to 30–45 days.

As part of this package, we make sure all filings are submitted on time and correctly so your authority activates as soon as possible.

No. You cannot legally operate as a for-hire carrier until your MC authority is active.
Even though your DOT Number is issued immediately, you are not allowed to haul freight for compensation during the 21-day FMCSA waiting period.

You must wait until:

• Your 21-day protest period has passed 
• Your insurance is on file 
• Your BOC-3 is filed 
• The FMCSA officially sets your authority to Active
   

Operating before this point can result in fines or an involuntary revocation.

As part of this package, we monitor your filings and notify you the moment your authority becomes active so you can begin hauling immediately.

Yes. Your insurance must be filed with the FMCSA before your authority can be activated.

Here’s how it works:

• Your insurance agent files Form BMC-91 or 91X 
• The filing must be submitted before Day 21 
• Your MC authority will not activate until the FMCSA receives and processes the filing
   

If your insurance filing is late or incorrect, your activation date will be delayed.
This is the #1 reason carriers get stuck past the 21-day mark.

We coordinate directly with your insurance provider to ensure your filing is submitted on time and your authority activates as quickly as possible.

The FMCSA requires new carriers to have active insurance on file before your MC number can go active, even though you cannot haul freight during the 21 day protest period.

Many new carriers are frustrated by this, and it creates a situation where you are paying for insurance before you are legally allowed to operate. Here is why it works this way:

Why the FMCSA requires insurance early

• The FMCSA will not activate your operating authority unless your insurance company submits the required BMC-91 or BMC-91X filing. 
• The insurance filing must be submitted before the end of the mandatory 21 day waiting period or your activation will be delayed. 
• Insurance companies cannot submit this filing unless your policy is active and paid.
   

Why this results in paying for days you are not operating

Once your insurance policy goes active, your insurer begins the policy term. They do not pause billing during the FMCSA waiting period.

Most carriers end up paying for two to three weeks of insurance before they can legally operate because the FMCSA will not activate your authority without the insurance filing already on record.

The good news

As part of this package, we help you coordinate the best possible insurance start date so you are not paying any earlier than necessary.

We also monitor your filings daily and make sure your authority activates as soon as the FMCSA allows.

If your insurance company does not file your coverage with the FMCSA on time, your authority activation is delayed.

The FMCSA will not activate your MC number until both of these are on file:

• Insurance (Form BMC-91 or BMC-91X)
• BOC-3 filing

If either one is missing when the 21-day processing period ends, your authority will not go active.

If too much time passes with missing filings, the FMCSA will dismiss your application entirely, which means you must start the process again and pay new fees.

As part of this package, we monitor your insurance filing and BOC-3 to prevent delays and keep your authority moving forward.

After your MC application is submitted, the FMCSA publishes your application in the Federal Register.

Once it is published, a mandatory 10-day protest period begins.

This gives other carriers an opportunity to challenge your application. Protests are extremely rare, but the waiting period is required for every new entrant.

Even though the protest window is only 10 days, the FMCSA holds the application in a pending status for a total of 21 days.

This is why no carrier can go active sooner than the 21st day, even if all filings are submitted immediately.

The protest period is built into the 21-day timeline, not added on top of it.

Your DOT Number is a safety identifier.

It is issued immediately after your application is submitted and is used for inspections, audits, drug and alcohol compliance, and all safety-related records. The DOT Number itself is not considered active for for-hire work until your authority is granted.

Your MC Number is your for-hire operating authority.

It is what allows you to haul loads for compensation across state lines. The MC Number requires insurance filings, a BOC-3, and the mandatory 21-day waiting period before it can become active.

In simple terms:

• DOT Number = safety and compliance ID
• MC Number = permission to operate as a for-hire carrier

Both are required for interstate trucking.

You can check the status of your authority anytime in the FMCSA Licensing and Insurance (L&I) system.

If your status shows:

• Pending Insurance
• Pending BOC-3
• Not Filed
• Application Under Review

then something has not been submitted or processed yet.

The most common causes of delays are:

• Insurance company has not filed the BMC-91 or BMC-91X
• BOC-3 filing was not completed
• Incorrect information on the application
• Missed FMCSA paperwork deadlines

As part of this package, we track your filings, verify that everything is accepted by FMCSA, and notify you if anything needs attention before it causes a delay.

Yes. Every driver operating under your DOT number is required to have a complete DQ file, including you. This means you must complete a DOT application, obtain MVRs from all states where you have been licensed in the last three years, document your medical certificate, and meet all Clearinghouse and safety history requirements. 

A proper DQ file helps you stay compliant during audits and proves that you meet the same standards as any other driver. Our Startup Package includes complete DQ file setup so you don’t have to guess what belongs in it.

The FMCSA Clearinghouse is the federal database that tracks drug and alcohol program violations for CDL drivers.

Every new carrier must register so they can run required queries and stay compliant.

Registration is mandatory for all employers of CDL drivers, even if you are the only driver. We help you get registered correctly and connected to your drug and alcohol program.

For first time drivers under your authority, you are responsible for reviewing their driving and safety history before they get behind the wheel.

• The MVR is required. You must request a Motor Vehicle Record from each state where the driver has been licensed in the past three years and keep those in the DQ file.
   
• The PSP report is optional, but many carriers use it to see a driver’s past crashes and roadside inspections in one place. It is a useful tool during hiring and during audits.
   

New carriers often are not sure when to order these reports or how to document them correctly. As part of this package, we help you set up a repeatable process so your driver files are ready when FMCSA looks at them.

You can hire and onboard drivers before your MC authority becomes active, but they cannot operate a CMV under your authority until activation.

You are allowed to prepare their DQ files, run background checks, set up drug testing, and complete onboarding tasks ahead of time.

Most carriers use this window to get paperwork in order so they can start moving freight as soon as the MC goes active.

You must have your Drug and Alcohol program fully established before you or any driver performs a safety-sensitive function (driving). 

This includes joining a consortium (if you are an owner-operator), adopting a company policy, and receiving a negative pre-employment drug test result.

Federal regulations strictly prohibit a driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle until the negative pre-employment test result is physically on file. If you haul your first load before this result is received, you are in violation of FMCSA safety regulations.

MIS stands for Management Information System reporting.

It is a yearly summary of your drug and alcohol testing activity.

Most new carriers do not have to submit MIS reports during their first year unless the FMCSA sends a written request.

After your first year, you may be selected at random, and if so, the report becomes mandatory.

We maintain your records in a way that allows MIS reporting to be completed quickly and accurately if you are ever selected.

 If you will be running CDL vehicles that require logbooks, then yes.

You must have a compliant ELD in place before you begin operating. FMCSA does not require you to buy the device before your authority activates, but you do need it installed and set up before your first trip.

We help you choose a compliant system and make sure it is configured correctly so you are ready for your first day on the road.

The FMCSA does not recommend specific ELD brands, but there are major differences in reliability, customer service, ease of use, and audit readiness. Many new carriers choose the cheapest option they can find, but low-quality ELDs often freeze, drop data, or create avoidable violations.

It is also important to check the FMCSA’s ELD Revocation List.
If an ELD is removed from the approved list, carriers using that device are responsible for replacing it and may receive violations if they continue operating with it.

We help you select an ELD that fits your operation, stays compliant with FMCSA standards, and avoids technology problems that can lead to citations or roadside delays.

Yes. During the New Entrant Safety Audit, the FMCSA evaluates two things: your records and your safety management controls.

If the auditor finds a mistake in a driver’s logs, even something small like a missing location or a form and manner error, they will ask how you instructed the driver to complete the log correctly.

If you have a written HOS policy, you can show that the issue was a driver mistake and not a failure in your system.

If you do not have a policy, the auditor can determine that your company lacks Adequate Safety Management Controls, which is one of the most common reasons carriers fail parts of the audit.

Most new entrants do not fail because of the log error itself. They fail because they cannot show proof of a structured compliance process. Our HOS policy gives you that proof and keeps you aligned with audit expectations.

Most new carriers fail for basic compliance gaps rather than serious violations. The most common issues include incomplete or missing DQ files, no evidence of pre-employment or annual Clearinghouse queries, no active drug and alcohol program, missing maintenance records, no accident register, and failing to produce required safety policies during the audit.

These are simple items, but the FMCSA expects them to be fully documented from your first day of operation. As part of this package, we establish the systems and documentation you need so your initial audit is clean and uneventful.

FMCSA requires carriers to have specific written policies in place before operating. These typically include a drug and alcohol policy, hours-of-service policy, ELD malfunction procedure, DVIR process, and a documented maintenance and inspection program. You must be able to produce these during the New Entrant Safety Audit.

Many new carriers wait to create these policies and end up failing the audit for not having them ready. Our New Entrant Package provides the required policies and ensures they match your operation so you are compliant before your first load moves.

If you fail the audit, the FMCSA will issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke your registration. To save your authority, you must submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) explaining the root cause of the failure and detailing the specific safety management controls you have implemented to prevent the violations from recurring.

If you do not submit an accepted plan within the strict deadline (usually 60 days), the FMCSA will revoke your operating authority and place your company Out of Service.

Many carriers fail simply because they lack the written policies and procedures required to demonstrate they are in control of their safety compliance. Our New Entrant Package provides the exact structure and documentation you need to pass the first time, avoiding the risk of revocation entirely.

The BOC-3 only needs to be filed once unless you change process agents. However, it must remain active at all times. If your process agent withdraws or their authority expires, your operating authority can be delayed or placed at risk.

New carriers often misunderstand this and think it renews annually. As part of this package, we ensure your BOC-3 is filed correctly and stays valid so your authority activates without delays.

If you plan to operate interstate, you must complete your Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) before your first trip. Running without an active UCR can result in enforcement action at roadside or during audits.

Many new entrants confuse UCR with IRP or IFTA and miss this requirement entirely. As part of this package, we handle your UCR filing and confirm it is active when your authority goes live.

Yes. FMCSA requires every motor carrier to have a documented maintenance and inspection program in place before operating. This includes preventive maintenance schedules, annual inspection documentation, repair tracking, and a clear DVIR process.

New carriers often assume maintenance files do not start until they have been operating for a while, which leads to audit failures. As part of this package, we build your initial maintenance files and provide the structure needed to meet FMCSA documentation standards.