Trucking · Startup Guide

The Federal Setup Guide

Everything the federal government requires before you can legally haul, in the order you actually do it — what to do, who to call, what it costs, and what happens if you get the sequence wrong.

49 CFR cited throughout FMCSA, IRS, UCR contacts verified Applies in all 50 states
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Startup Guide · PDF download

How to Start a Trucking Business

The Federal Setup Guide — start to finish

One-time purchase. Instant download. Yours to keep.

  • Decide what you're operating
  • USDOT number and operating authority
  • Insurance
  • Drug and alcohol testing
  • Hours of service and ELDs
  • The New Entrant Safety Audit
  • and more

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What this is, plainly

This is a guide, not a filing service and not legal advice. It explains what each federal requirement is, why it exists, what it costs, and exactly who to contact — so you can do it yourself instead of paying someone a percentage to do it for you.

What ownership actually pays

The difference between driving and owning

What operators keep after fuel, maintenance, insurance, and the truck payment.

$71,808
average owner-operator net income in 2025, after all business expenses
$166,000
what the top third of owner-operators averaged
$58,640
median wage for a driver on someone else's payroll
91.5%
of U.S. motor carriers run ten trucks or fewer
~580,000
active motor carriers registered with FMCSA
$2.34
average cost to operate a truck per mile — the number you price loads against

Industry sources, current as of 2025–2026. Figures change — verify current data before you rely on it.