Frequently asked questions

FMCSA processing times vary, but most new authorities are approved within a couple of weeks once your application, BOC-3, and insurance filing are all in place. Delays usually happen when one of those three pieces is missing.

You don't have to have one, but most owner-operators form an LLC first to separate personal and business liability. We can set up your entity and file your DOT/MC application together so the paperwork matches.

Your DOT number is your federal ID with FMCSA and applies to almost every commercial carrier. Your MC number is specifically required if you're hauling for-hire interstate freight across state lines.

A BOC-3 designates a process agent in every state you operate in. FMCSA won't activate your authority without one on file, and it has to line up with your insurance filing.

It depends on your equipment, freight type, driving history, and radius of operation, which is why we shop your risk across multiple carriers rather than quoting one flat number. Call us for a real quote based on your operation.

Yes, in most cases. Commercial auto liability covers damage or injury to others; it doesn't cover the freight you're hauling. Motor cargo insurance protects the load itself, which most brokers and shippers require before they'll dispatch you.

Non-trucking liability covers your truck when it's off-dispatch and not under a load — your primary auto liability policy typically excludes this. If you ever drive the truck personally or between loads, it's worth having.

You can start the process and get quoted before your MC number comes through, but your policy needs to be filed with FMCSA to activate your authority. We coordinate the timing so nothing sits waiting on the other.

Both. We place coverage for single-truck owner-operators as well as larger fleets, and we shop across carriers either way instead of locking you into one company's rate.

The MCS-150 is a biennial update to your FMCSA registration. Missing it can put your authority at risk, so we track the renewal window for clients we file for.

Yes — the Unified Carrier Registration renews annually for carriers operating across state lines. Operating on a lapsed UCR can result in fines during roadside inspections.

The International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) covers fuel tax reporting for interstate carriers. If you run across state lines, you'll need an IFTA license and to file quarterly fuel tax reports.

If your routes pass through Kentucky, yes — it's a separate weight-distance tax filing required regardless of where your business is based.

Through our app — it gives you 24/7 access to your active certificates so you can send proof of coverage to a broker or shipper without waiting for office hours.

No. Some clients use us for filings only, insurance only, or both. That said, keeping everything under one team usually means fewer gaps between your insurance filing and your FMCSA paperwork.

We re-shop and restructure your program as you add trucks, moving you from an owner-operator policy into a small fleet or large fleet program as needed — same point of contact throughout.