What does a new trucking authority actually cost?

Itemized

• USDOT registration

  $0

  Federal motor carrier registration

  FMCSA: no registration fee (49 CFR 360.3T)

• MC operating authority

  $300

  For-hire interstate authority application

  FMCSA fee, one-time per authority type

• BOC-3 process agent

  $40

  Designation of agents for service of process

  Market rate — most national agents charge $20–50

• UCR (Unified Carrier Registration)

  $167

  Annual federal-state fee, scaled to fleet size

  UCR fee for registration year 2027 (49 CFR 367.50), 3-vehicle bracket. Figures as of October 2026.

• IFTA decals

  $36

  Fuel-tax decals × 3

  Approximately $10–15 per power unit, varies by base state

• IRP apportioned plates

  $5,400

  Apportioned plates × 3 (estimate)

  IRP rates vary by base state and operating jurisdictions; range $1,500–3,500/unit

• Auto liability insurance

  $28,800

  Liability insurance filing (BMC-91 or BMC-91X), year 1

  For-hire interstate property carriers: $750K minimum federal liability (49 CFR 387.9); market rate $600–900/unit/month for a new authority

• Drug & alcohol consortium (C/TPA)

  $300

  DOT-compliant random testing program × 4 drivers

  Market rate — $50–200/year per CDL driver including random pool

• Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse queries

  $10

  Pre-employment + annual queries × 4

  FMCSA Clearinghouse — $1.25 per query

• ELD program (year 1)

  $1,830

  Electronic Logging Devices × 3 (hardware + 12 mo service)

  Market rate — $20–40/month per unit + $200–400 hardware

• HVUT (Form 2290)

  $1,650

  Heavy Vehicle Use Tax × 3

  IRS Form 2290: $100 at 55,000 lb taxable gross weight, plus $22 per 1,000 lb over that, up to $550 above 75,000 lb. Estimate assumes the maximum.