Carrier guides / Authority
Authority and Registration
USDOT numbers, operating authority, registration updates and the first steps required to start a carrier.
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Illustrated research, comparisons and practical decisions
USDOT vs. MC Number: Which Registration Do You Need?
Learn the difference between USDOT and MC numbers, who needs each registration, common exemptions, current Motus filing rules and startup mistakes.
Getting Your Own Trucking Authority: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow the current process to obtain trucking authority through Motus, including USDOT registration, insurance, BOC-3, activation and first-year compliance.
BOC-3 Filing: What New Motor Carriers Need to Know
Learn what a BOC-3 filing does, who submits it, how blanket process agents work, when updates are required and how filing errors affect authority.
UCR Registration: Who Must File and What It Costs
Learn who must register for UCR, the 2026 and 2027 fee brackets, fleet-count rules, deadlines, exemptions, enforcement risks and annual filing steps.
MCS-150 Updates: Deadlines, Changes and Common Mistakes
Calculate your MCS-150 biennial update deadline, learn how to file through Motus, correct carrier information and avoid USDOT deactivation.
Reinstating a Revoked Motor Carrier Authority
Learn how to restore revoked trucking authority, correct insurance and BOC-3 problems, reactivate a USDOT Number and verify active FMCSA status.
California Motor Carrier Permit (MCP): CA Number and Filing Guide
California trucking registration explained: MCP, CHP CA number, insurance proof, EPN and federal authority for interstate and intrastate carriers.
California CARB Truck Rules: Clean Truck Check and Truck & Bus
California heavy-duty truck compliance: Clean Truck Check testing, Truck & Bus engine rules and the changing Advanced Clean Fleets status, with CARB sources.
California IFTA and IRP Registration: Mileage and Tax Records
Learn how California-based carriers handle IFTA fuel-tax reports through CDTFA and IRP apportioned registration through DMV, including mileage records.
California Oversize and Overweight Truck Permits: Caltrans Guide
Plan California oversize and overweight truck moves with Caltrans permit eligibility, route checks, city restrictions and actual trip-cost budgeting.
Texas Intrastate Trucking Authority: TxDMV Registration Guide
Learn when Texas intrastate motor carrier registration applies, how TxMCCS and insurance filings work, and what interstate authority changes.
Intrastate or Interstate Authority? Choosing the Right Path
Learn whether your trucking operation is interstate or intrastate, which authority and USDOT registrations apply, and how cargo movements affect status.
Your First 90 Days With New Trucking Authority
Follow a 90-day trucking authority checklist covering activation, driver files, testing, ELD records, maintenance, insurance and safety-audit readiness.
IRP Apportioned Plates: Who Needs Them and How They Work
Learn who needs IRP apportioned plates, how base jurisdiction, cab cards, fees, mileage records, trip permits and renewals work for interstate carriers.
Form 2290 for Owner-Operators: Filing, Deadlines and Schedule 1
File Form 2290 correctly in 2026: who must file, HVUT tax rates, first-use deadlines, Schedule 1, e-file, suspension, used trucks and records.
Can You Buy or Lease a USDOT or MC Number? FMCSA Rules Explained
Understand FMCSA's 2026 rules on buying, selling or leasing USDOT and MC numbers, legitimate corporate transactions, authority transfers and ownership changes.
Lease On to a Carrier vs Own Authority: What Changes for an Owner-Operator
Compare leasing on to an authorized carrier with running under your own authority: control, compliance, insurance, freight access, cash flow and responsibility.
Hotshot Trucking Authority Requirements: USDOT, MC, CDL and Insurance
A practical hotshot compliance guide to USDOT and MC authority, CDL thresholds, ELD rules, drug testing, insurance and state credentials.
New York HUT Permit: Who Needs It, Decals, Trip Certificates and Filing
Check whether a truck needs New York HUT, when a trip certificate works, how tax methods differ, what miles count and when returns are due.
Kentucky KYU Number: Who Needs It, Tax Rate, Permits and Filing
Understand the KYU 59,999-pound threshold, Kentucky mileage tax, permanent and temporary permits, quarterly filing and zero-mile rules.
Oregon Weight-Mile Tax: 2026 Rules and the July 2027 Changes
A carrier-focused guide to Oregon weight-mile tax enrollment, 2026 rate tables, filing schedules, bond requirements and the July 2027 redesign.
New Mexico Weight-Distance Tax: 2026 Rates, Permit and Filing
Understand New Mexico WDT above 26,000 pounds, the annual electronic permit, quarterly returns, IRP interaction and the July 2026 rate increase.