Trucking Compliance Hub
Straight answers on the filings that keep your wheels turning, the brokers you haul for and the money you keep. Each guide starts with the short answer, then gives you the steps and a checklist. Free, no signup.
Authority & filings
- MC number activationHow long does it take for an MC number to become active?A new MC number usually becomes active about 3 to 4 weeks after FMCSA grants it. Before it activates, your insurer must file proof of liability coverage (BMC-91 or BMC-91X), a process agent must file your BOC-3, and the 10-day protest period must pass. You cannot haul interstate for-hire freight until the authority shows active.Read the guide
- IFTA quarterly filingWhen are IFTA quarterly returns due?IFTA returns are due the last day of the month after each quarter: April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. You report total miles and fuel bought in every member jurisdiction, file even if you didn't drive that quarter, and pay any net tax due. Late returns cost $50 or 10% of net tax, whichever is greater.Read the guide
- MCS-150 biennial updateWhen is my MCS-150 biennial update due?Every USDOT number holder must update the MCS-150 every two years, even if nothing changed. The last digit of your USDOT number sets the month (1 is January, 0 is October), and the next-to-last digit sets the year: odd digit, odd years; even digit, even years. Missing it can deactivate your USDOT number.Read the guide
- BOC-3 filingWhat is a BOC-3 filing?A BOC-3 is the FMCSA form that names a process agent in every state where you operate, someone who can accept legal papers for your company. Carriers, brokers and freight forwarders need it before their operating authority can activate. It's usually filed electronically by a blanket process-agent company for a one-time fee and doesn't need renewing.Read the guide
- UCR registrationWhen is UCR registration due?Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) is an annual fee for interstate carriers, brokers, freight forwarders and leasing companies. Each year's registration opens around October 1 and must be paid by December 31 for the next calendar year, when enforcement begins. Carrier fees are tiered by fleet size, from 0-2 vehicles up to 1,001 or more.Read the guide
- Form 2290 (HVUT)When is Form 2290 due?IRS Form 2290 reports the Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax for trucks with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. The tax period runs July 1 to June 30, and returns for trucks used in July are due August 31. A truck first used later is due by the end of the month after first use.Read the guide
- Motus loginHow do I log in to Motus and claim my USDOT number?Go to motus.dot.gov and sign in with Login.gov, then complete FMCSA's one-time identity verification. To claim an existing USDOT number, use the same Login.gov email you used as Company Official in the FMCSA Portal, enter the emailed verification code, then review and certify your company information.Read the guide
- DOT medical cardHow long is a DOT medical card good for, and how do I renew it?A DOT medical card lasts up to 24 months. Drivers with insulin-treated diabetes or a vision exemption need a new exam every 12 months, and the examiner can certify you for less. Renew by passing a new DOT physical with an examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry before the date printed on your card.Read the guide
Brokers & getting paid
- Vetting a freight brokerHow do I check if a freight broker is legitimate?Look up the broker's MC or USDOT number on FMCSA and confirm active broker authority plus a $75,000 bond (BMC-84) or trust fund (BMC-85) on file. Call the phone number on the FMCSA record, not the one in the email, to confirm the load. Be cautious with new authority, mismatched contact details or above-market rates.Read the guide
- Freight broker scamsHow do I avoid freight broker scams?Check every broker before you haul: active broker authority and a $75,000 bond or trust fund on file with FMCSA. Call the phone number on the FMCSA record, not the one in the email, to confirm the load. Walk away from above-market rates with pressure to load now, changed payment details, or a shipper who doesn't recognize the broker.Read the guide
- Broker bond claimHow do I file a claim against a freight broker's bond?Find the broker's surety company on its FMCSA Licensing & Insurance record and make sure that bond was active on your delivery date. Send the surety a written claim with copies of the rate confirmation, bill of lading, signed proof of delivery, invoice and your payment requests. The $75,000 is shared by every carrier who files.Read the guide
- Broker didn't payWhat do I do if a freight broker won't pay me?Resend the invoice with signed proof of delivery, then send a written demand with a deadline. Check the broker's FMCSA record, and if a bond was active on your delivery date, file a claim with that surety. Keep every document, report fraud to FMCSA, and consider small claims court or an attorney for larger amounts.Read the guide
Rates & money
- Good rate per mileWhat is a good rate per mile for an owner-operator?A good rate covers your all-in cost per mile, including deadhead, plus the profit you need. Work out your break-even rate first, add your profit goal, then judge each load by its total pay divided by loaded plus empty miles. Market averages help you negotiate, but only your own costs tell you if a load pays.Read the guide
- Deadhead miles costHow do I calculate what deadhead miles cost me?Multiply your empty miles by your cost per mile. Fuel, maintenance and tires add up on every empty mile, and fixed costs like the truck payment and insurance are spread over all your miles. To judge a load, divide its pay by loaded plus deadhead miles, not by loaded miles alone.Read the guide
- Factoring vs quick payShould I use freight factoring or broker quick pay?Quick pay is a broker's offer to pay one load early for a fee. Factoring is a contract with a company that buys your invoices from many brokers and pays you fast. Quick pay keeps you flexible load by load; factoring gives steady cash flow, but read the contract for fees, recourse, minimums and how to cancel.Read the guide
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