Owner-operator resource hub
Start Your Owner-Operator Business
Starting under your own authority is a chain of filings, quotes, and cash-flow decisions. Use this hub to build the business in the right order, understand the real costs, and avoid the errors that delay activation.
Start with the numbers
Free calculators
Cost Per Mile Calculator
Free cost per mile calculator for owner-operators. Add fixed and variable costs to find your true break-even rate before you book a load.
Use calculatorOwner-Operator Salary Calculator
Free owner-operator salary calculator. Estimate annual gross, total costs, and take-home pay from your rate per mile and weekly miles.
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Templates & checklists
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How to Get MC Authority (Checklist)
Step-by-step checklist to get your MC authority as a new owner-operator: entity, EIN, USDOT, MC, BOC-3, insurance, and activation.
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Truck Insurance Requirements Checklist
Checklist of commercial truck insurance coverages a new authority typically needs, so you can get accurate quotes and file proof with FMCSA.
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Trucking Startup Cost Checklist
A complete trucking startup cost checklist so you budget every one-time and recurring cost before launching your authority.
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Lease Agreement Review Checklist
Free checklist for reviewing an owner-operator lease agreement before you sign on with a carrier. Know what to look for.
Learn the system
In-depth guides
Owner-Operator Startup Checklist: Authority to First Load
Every step to go from company driver to running under your own authority: MC number, insurance, IRP, IFTA, UCR, and your first booked load.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Trucking Company?
A realistic startup cost breakdown for a one-truck owner-operator authority: formation, FMCSA filings, insurance, plates, permits, and working capital.
Do I Need an LLC to Be an Owner-Operator?
What forming an LLC does and does not do for owner-operators, and the practical reasons many independent carriers choose one before getting authority.