Owner-operators · Startup
Trucking authority startup cost estimator.
Three costs are set by the government: the FMCSA registration fee, the UCR fee and the Form 2290 tax. Everything else is a quote you have to get. Enter yours and see the total.
The official fees for one 80,000-pound truck first used in November 2026 are $721.67: $300.00 FMCSA registration, $55.00 UCR for 2027 and $366.67 in Form 2290 tax. Add your own quotes below for insurance, equipment and a cash reserve.
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Method and limits
Official fees. FMCSA lists a $300 filing fee for an application for motor carrier operating authority or USDOT registration (49 CFR 360.3 and 360.3T). The UCR fee comes from the bracket for your number of trucks and the registration year. The Form 2290 tax comes from the taxable gross weight and the month of first use, exactly as in the Form 2290 calculator and the UCR fee calculator.
Your lines. Insurance, BOC-3 agents, IRP plates, IFTA licences, state permits, trucks, trailers, ELDs and testing programs are priced by private providers and states, so the estimator has no built-in figure for them and starts them at zero. Federal rules require for-hire carriers of nonhazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more to carry at least $750,000 of public liability coverage (49 CFR 387.9); your insurer sets the actual premium.
Limits. Registration rules and fees change, and nothing here files anything. Check the FMCSA registration pages before you apply.
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Sources
- 49 CFR 360.3 and 360.3T, Filing fees (eCFR) (retrieved 2026-10-16): the $300 fee for an application for USDOT registration (360.3) and for motor carrier operating authority (360.3T); the eCFR shows both schedules and marks one suspended, and both list $300.
- FMCSA, Fees for the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement, final rule, 91 FR 56063 (Sept. 1, 2026) (retrieved 2026-10-16): UCR fees by fleet-size bracket for 2026 (49 CFR 367.40) and for 2027 and later (49 CFR 367.50), effective October 1, 2026.
- IRS, Instructions for Form 2290 (Rev. 07/2026) (retrieved 2026-10-16): taxable vehicles, when to file, e-filing for 25 or more vehicles, partial-period tables.
- IRS, Form 2290 (Rev. 7-2026), page 2 Tax Computation table (retrieved 2026-10-16): the annual tax by weight category A to V, and the logging-vehicle column.
- 49 CFR 387.9, Financial responsibility, minimum levels (eCFR) (retrieved 2026-10-16): the $750,000 minimum public liability for for-hire carriers of nonhazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more.
FAQ
How much does it cost to start a trucking company?
The government fees are small: $300 to FMCSA, a UCR fee from $46 or $55 for one truck, and Form 2290 tax of up to $550 a year per heavy truck. The big costs are the truck, insurance and the cash reserve, which depend on your quotes.
How much is the FMCSA fee?
The filing fee for an application for operating authority or USDOT registration is listed at $300 in 49 CFR 360.3 and 360.3T. Filing fees are not refunded once an application is accepted.
How much liability insurance is required?
At least $750,000 of public liability for for-hire carriers of nonhazardous property in vehicles of 10,001 pounds or more, under 49 CFR 387.9.
Why are insurance and BOC-3 not filled in?
They are priced by private providers and vary with your record, state and equipment. Enter a real quote instead of a guess.
Does this include an operating reserve?
Only if you enter one. A reserve line covers costs until your first payments arrive, so it is worth filling in.