New authority? Let's get you rolling — and broker ready.
From your first FMCSA filing to passing your safety audit, Marquee gives new carriers the coverage brokers require and the guidance to survive year one. We don't just sell policies — we educate.
Not active yet? We can quote new authority before you launch →
From idea to your first load, step by step
Getting your own authority is a checklist, not a mystery. Here's the path every new carrier follows in 2026 — and where Marquee takes the wheel.
Set up your business
Form your LLC or corporation, get your EIN from the IRS, and open a business bank account. This is the legal foundation brokers, factors, and lenders will check before they work with you.
Register with FMCSA in Motus
As of 2026, you register through FMCSA's new Motus system. Verify your identity with Login.gov, then apply for your USDOT number and for-hire operating authority in one dashboard.
~$300 per authorityDesignate process agents (BOC-3)
File a BOC-3 naming a legal process agent in every state you operate. A blanket filing company handles this in minutes — and it's required before your authority can activate.
Get insured & file your proof
Secure at least $750,000 in primary liability (most brokers want $1,000,000), plus cargo and physical damage. Your insurer files a BMC-91X and attaches an MCS-90 endorsement so FMCSA shows you as covered — without it, your authority stays pending.
Marquee handles thisRegister & plate your truck
Knock out your UCR registration, IRP apportioned plates, an IFTA fuel-tax license, and Form 2290 heavy-vehicle use tax. These keep you legal to run across state lines.
Build your compliance systems
Install an ELD, register for the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and join a testing consortium, and start your driver qualification files. A missing drug-and-alcohol program is the #1 reason new carriers fail their audit.
Pass your New Entrant Safety Audit
Every new carrier enters an 18-month FMCSA monitoring period, with a safety audit usually around months 9–12. It's a records review — driver files, ELD logs, maintenance, insurance, and your accident register. Pass it and your authority becomes permanent.
Book your first load & roll
With authority active and coverage on file, you can pull loads from brokers and load boards. Keep your records clean from day one — your second-year insurance rates will thank you.
The coverage that gets you active — and keeps loads moving
A new authority needs more than the federal minimum. Here's what activates your authority and satisfies the brokers you'll haul for.
Primary Auto Liability
Required for your authority. Covers injury and property damage you cause to others. Federal minimum is $750,000; most brokers require $1,000,000. Includes your BMC-91X filing and MCS-90.
Learn moreMotor Truck Cargo
Protects the freight you haul against loss, theft, and damage. Most brokers require at least $100,000 in cargo coverage before they'll tender you a load.
Learn morePhysical Damage
Comprehensive and collision for your tractor and trailer. Usually required if your equipment is financed or leased — it protects your biggest asset.
Learn moreNeed more than the basics?
Non-trucking liability, trailer interchange, occ/acc and more — see the full lineup.
View all coverages
In Progressive's Truck 25 Elite — the top 25 in the country
Most new authorities ultimately bind their coverage with Progressive — and Marquee places enough trucking policies with them to rank among their top 25 agencies nationwide. That earns us Truck 25 Elite status, with a direct line to Progressive's dedicated trucking service team. For a brand-new carrier, it means faster quotes, smoother claims, and someone who actually knows trucking when an issue needs to move — and it shows we know exactly what we're doing.
- Fast-pass access to Progressive specialists who know trucks — not boats, RVs, or motorcycles.
- Accelerated quoting and streamlined claims, so you get back on the road sooner.
- Quicker resolution on issues and escalations through our direct service line.
- Proactive renewal advocacy — 90–120 days out we re-shop your rate, and if Progressive isn't the best fit, we find another market.
Why new authorities pay more — and how to pay less
Year one is the most expensive year you'll ever insure. Here's the honest why, and the levers that actually move your premium.
Why year one runs high
- No safety history. Underwriters have no CSA scores or loss runs, so they price the unknown conservatively.
- New-entrant risk. New authorities see more early claims, and you're under FMCSA's 18-month microscope.
- Fewer markets. Not every carrier writes brand-new authority, which limits competition on your rate.
- Driver & equipment factors. Limited experience, older trucks, or a long radius all push the premium up.
How to bring it down
- Run clean MVRs and hire experienced drivers — records move your rate more than almost anything.
- Add safety tech — ELDs, dash cams, and a real safety program signal lower risk.
- Pick the right radius and commodity — staying regional and avoiding high-hazard freight keeps rates down.
- Raise your deductible or pay in full — both can meaningfully cut your premium.
- Survive year one clean — 12 months without claims plus renewal history is the biggest drop you'll see.
A specialist in your corner from day one
Trucking is all we do
We work exclusively with motor carriers and know exactly what brokers and load boards require — no generic-agent guesswork.
Markets that write new authority
Through 30+ A-rated carriers, we place new ventures other agents turn away — and shop them all for your best rate.
A partner through year one
From your BMC-91X filing to safety-audit prep, we guide you through the whole first year. We don't sell a policy and disappear.
We don't just sell you a policy and disappear. Our team has decades of combined experience in trucking, and we're committed to helping new authorities navigate their critical first year.
Plan your launch with the numbers in front of you
Starting a Trucking Company
The full step-by-step guide to getting your authority and getting rolling.
Get the guideInsurance Cost Guide
What actually drives a new authority's premium — and how to lower it.
Read the guideExpense Calculator
Model your cost-per-mile so you know your break-even before load one.
Run the numbersRequest DMV Records
Pull the driving records you'll need for your driver qualification files.
Request recordsWhat new carriers ask us most
How much does insurance cost for a new authority?
New ventures pay the most in year one — there's no safety history to price against, and fewer carriers write new authority. Your actual cost depends on your equipment, radius, commodity, and drivers. Marquee shops 30+ carriers to find your best rate; see our cost guide for ranges and the factors that move your premium.
What insurance do I need before my authority goes active?
At minimum, primary liability of $750,000 — most brokers require $1,000,000 — filed with FMCSA through a BMC-91X with an MCS-90 endorsement. Cargo and physical damage are usually required by brokers and lenders. Your authority won't activate until your liability filing posts with FMCSA.
Why is my first-year premium so high, and when does it drop?
Underwriters have no track record to price you on, and you're under FMCSA's 18-month new-entrant monitoring. After roughly 12 months of clean operation and a renewal with history behind you, most carriers see a meaningful drop in premium.
Do I still get an MC number in 2026?
Yes. As of 2026 you register through FMCSA's new Motus system, which issues your USDOT number and operating authority (still an MC/MX/FF prefix). FMCSA has proposed eventually consolidating authority under the USDOT number, but that change isn't final — MC numbers are still issued today.
What is the New Entrant Safety Audit?
Every new carrier enters an 18-month FMCSA monitoring period and must pass a safety audit, usually around months 9–12. It's a records review of your driver qualification files, drug & alcohol program, ELD logs, maintenance, insurance, and accident register. Pass it and your authority becomes permanent.
Can I get a quote before my authority is active?
Absolutely. We can quote new-authority operations and have coverage ready to file the moment you need it, so your authority activates without delay. Start your quote here.
Do you help with more than insurance?
Yes. We connect new carriers with vetted partners for factoring, fuel cards, load boards, and compliance, and we guide you through your filings and safety-audit prep throughout your first year. We're partners in building your business, not a one-time policy sale.
Ready to get your authority rolling?
Enter your DOT number for a tailored new-authority quote — or talk to a specialist who's helped hundreds of new carriers start right.