How to Start a Box Truck Business
How to Start a Box Truck Business
If you’re wondering how to start a box truck business, DAT has everything you need to get up and running.
Take the hassle out of starting your own box truck company with the help of the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program. Our experts ensure the paperwork is done right the first time, so your box truck business gets off to a strong start.
- File your MC number, USDOT number, and BOC-3 quickly
- Automatically submit your federal and state permits
- Focus on transporting freight and growing your box truck business
File your MC number, USDOT number, and BOC-3 quickly
The DAT Copilot™ Authority Program takes the guesswork out of the paperwork for box truck companies.
If you’re wondering how to start a box truck delivery business, you’ve come to the right place. Before you can start your box truck business, you’ll first need to get set up with your own MC number, USDOT number, and BOC-3 process agent. That can be a tricky process – and it’s only the beginning.
Luckily, the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program team is here to assist every step of the way. Our experts handle the paperwork, so you can get on the road faster.
Automatically submit your federal and state permits
The DAT Copilot™ Authority Program helps box trucking companies keep permits, licenses, and registrations current.
For any trucking operation, including box truck companies, there is a lot of red tape around working legally. With differing state and federal permits that need to be renewed regularly, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But you don’t have to! With the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program, you can be confident that you’re operating legally. Our experts will automatically submit your federal and state permits, and IFTA, IRP, and Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) forms. That means you’ll never have to worry about whether or not your certifications are up-to-date.
Focus on transporting freight and growing your box truck business
Take the hassle out of starting your own box truck delivery service with the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program.
When you’re hard at work building a box trucking business, the last thing you want to worry about is filing paperwork. Partnering with the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program means you get a dedicated team of experts on your side, submitting forms and keeping records for you, so you can focus on finding freight to get your box truck business with the knowledge that your paperwork is taken care of.
"Some say it's simple to get your authority, and that you should save your money and do it yourself. Other people, including myself, are not sure where to even begin. I used a service provided by DAT to get my authority. It was important to me that it was done right the first time, by people who have done this before."
- Chad Boblett - Boblett Brothers Trucking
"They took me by the hand an led me through all of the difficult and confusing steps to ensure that I started off on the right foot. I cannot say it any clearer than these folks know what it's all about."
- Gregg Knight, LTL Trucking
In order to get started as a carrier or owner-operator, you’ll first need to get your operating authority. That means getting a USDOT number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This number is a unique identifier used to collect information about safety, inspections, and crash investigations, among other things. If you’re planning on working as an interstate carrier, you’ll also need an MC number from the Department of Transportation. From there, you’ll need to make sure there aren’t any other federal or state regulations that affect what you plan to carry.
The DAT Copilot™ Authority Program can help you determine what you need to gain operating authority and ensure you meet all the relevant requirements.
There are a few steps you need to take in order to obtain your USDOT and MC numbers. First, you must register your company (either an LLC or small business) in your state. Then, you will need to go online and fill out an application. If any information is missing or incorrect, your application will be rejected. With the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program, our team of experts will help you with this entire process, ensuring that your forms are filled out correctly the first time in order to get your box truck delivery service up and running as quickly as possible!
Before you are issued your trucking authority from the government, you will also need a BOC-3 processing agent. BOC-3 stands for “blanket of coverage” and is a federal filing that identifies a legal agent to whom a process may be served. This person or business will receive legal documents on behalf of your box truck business. You will also need to get an IFTA number and file regular tax documents for fuel taxes.
If all of that sounds a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone! The experts at the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program can help you through the entire process, offering the peace of mind that comes from knowing all your paperwork has been filed with the proper government agencies and that you will never miss a renewal date.
The authority process usually takes anywhere from five to seven weeks to clear your box truck company with both state and federal governments. Getting federal approval normally takes around 15 business days. From there, you’ll need to designate your BOC-3 process agent by filling out and waiting for approval on those forms. Then, you’ll need to document the fact that you’ve obtained adequate insurance and paid all your registration fees. Incorrect or missing information can slow down the process, with forms being sent back to you to be filled out again and again.
The best way to ensure the process goes as quickly and smoothly as possible is by working with the DAT Copilot™ Authority Program. You can trust our experts to complete your paperwork correctly the first time. We make your life much easier by simplifying the complicated authority process from start to finish so you can focus on other aspects of getting your box truck business off the ground.
If you’re wondering how to start a box truck business, it’s about more than just getting operating authority. Running a successful box truck business means juggling a lot of different responsibilities on the go.
Investing in a tool like Carrier TMS can help you with everything from invoicing to accounting. With Carrier TMS, you can optimize your business, keep detailed records, and streamline your operations while finding the highest-paying loads available.
Another important tool to invest in from the start is a load board so you can find the freight that will get your box truck on the road. As the largest load board in the industry, the DAT load board is the best place to find box truck loads that will help your business succeed.
First, you’ll need to obtain your commercial driver’s license (CDL). You can do this by attending a private truck driving school on your own, but if you are working for a larger carrier, you may be able to take part in their own training programs or get sponsorship for CDL school if you’re new to the business. For that reason, many people who want to become box truck owner-operators start out by working for a carrier so they can get that training, as well as on the ground experience, before taking off on their own.
Start your box truck business today with help from DAT!
If you’re wondering how to start a box truck business, let DAT Copilot™ Authority Program simplify the process. We’ll handle the paperwork, so you can find the best-paying loads and get on the road quickly and legally.
DAT Copilot™
Authority Bundle
- Federal MC Authority ($300)
- BOC-3 MC Authority ($30)
- 50% off DAT One for 6 months (from $150)
- The DAT One Fuel Card with a $60 rebate and $100 preloaded
- Discounted factoring rate from OTR Solutions
- Free commercial trucking insurance quote from Marquee Insurance Group