A variety of trucking permits and licenses apply to the general operation of Class 8 trucks and trucking companies.
If you are planning to start a trucking company soon, then you should consider creating a checklist for trucking permits and licenses.
Starting a trucking business is far beyond finding the perfect location for your trucking office and buying the best equipped trucks.
Remember: Trucking is a heavily regulated industry.
Trucking companies in the USA should meet and keep current with numerous government requirements.
So, if you want to start a trucking business with a good reputation and exceptional customer satisfaction, then you should gain the authority and operate legally as an interstate trucking company.
Thereupon, inspired by the constant incorporation of trucking companies in the USA, I decided to make this checklist for trucking permits and licenses.
I hope that this checklist will help you. So, let’s take a look!
Trucking Permits and Licenses Tip No.1: Get a Commercial Driver’s License
The very first step that everyone willing to start a career as a truck driver should take is to get a commercial driver’s license.
Commercial driver’s license is the first among all trucking permits and licenses one should obtain.
Thereupon, in order for a person to operate with Class 8 trucks, he will need a valid commercial truck driver’s license.
And how can one start obtaining trucking permits and licenses? More precisely, how can one obtain a commercial driver’s license?
Well, it is not that complicated after all.
People willing to enter the trucking industry will have to go through an extensive background check, CDL training as well as through a written permit exam. The final step is passing the driving test.
It is important to notice that: People must be at least 18 years old in order to get a CDL, and start obtaining trucking licenses and permits.
Note: You must be at least 21 to be permitted to drive a truck from state to state.
The testing standards for trucking permits and licenses vary from state to state.
The easiest way for you to learn what your state requirements are is to pick up the CDL manual at your local Department of Motor Vehicles Office.
After all driving a commercial motor vehicle is a big responsibility. More precisely truck drivers are in charge of any of these vehicles: truck with double or triple trailers, a truck with a tank, a passenger vehicle or a truck carrying hazardous materials. Now you can see what I’m talking about!
Actually, the main reason why trucking permits and licenses were issued in this industry is because of the reason that driving a commercial motor vehicle requires higher level of experience, knowledge, skills as well as physical abilities than the ones required for driving a non-commercial vehicle.
Trucking Permits and Licenses Tip No.2: Apply For Your Federal DOT and Motor Carrier Authority Numbers
If you have registered a trucking company and you want to haul cargo in the United States, then you should take into consideration obtaining trucking permits and licenses.
Let’s start with the Federal Dot and motor carrier authority numbers.
As I mentioned previously, every trucking company should obtain these trucking permits and licenses in order to operate in the trucking industry accordingly with the given rules and regulations.
In general, the trucking permits and licenses in the USA are being regulated by the FMCSA.
Every trucking company in the USA is subject to both registration requirements.
Hence, the MC number is equal to the operating authority.
This number is identifying the kind of trucking business the trucking company is operating with. As well as to the kinds of goods that you are permitted to haul.
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The easiest way that you can comply is to register your company with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
For a trucking company to get both the MC and the USDOT numbers, it must complete the Motor Carrier Identification Report MCS-150 and the Safety Certification Application.
Trucking Permits and Licenses Tip No.3: Complete Your Unified Carrier Registration
The Unified Carrier Registration was created with the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005. Since then it became one of the necessary trucking permits and licenses that trucking companies should have.
Therefore, the Unified Carrier Registration Act is replacing the former system for registering and collecting fees from the operators of the vehicles engaged in the interstate travel.
It is also known as the Single State Registration System.
Also its aim is to verify the active insurance coverage in each state where a motor carrier is operating.
If you want to get more information about this and more trucking permits and licenses, I would suggest you to visit your home state’s Department of Transportation website.
Trucking Permits and Licenses Tip No.4: Get an International Registration Plan IRP Tag
The International Registration Plan IRP Tag is in fact a registration reciprocity agreement among the states of the USA, Canada as well as the District of Columbia.
Moreover, the main aim behind the International Registration Plan is providing for payment of apportionable fees of the total distance operated in all jurisdictions.
Thereupon, the fundamental principle of the International Registration Plan IRP Tag is to promote and encourage the fullest possible use of the highway system. In fact, it is a one-stop process.
This license will allow your truck to operate in all states, as well as in most Canadian provinces.
Note: The plate will require an annual renewal fee.
Trucking Permits and Licenses Tip No.5: Understand Heavy Use Tax Regulations
Heavy use tax regulations apply to any truck that weighs 55.000 pounds or more.
Moreover, your trucking company should always follow all trucking permits and licenses, in the same way they should complete and file a 2290tax form with the IRS on a yearly basis.
