Dispatch services for new trucking companies, from the first load on
A brand-new MC is the hardest time to find freight. Some brokers won't load you yet, the ones who will want everything perfect, and you're learning the business while you drive. Our desk finds the brokers who work with new carriers, gets you set up, and brings you loads to approve. Every load is your call, and the rate con goes to you.
The fee is 7% of gross for your first six months, then it drops. No setup fee, no contract, and nothing charged on weeks you don't haul.
Got your MC number, or waiting on it?
Apply either way. We can get broker setups ready so you start as soon as the authority goes active.
CH 02
The first 30 days, one light at a time
Before any dispatcher can book you, eight things have to be in place. Tap each light to see what it takes and roughly how long. Tick off what you already have. When all eight are lit, you are ready for brokers to load you.
The steps that tend to lag are the drug and alcohol program for CDL trucks, the factoring decision and the broker setups themselves. That last one is the part we handle for you.
In short: your authority has to be active with a process agent on file, your insurance has to be filed with FMCSA, CDL trucks need a drug and alcohol program, brokers need a W-9, trucks that keep logs need an ELD, you need a plan for getting paid, and brokers need your carrier packet.
Times are honest ranges, not promises. FMCSA, insurers, factoring companies and brokers each move at their own speed, and none of them work for us. What we control is how fast we send your packets and how many brokers we try.
CH 03
Why brokers make new authorities wait, and what we do about it
A broker who hands a load to a carrier is trusting that company with a shipper's freight and the broker's own reputation. With an old authority, they can look at years of inspections and on-time deliveries. With yours, there is nothing to look at yet. So many brokers set a minimum age for the authorities they will load, and some ask for more insurance or references from new carriers.
When a broker reviews a new carrier, they usually look at the same few things: how long the authority has been active, whether the insurance on file matches the certificate you sent, the safety and inspection record FMCSA shows for your DOT number, and whether your company details match across every document. A mismatch as small as a different company name spelling can stall a setup for days.
FMCSA also watches new carriers closely. Every new motor carrier goes through new entrant safety monitoring for 18 months, with a safety audit once you have enough records 49 CFR 385.307 New entrant safety monitoringeCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. Checked 2026-10-10.Open the source. Clean logs, clean inspections and organized files matter from day one.
How we get a new MC its first loads
- We start with brokers we know will set up new authorities, instead of sending packets everywhere and waiting.
- We pick first loads that are easy to deliver well: clear appointments, reliable shippers, reasonable distances.
- We keep the broker updated on every load, so your first impression is a good one.
- As your authority ages and your record grows, we add brokers who wanted to see some history first.
- We tell you plainly when a lane is slow for new carriers, instead of letting you sit and wonder.
Picking lanes as a new carrier
Busy freight markets give a new MC the most chances, because more brokers are posting and more of them need trucks. A lane you know from your company driving days is worth a lot, too. You already know the shippers, the truck stops and the traffic. We start from your home base and the lanes you know, then add the markets with the most freight for your equipment.
If you want the honest timeline in detail, read our guide on how fast a dispatcher can get a first load.
CH 04
Your first 90 days, in your own numbers
The first three months decide a lot of new carriers. Fixed costs like the truck note and insurance keep coming whether you run or not, while the first weeks can be slow. The estimator shows how that plays out with your own numbers.
The defaults are examples only. Swap in your real fuel, insurance and truck payment. If the result is negative, that is worth knowing now, not in month three. Our cost per mile calculator helps you find the numbers.
Read the result as a floor, not a forecast. Try two versions: one where you run every week, and one where you lose two weeks to setup and home time. If the second one still leaves money, your plan has room for the bumps every new carrier hits.
The dispatch fee in the estimator is our new authority rate, 7% of gross, charged only on loads you haul. After six months it drops. See how our dispatch fee works.
CH 05
CDL trucks: your drug and alcohol program comes first
When you drove for a company, the carrier ran your drug and alcohol testing. With your own authority and a truck that needs a CDL, that job is yours. You are the employer and the driver at the same time, so you need to be in a random testing pool, and you need a verified negative pre-employment drug test before you drive your first load 49 CFR 382.301 Pre-employment testingeCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. Checked 2026-10-10.Open the source.
Most one-truck carriers handle this through a consortium, sometimes called a C/TPA. It runs the random selections, schedules collections, works with the medical review officer and handles the FMCSA Clearinghouse reporting. Our guide to the DOT drug testing consortium explains how enrollment works.
Running a non-CDL 26 ft box truck, or a hotshot under the CDL weight line? These testing rules don't apply to you. Don't let anyone sell you a program you don't need.
One more thing for young drivers: federal rules require a driver in interstate commerce to be at least 21 49 CFR 391.11(b)(1) General qualifications of driverseCFR (Office of the Federal Register), 2026. Checked 2026-10-10.Open the source. Our guide on how old you have to be to drive a truck covers the state rules too.
CH 06
What changes when your authority turns six months old
The fee drops
From 7% to 5% for one truck, or 4% if you run two or more trucks under the limited-time fleet rate. 26 ft box trucks and hotshots stay at 7%.
More brokers say yes
Brokers who wanted to see some history start accepting your packets. That usually means more choice of loads and lanes.
You know your numbers
Six months of weekly reports show your real cost per mile, your best lanes and the brokers who pay on time. That is when negotiating gets easier.
Your first two weeks with our desk
- Day one: the call. A dispatcher calls at the time you picked. We go over your truck, your home base, the lanes you know, how often you want to be home and what you won't haul.
- Days one and two: paperwork. You send your authority letter, insurance certificate, W-9 and notice of assignment if you factor. We check that FMCSA shows you as active.
- Days two to five: broker setups. We send packets to brokers who work with new carriers in your lanes. Some approve the same day, others take longer.
- First offers. As brokers approve you, we start bringing loads with the rate, miles and pickup details. You say yes or no. Your first yes gets a rate con in your inbox.
- Week two: the rhythm. Check calls, deliveries, paperwork and the next load lined up before you deliver. Your first weekly report shows where the money went.
You don't need to do anything to get the lower rate. We switch it on your six-month date, and your weekly report shows the change. If you add a second truck before then, tell us. The fleet rate applies once your authority passes six months. Hiring your first driver also means new paperwork on your side, starting with a driver qualification file, so plan that before the second truck arrives.
CH 07
Seven mistakes that sink new authorities
- Taking the first load at any price. A cheap first load doesn't buy goodwill. It teaches the broker your floor. Know your cost per mile before you answer the phone, and walk away from loads that don't cover it.
- Ignoring deadhead. A good rate 150 empty miles away is often worse than an average rate across the street. Always divide by loaded plus empty miles.
- Running out of cash before the first broker pays. Fuel and the truck note come now; the first broker check can come weeks later. Plan for it with savings or factoring before you need it.
- Sloppy paperwork. A missing signature on a bill of lading can hold up payment. Take clear photos of every BOL and POD at delivery and send them the same day.
- Going dark on the broker. New carriers get watched closely. Answer check calls, report delays early and never let a broker find out about a problem from the receiver.
- Skipping the safety basics. Your new entrant period means FMCSA will look at your records. Keep your logs, maintenance files and driver file in order from the first week, not the week before the audit.
- Saying yes to every lane. A load that ends somewhere with no freight out can cost you two days. Plan where you'll be after delivery before you accept, or let your dispatcher do it.
Questions to ask a broker on your first loads
- Is detention paid, after how many hours, and at what rate? Is it on the rate con?
- Live load or drop and hook? What is the appointment window?
- Who pays lumper fees, and how do I get reimbursed?
- What are your payment terms, and do you offer quick pay?
- What paperwork do you need with the invoice?
When you dispatch with us, we ask these on every load and write the answers into the offer you see.
Cash flow in month one
Most brokers pay on terms, often 30 days, sometimes longer, and some offer quick pay for a fee. Meanwhile fuel is due at the pump and insurance is due on the first. New carriers who make it through month one usually planned for that gap, either with savings that cover a month of costs or with a factoring account set up before the first load.
CH 08
New authority questions
CH 01Can a dispatcher get loads for a brand new MC?
Yes, with some limits. Plenty of brokers work with new authorities, but some won't load you until your MC has a few months of history. We focus on the brokers that do, build your record with clean deliveries, and add more brokers as your authority ages. We can't promise when your first load comes, only that we start the day you're ready.
CH 02What do I need before my first load?
An active MC and USDOT number, insurance filed with FMCSA and a certificate you can send brokers, a W-9, an ELD if your truck keeps logs, and for CDL trucks a drug and alcohol testing program with a negative pre-employment test. If you factor, you also need your notice of assignment. The checklist above walks through each one.
CH 03Do I need my own drug testing program?
If your truck needs a CDL driver, yes. As an owner-operator with your own authority, you are the employer, so you must be in a random testing program and pass a pre-employment test before you drive a load. Most one-truck carriers join a consortium. Non-CDL 26 ft box trucks and light hotshots are not under these rules.
CH 04Should a new carrier use factoring?
Many do. Brokers usually pay on terms that can run 30 days or more, while fuel and the truck note are due now. Factoring pays you on the invoice in exchange for a fee, which smooths out cash flow in the first months. Compare rates and contract terms before you sign, and read the recourse terms carefully.
CH 05What is the first load like for a new authority?
Usually smaller and more careful than you expect. The broker may call to verify your setup, ask for extra tracking, or want a shorter run first. Treat it as an interview: be on time, answer the phone, send clean paperwork fast. A clean first few loads with a broker often leads to better freight from them later.
CH 06When does the new authority rate change?
Your fee is 7% of gross while your MC is under six months old. After six months it drops to 5% for one truck, or 4% if you run two or more trucks under the limited-time fleet rate. Box trucks and hotshots stay at 7% whatever the authority age. We switch the rate on the six-month date.
CH 07How old do you have to be to drive interstate?
Under federal rules, a commercial truck driver in interstate commerce has to be at least 21 years old. States set their own rules for driving inside one state, and some allow younger drivers there. If you are under 21, check your state's intrastate rules and the federal rule before you buy a truck to haul across state lines.
Start your new MC with a desk behind you
Apply now, even if your authority is still pending. We'll get your broker setups moving so the first loads come sooner.
- Gross
- $6,000
- Dispatch fee
- -$420
- You keep
- $5,580
Before fuel, insurance and your other costs.