Want to start a trucking company? Like any other form of business, a trucking company has a variety of different regulations to know about. However, what many people may not realize is just how many laws and regulations there actually are for these companies.
Because of that, many people may find themselves on the wrong side of the law without even realizing it. This is especially true if you’re operating across the country, and even internationally, as these add even more regulations that you’ll need to adhere to.
Having said that, by focusing on a few key areas, you’ll be able to ensure that you don’t run afoul of the law without realizing it. By focusing on each of the below, you can ensure that you’re legally compliant with the majority of laws that affect your business.
Having said that, however, it’s worth noting that you should always stay up to date with state and federal laws to ensure that you’re always legally compliant.
3 Things You Need To Know When Starting A Trucking Company
1. Federal DOT & Motor Carrier Authority Numbers
Trucking companies need to have DOT and motor carrier authority numbers, regardless of how many trucks they have or where they’re operating. Both of these numbers are vital in their own ways. For example, a Federal DOT number is mainly used for tracking your company’s safety record and compliance with regulations.
Your motor carrier number, also known as an operating authority number, is used to determine which kind of goods and services that you can move from place to place. While these can be gotten from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it can often be quite complex and confusing to do so. Having said that, however, there are the likes of TBS DOT compliance services that can handle this in an effective and reliable way.
2. Commercial Driving License
This is something quite obvious, but many people may not know what’s required to get this license in the first place; after all, there’s a difference between driving a personal truck and one that you’re driving for commercial purposes. With that in mind, there are a variety of different things you’ll need to do.
This includes the likes of an extensive background check and CDL training before going on to a permit exam and a driving test. Furthermore, to be eligible for trucking jobs to drive across state lines, a commercial truck driver must be at least 21 years old. On top of this, the majority of states have different testing standards. With that in mind, you should ensure that you look up your states specific standards.
Many states may require you and your drivers to reapply for a commercial driving license on a regular basis. However, it should be noted that how often you need to do so may differ from state to state. As we’ve mentioned about other areas of your trucking business, this is also something that you’ll need to check with your state regulators.
3. International Registration Plan Tag
An International Registration Plan Tag, or IRP, permits you to operate your truck across the United States, as well as in Canada. Because of that, if you’re planning on delivering across state lines then you’ll need to get an IRP tag. This is something that you’ll need to get for each of your trucks.
Having said that, these are typically quite simple to get should you meet all of the criteria. You can get them from the Department of Transportation website. However, it should also be noted that these can be slightly different from state to state. With that in mind, you should ensure that you get these tags based on the state that you’re operating in to avoid any mistakes in the future.
There can also be a number of other laws and regulations that you may need to be aware of, although many of these may be dependent on which state you’re operating in. Furthermore, the type of goods and materials you’re planning on transporting may also play a significant factor in what kind of licenses and other permits that you may need to get.
Many of these laws may mandate how much training and other supports that your drivers should have. With that in mind, it’s recommended that you keep up to date with each of the laws and regulations that may affect you and your trucking business.