For new carriers & owner-operators

Get your new authority paid, audit-ready and scam-proof.

Driving the truck is the part you already know. The first-year surprises are cash flow, paperwork and scams. This free playbook shows you what to set up first, how to get paid without getting squeezed, and which "official" emails to delete.

  • Know exactly what to do first — 14 setup steps in order, each linked to the official .gov rule
  • Pass your new entrant safety audit — avoid the 16 violations that fail it automatically
  • Keep more of every load — calculate your real cost per mile and what factoring actually costs
Get the free kit ↓

Free. Every claim links to its source. Not FMCSA, not a lender, not a broker.

The year-one traps

3 things that sink new carriers (and how to dodge them)

30+ days

The cash gap

You pay for fuel, insurance and the truck now. Brokers often pay 30 days or more after delivery. Plan for that gap before your first load or it plans for you.

How to bridge it →
16

Automatic audit failures

FMCSA's new entrant safety audit has 16 violations that fail you automatically, like having no random drug-testing program. Most are paperwork you can fix on day one.

See the audit checklist →
4

Fake "Motus" sites in one alert

FMCSA moved registration to Motus in 2026, and scammers copied it within months. Your new USDOT number is public, so they will find you.

Spot the fakes →

The roadmap

Your first 90 days on one page

Before you're active

Get legal

  • USDOT + MC through motus.dot.gov
  • BOC-3 process agents
  • Insurance filed with FMCSA
  • Drug & alcohol program (CDL drivers)
  • UCR, IRP/IFTA, 2290 if they apply
Weeks 1–4

Get paid

  • Know your cost per mile
  • Pick how you'll get paid: terms, quick pay or factoring
  • Broker packet ready to send
  • Separate bank account, keep every receipt
Months 1–18

Stay safe

  • Audit-ready files from day one
  • Logs, inspections and DVIRs in order
  • 2FA on email and FMCSA logins
  • Never act on an "urgent" email link

Get the printable version free   or read the full checklist online →

Free tools

Do the math before you take the load

Calculator

Cost-per-mile calculator

Plug in your truck payment, insurance, fuel and pay. Get your real cost per mile and the minimum rate you need to make money, compared with the latest industry benchmark ($2.34/mile in 2025, per ATRI).

Find your number → Calculator

Factoring cost calculator

Turn a factoring quote into dollars per month and per year, and see what it costs compared with borrowing. A 3.5% fee sounds small; it rarely is.

Check a quote →

From the blog

Plain answers, with sources

Start here

3 things every new trucker should know before the first load

The cash gap, the audit clock and the scam wave: what each one costs you and what to do this week.

Read → Getting paid

What freight factoring really costs a new carrier

A worked example with real numbers, the fees hidden outside the headline rate, and when factoring is worth it.

Read → Money

How to calculate your cost per mile

The number that decides which loads you should turn down, with the 2025 ATRI benchmarks and a free calculator.

Read →

Who's behind this

Built by a finance guy who wants new carriers to keep their money

I'm David. I studied finance, and money is the part of trucking where that helps most. A new carrier can run every load right and still get squeezed, because the fuel and insurance bills arrive weeks before the broker pays. I read the regulations and the fine print so you can get straight answers in one place.

How we make money, up front: some companies we may list in the future, such as factoring companies, may pay us a referral fee if you sign up with them. That will never change what we recommend, and every such link will be marked "Paid link". More about us.

Questions

Is this really free?

Yes. The checklist, the audit cheat sheet, the calculators and every article are free. We don't sell courses, services or your email address.

Are you FMCSA or the DOT?

No. We're a private, independent guide run by Podske LLC. Real FMCSA sites end in .gov. We will never ask for your FMCSA PIN, logins, SSN or bank details.

How do you make money?

In the future, some companies we list (mainly freight factoring companies) may pay us a referral fee if you sign up with them. Every such link will be marked 'Paid link' next to it. We don't list any paid partners yet.

What will you email me?

Only if you tick the box: new scam alerts and new guides, about twice a month. Every email has a one-click unsubscribe. If you don't tick it, we only use your address to deliver the kit.

I don't have my authority yet. Is this still for me?

Yes. Steps 1 to 8 of the checklist are what you sort out before your authority goes active, and knowing your cost per mile before you buy or lease a truck is the single best thing you can do.

Get the free New Authority Kit →