Authority

[ATCO]

Alright guys,
Still doin my research... What does it take (Forms, and costs $)
to get your own authority? What are the steps to go through the process?

I wish to run only California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas... Anywhere else I run, I figure I can attempt to utilize permits.

Basically want to run freight between CA and TX (but gotta go through the others...)

Also, I planing on joing OOIDA as soon as I get the discoutn card from Ziggy (Hey, ziggy, sent it yet?) or if anyone else is willing to send me one, I'm done with that...

I am more than willing to go over my basic business plan if anyone wants to help me with it?

[Admin]

ATCO JUST ASK OOIDA , THEY EVEN DO THE PAPERWORK FOR YOU, PERMITS, INSURANCE EVERYTHING.

[DrivingZiggy]

I'm sorry, Joe! I had forgotten all about that. However, as soon as I read this, I put the thingie in an envelope, stamped it, sealed it, and it's ready to go as soon as you PM me your address.

Like Admin says, OOIDA Business Services can handle everything for you, for a price. You can try to do it all yourself, but you'll probably forget something or get frustrated dealing with all of those government entities.

I will have your discount card in the mail as SOON as I get your addy...

[dljtruck]

ooida is a very good orginization ..they have really helped me out in the past.I wrote(can't remember the address anymore) washington, got my DOT number years ago& then contacted my home state for my MC number. we used to have local authority here but deregulation years ago made that worthless. :angry: . you will probably need fuel permits also (may be different down there). as much thats involved anymore, It would probably be best to let OOIDA take care of it and get you up an running.filing insurance with your home state is reqired here also.(you can get that through them also). having your own authority opens up alot of doors as far as finding decent freight,but be careful if you lease others on...make sure they are trustworthy, as they can get a guy in trouble(seen it happen to a freind).Good luck !

[DrivingZiggy]

Sorry for the delay, Joe. Here it is, Sunday night and I finally got your address. I've been off of the 'net for a few days. It will definitely get picked up in the morning by the letter carrier.

[nightrider]

The paperwork really isn't that hard. The Fed Authority is $300 which can be done on the internet, You'll need a USDOT number regardless, that is relativley easy, as far as your IRP I would get all 48 states. It will be cheaper at first and your not limiting your operations. IFTA stickers are just a 2 page form.

The paperwork really isn't hard. The only problem I had was keeping on the insurance company to get the filings over to ICC.

Also, either way don't forget about the " start up audit" DOT will be doing the months after.

Also, either way don't forget about the " start up audit" DOT will be doing the months after.

Depends on where you live..I had my authority, since last August, and they still havent gotten around to my "freebie" audit yet..

I called them within ninety days of getting my MC # to set up an appointment, like I was supposed to do, and the guy said they will call me when they get around it...they are way to busie around here.

[nightrider]

I called them within ninety days of getting my MC # to set up an appointment, like I was supposed to do, and the guy said they will call me when they get around it...they are way to busie around here.

Sounds like you either lucked out so far.

Atco.....One thing I forgot to mention to you....Make sure your insurance company does the filings to begin with. Some insurance company's will insure the truck, but do not file to the government when it comes to authorities. That happened to me. I had to change insurance companies to Great West Casualty.

[ATCO]

I trully appreciate the responses

WHile my goal is to eventually own my own company. It may not be the right time for this yet. I am aquiring my CDL as we speak... And to be frank, I have a lot of learning to still do. I think it was Ziggy, who is an advocate of becoming an O/O that really made me think long and hard about doing it right out of the gate when he strongly adviced against it.

I will get my own truck, and my own authority, but I think now is not the time... SO now I'm looking at my options... One option is to try and find a linehaul for an LTL out of a terminal here in Bakersfield... THe other is with a friend of mine who is on here - a tremendious opertunity... The defferences between the two are simple. One is 48/Canada OTR, the other is Regional/ likelly home everynight (?)...

I am trully very indesisive at the moment, and really don't know where my best fit is... What ever I do, I don't want ropped into a contract, I know my dream is to have my own trucks and hopefully in about a year, would be able to run them...

Please take a look in the LTL forum for "my thoughts"...

[DrivingZiggy]

Good decision, Joe! Yes, it was me.

Although I can't imagine going back to being an employee out there, I learned many valuable things as a company driver and then as an O/O leased on to somebody.

So far, your experience is pretty much as an "ousider" looking in. It will really help your perspective to see it from the inside for a bit before taking the big leap.

We'll still be here to walk you through the steps!

[Twmaster]

Just to add my 2 cents worth, OOIDA charges $150 on top of the $300 to the DOT for authority. Also, membership if you use another OOIDA member as a reference is $25 for the first year.

One really good benefit of joining OOIDA and getting them to process your authority is that they will also serve as your 'process agents' which when I had my authority managed elsewhere was costing me $125 per year.

That alone is worth the 45 beans they want for membership IMHO.