you just received a brand new motor carrier authority and US DOT number, Congratulations! While I am sure you are excited and eager to get on the road and start driving, it may not be as simple and easy as it sounds. While there is money to be made in the transportation industry, navigating getting started as an owner-operator with a brand new authority can be difficult and at times even discouraging. Here are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when working with a new authority.
Age Limits
Be very aware that the newness of your authority may very well work against you at first. Many companies have set age limits for authorities concerning the carriers they work with. These limits can range from as short as 3 months to as long as 1 year. After you hit a full year of having your authority you will have virtually no problem booking loads and you will even be able to secure business to business contracts if you have your business entity set up.
Don’t be too choosy
Remember, your authority may is new, and you need to gain experience under it. A lot of companies may offer you lower rates because of your authorities age. I recommend booking whatever loads you can just to gain the experience, and of course the money. If you spend too much time looking for the perfect, high-paying load from a company that accepts brand new authorities you will end up wasting a lot of time and not making as much money as you could and no one wants that. Take those smaller loads if they are all that is available to you, and those numbers will start adding up before you know it.
Takeaway
Getting your authority is an exciting accomplishment and marks the beginning of a new career path. There are a lot of hoops you will have to jump through with a new authority but don’t let this discourage you. If you can make it through that first year or even just a few months you will see a lot of growth and more and more opportunities will be made available to you. It's just a matter of sticking it out and booking the loads that you can to keep your revenue going during the early stages.
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