Every DOT requirement, handled by one team.

Your company's compliance, all in one place. TIPS gives your company a live dashboard for everything the DOT/FMCSA expects of you: your authority, your insurance, your fleet, your filings, and the deadlines that keep them current.

One workspace holds your carrier profile, drivers, vehicles, and documents. A calendar tracks your MCS-150, insurance renewals, and scheduled filings. You can search any USDOT number, read a knowledge base written in plain language, and message the TIPS team directly from inside the dashboard.

This is the monthly subscription: $18 per month. Want three months free? The annual option is below.

Start your cargo van or sprinter van delivery company with everything you need to operate interstate. This is the most affordable way to get your USDOT number and MC authority, and the MC is the piece that matters: most load boards, including DAT and Truckstop, will not let you book freight without one, even in a van.

We file your DOT, MC, and BOC-3 together, cover the $300 FMCSA filing fee, and handle your current-year UCR registration. You also get the Trucker's Toolbox, more than 40 compliance forms and templates, and lifetime compliance support: call, text, or email us with a question any time you own the company.

Vans under 10,001 lbs gross vehicle weight rating skip most of the heavy federal requirements. No CDL, no drug testing, no driver qualification file. That makes this our leanest start-up package. If your vehicle is rated 10,001 lbs or more, our Box Truck Start-Up Package covers the extra requirements that kick in at that weight.

Start your box truck or straight truck company with everything you need to haul freight on load boards. This package files your USDOT number, MC authority, and BOC-3, covers the $300 FMCSA fee, and registers your current-year UCR. It also works for non-CDL hot-shots and any other setups under 26,000 lbs combined.

At 10,001 lbs gross vehicle weight rating, federal rules reclassify your truck as a commercial motor vehicle. Every driver needs a DOT medical card and a driver qualification file, even without a CDL, and the DQ file is one of the first things reviewed in your New Entrant Safety Audit. This package builds a complete, audit-ready file for one driver, including the required driving record pull, plus the Trucker's Toolbox and lifetime compliance support.

If your driver doesn't have a DOT medical card yet, we can schedule the physical exam. If your rig is rated under 10,001 lbs, the Sprinter Van package is the correct choice. Over 26,000 lbs combined, you'll need the CDL Hot-Shot package instead.

Start your hot-shot trucking company with everything you need to run a pickup and gooseneck trailer interstate, cheaper than buying the pieces one at a time. We file your DOT number, MC authority, and BOC-3, cover the $300 FMCSA fee, and register your current-year UCR.

Once your combination is rated over 26,000 lbs, it is a CDL rig, and the CDL brings the full federal stack with it: a driver qualification file, drug and alcohol testing, Clearinghouse registration, IFTA fuel tax, and IRP apportioned plates. All of it is in this package. Your consortium enrollment covers 12 months of testing, your Clearinghouse query plan covers the first year, and your IFTA account comes with the license and decals.

You also get the Trucker's Toolbox and lifetime compliance support: call, text, or email us any time. Add IFTA quarterly reports at checkout if you want us to file your fuel taxes every quarter too.

Start your trucking company with everything you need to haul freight interstate. This is our most complete package: the full path from nothing to road-legal for a tractor-trailer, handled by one team you can actually reach.

We file your DOT number, MC authority, and BOC-3, cover the $300 FMCSA fee, and register your current-year UCR. On the compliance side you get a driver qualification file built to pass your New Entrant Safety Audit, 12 months of drug and alcohol consortium enrollment with all testing included, and your Clearinghouse employer account with a first-year query plan. On the tax side we set up your IFTA fuel tax account with license and decals, your IRP apportioned plates, and your first-year 2290 heavy vehicle use tax filing.

Lifetime compliance support means you can call, text, or email us any time you have questions or need help. Add IFTA quarterly reports at checkout if you want us to file your fuel taxes every quarter too.

Get your transportation business started with a USDOT number, operating authority (MC number), and the required BOC-3 filing. If you plan to haul freight for other people across state lines, these three filings are the legal foundation of your company, and this bundle is the most affordable way to get them filed right. The $300 FMCSA filing fee is included.

This is the authority-only version of our start-up packages. It deliberately leaves out the pieces that depend on your vehicle, like driver qualification files, drug testing, IFTA, and IRP, so you only pay for what your operation actually requires. If you want those handled too, our start-up packages include this bundle plus everything else for your vehicle class.

Either way, you get access to our partner network for insurance, factoring, and fuel cards, and lifetime compliance support: call, text, or email us with questions any time you you need help.

Start your freight brokering business with everything you need to operate as a broker under DOT regulations. This is the most affordable way to get your DOT number and property broker authority so you can start posting loads on DAT, Truckstop, and other load boards.

We file your DOT number, broker authority, and BOC-3, cover the $300 FMCSA filing fee, and register your current-year UCR at the broker tier. No truck required: brokers arrange freight rather than haul it, so your financial responsibility is a $75,000 surety bond or trust instead of vehicle insurance. The bond must be on file before your authority activates, and we'll point you to providers when you're ready.

Lifetime compliance support included, forever.

Apply for your USDOT number online. The FMCSA doesn't charge for a DOT number by itself, and neither do we: we file it for free, correctly, so a rejected application never slows down your launch. We even put our phone number on the filing to shield you from the spam calls every new DOT number attracts.

Filing now runs through the FMCSA's MOTUS system, which requires business verification documents and an electronic identity check, and most new numbers go through a manual review that can take a few days up to a few weeks. We handle the process and keep you posted the whole way.

One thing to know before you order: if you need MC authority, for for-hire interstate freight or load boards, the DOT and MC have to be filed together, so the free DOT alone won't work for you. Start with our DOT & Authority Package or a start-up package instead, and we'll file everything at once.

Apply for FMCSA operating authority. We file your MC number, FF number, or MX number application and make sure it's done right the first time: the right authority type, matched to your DOT number, with nothing on it that gets it rejected.

Motor carriers and freight brokers get an MC number, freight forwarders get an FF number, and Mexican carriers get an MX number. Not sure which fits your operation? That's part of the service; we help you choose before anything is filed.

The price covers our filing service; the FMCSA's $300 fee per authority is paid separately, or bundled in our DOT & Authority Package. After your authority generates, you'll need insurance and a BOC-3 on file before the FMCSA's 21-day waiting period ends and your authority activates. We walk you through both.

Get your BOC-3 filed and attached to your operating authority the same day. Required for all motor carriers, freight brokers, and freight forwarders: your MC or FF number will not activate without a BOC-3 on file.

We're an FMCSA-registered provider with blanket coverage in all 50 states plus DC. One filing covers every state you operate in, and it's lifetime: no annual renewal fees, ever, and free amendments if your company name or address changes.

Most carriers file the BOC-3 during the FMCSA's waiting period, right after their authority generates. Order it here on its own, or get it bundled with your authority in the DOT & Authority Package.

File your UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) for the current registration year. Required annually for all interstate motor carriers, both for-hire and private, plus freight brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies.

Registration fees are set by fleet-size bracket, starting at 0-2 vehicles. We confirm your bracket before filing so you don't overpay or under-register, then send you confirmation for your records.

States enforce UCR at roadside, and some will hold you until you file. We remind you when next year's registration opens so it never gets to that.

Get your Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) from the NMFTA. A SCAC is a unique 2-4 letter identifier assigned to your company, required by many shippers, brokers, and government agencies for freight identification, billing, EDI transactions, and customs documentation.

We submit your application the same day you order, and most codes come back from the NMFTA within 1-3 business days. Annual renewal through the NMFTA is required to keep your code active.

SCAC filing through TIPS is available for Class 8 carriers: semi-trucks and other heavy vehicles over 33,000 lbs GVWR.

Update your FMCSA registration when your company information changes, or fix errors on your DOT application. Business name, address, phone number, operation type, vehicle count, cargo carried, insurance requirement: all of it files as an MCS-150 amendment.

The FMCSA expects changes reported within 30 days, and outdated records cause problems at audits and roadside inspections. We file your amendment the same business day you order and send confirmation for your records.

We also correct application errors, including filing under the wrong entity type or switching your authority type, for example broker to carrier.

As of May 2026, you are required to have access to your Motus account and have linked your DOT number before any amendments or updates can be filed.

Get a complete driver qualification file that meets FMCSA requirements under 49 CFR Part 391. We gather the paperwork, verify the records, and build a DQ file that's ready for your next DOT audit.

Every file includes the employment application, CDL and license verification, medical card verification, 3 or 10-year employment history, and the annual MVR (driving record). Driver files are among the first things reviewed in a New Entrant Safety Audit, and missing or expired documents turn into violations.

Order a new driver file for each new hire, or a renewal to bring an existing file current. Either way, we track expiration dates and remind you when renewals are due.

Pull an official motor vehicle record for your drivers. An MVR is required before hiring and annually for every driver qualification file under 49 CFR 391.25, and the missed annual pull is one of the most common audit findings there is.

We get the MVR directly from the state DMV, handle all 50 states' different processes and fees, and deliver the record in a consistent, audit-ready format, most within 1-2 business days.

For CDL drivers, add a CDLIS record to verify CDL status and check for violations in other states. One state's MVR doesn't show what happened across the border; CDLIS does.

Pull a Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report to see a driver's crash and inspection history before you hire. The report shows the last 5 years of DOT-reportable crash data and 3 years of roadside inspection data straight from FMCSA records.

A clean driving record doesn't mean a clean safety record. The PSP surfaces out-of-service violations, hours of service problems, and crash involvement that never appear on a standard MVR, and those violations follow the driver onto your CSA scores if you hire them.

PSP requests require driver consent; we provide the form, handle the request, and deliver the report, typically the same day.
Volume tiers cover 1 to 25 reports for fleet hiring.

Run a background check on potential drivers before you hire. Each check includes a national criminal history search, sex offender registry check, and identity verification through SSN trace and address history.

The FMCSA doesn't require criminal background checks, but many shippers and insurance companies do, and they're your first defense against negligent hiring claims. Verifying that a driver is who they say they are is the cheapest protection your company will ever buy.

Most reports are delivered within 24-48 hours, and volume tiers from 1 to 25 checks make it practical to screen every candidate the same way.

Enroll your CDL drivers in our DOT drug and alcohol testing consortium. We handle enrollment, random selection, scheduling, and recordkeeping, and all testing fees are included in your membership: no surprise bills when a random selection lands on your driver.

Coverage spans every required test type: pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up. You also get the required workplace policy documents and enrollment certificates for your driver qualification files.

Enrollment runs 12 months. New drivers include the pre-employment test; renewals keep existing drivers covered without interruption.

Get your FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse employer account set up correctly. The Clearinghouse is the federal database that tracks CDL drivers' drug and alcohol violations, and every carrier with CDL drivers must hold an employer account, including owner-operators who only query themselves.

You need this account to run the required pre-employment query on every new CDL driver and the annual query on every current one, and to receive violation notifications.

We create the account, configure it for compliance, hand you the credentials, and walk you through how queries and reporting actually work (or you can have us handle the queries instead.)

Help your driver register for the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Every CDL driver needs a Clearinghouse account to provide electronic consent when employers run queries, and a driver who can't consent is a hire you can't finish.

The registration itself trips people up, especially the FMCSA's identity verification step. We complete the driver's account registration with them, guide them through verification, and make sure they know how to grant consent when a query request arrives.

Start to finish, it takes about 15-20 minutes per driver.

We run your FMCSA Clearinghouse queries for you. Every CDL driver needs a full pre-employment query before starting work and an annual query each year after, and the annual ones are easy to miss because nothing reminds you they're due.

We handle the queries, track the due dates, keep the records your next audit will ask for, and notify you immediately if a query ever returns a violation. All FMCSA query fees are included: no extra charges per driver.

Plans are priced by fleet size, from a single owner-operator up to 30 drivers.

Train your supervisors to recognize signs of drug and alcohol impairment in CDL drivers. Required under 49 CFR 382.603 for anyone who may need to make reasonable suspicion determinations: fleet managers, dispatchers, safety directors, and owner-operators who hire drivers.

The online course covers the required 60 minutes of drug recognition training and 60 minutes of alcohol recognition training, completed at your own pace. A printable certificate of completion goes in your company records for audits.

Without a trained supervisor, your company has no legal way to send a driver for a reasonable suspicion test. This closes that gap for about the cost of one tank of fuel.

Schedule your DOT physical exam and get your medical card. A valid DOT medical certificate is required for every driver operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce, CDL or not, and often for intrastate drivers depending on your state.

We connect you with a certified medical examiner from the FMCSA National Registry near your location, create the appointment, and cover all exam and scheduling fees. Results are reported to the National Registry as required.

Medical certificates are valid for up to 24 months depending on your health status, and the card belongs in your driver qualification file the day you get it.

Register for IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) with your base state. IFTA is required for qualified motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs, or with 3 or more axles, that travel in multiple states or Canadian provinces. One registration covers fuel tax reporting for every jurisdiction you run.

We file your IFTA application, deliver your fuel tax license and annual decals, and set you up with your state portal credentials. Then we explain the part most new carriers underestimate: the quarterly reports you'll owe from now on, which we can also file for you.

New registration or annual renewal, either way it's handled.

IFTA filing through TIPS is not available in Florida, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina.

Register for IRP (International Registration Plan) and get apportioned plates and your IRP cab card. IRP is required for qualified motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs, or with 3 or more axles, that travel interstate: one registration with your base state instead of separate plates in every state you run.

We file your IRP application and set up your account. Once approved, you pay the state directly for plates and registration fees, which are calculated from your fleet and the miles you report in each jurisdiction. Registration renews annually with updated mileage, and we can handle the renewal each year.

IRP filing through TIPS is not available in Florida, Pennsylvania, or North Carolina.

File your IRS Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax and get your stamped Schedule 1. The HVUT is required annually for trucks with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 lbs or more, and the Schedule 1 is the proof of payment states demand before they'll issue your IRP or commercial plates.

We e-file your 2290 with the IRS, and most filings are processed the same day, which matters when a plate appointment is waiting on the stamp. The tax itself runs $100 to $550 per vehicle depending on weight and when it enters service.

Adding a truck mid-year? The add-vehicle filing is a small add-on, prorated by the IRS from the month you first used it.

Get your FMCSA portal account set up so you can manage your DOT registration online. You need this account to update your information, file biennial updates, view your safety data, manage insurance filings, and access your official records.

Getting in is the hard part: a login.gov account with identity verification, then FMCSA portal registration, then linking it all to your USDOT number. Done wrong, carriers end up locked out of their own federal record.

We walk through the whole setup with you and make sure everything is created, verified, and linked correctly, with a quick orientation at the end so you know where the important things live.

We manage your FMCSA portal account for you. The FMCSA deactivates portal accounts that sit unused, and a dead account always surfaces at the worst moment, like when an insurance filing or federal notice needs a response.

We make sure your account is connected correctly, log in at least once every 90 days to keep it active, and watch for notices and alerts tied to your DOT number. If something needs your attention, you hear from us with what it means and what to do.

Built for carriers who want their compliance handled without learning the portal. You keep full access to your own account the entire time.

Get your USDOT number reinstated after being placed out of service. Common causes include missed biennial updates, insurance lapses, unresolved audit violations, or failing to contact the FMCSA to schedule your safety audit.

You cannot legally operate while out of service, and every parked day costs money. We identify exactly what triggered the status, file the paperwork that resolves it, and verify your record is back to active. In most cases we can reinstate your DOT number the same day, so long as you're not inside a mandatory waiting period.

If your operating authority was revoked along the way, that's a separate fix we handle too.

Get your MC number or FF number reinstated after revocation. Authorities are revoked automatically when required filings drop off record: an insurance lapse over 30 days, a removed BOC-3, or audit and performance violations.

We identify what caused the revocation, tell you plainly whether reinstatement is the right path or whether new authority would serve you better, and resolve whatever would block the filing before it goes in. Then we file for reinstatement with the FMCSA and track your case until your authority is restored, same MC number and all.

The FMCSA typically processes reinstatement requests within 7 business days, though times vary.

Respond to a conditional or unsatisfactory safety rating from a DOT audit. A corrective action plan shows the FMCSA what you are doing to fix the violations and prevent them from happening again, and submitting a satisfactory one on time is what keeps your authority alive.

We review your audit results, draft your corrective action plan violation by violation, help gather the supporting documentation, and file it with the FMCSA. TIPS has a 100% success rate in getting CAPs approved and carriers back in service.

To get started, send us a copy of your Failed Audit Letter from the FMCSA. We review it within one business day and contact you with a plan of action and a final quote. CAPs start at $450 and vary based on the violations listed.

Get your California Number from the California Highway Patrol. The CA Number is California's safety tracking registration, required for any motor carrier operating commercial vehicles over 10,001 lbs point-to-point in California, and for all for-hire operations regardless of weight.

It applies to out-of-state carriers too: if you haul between two California points, the CHP expects a CA Number on your trucks alongside your USDOT number.

We file your application with the CHP and deliver your assigned number. If you're for-hire, you'll also need a California Motor Carrier Permit from the DMV, and the CA Number is the prerequisite for it, so this is the place to start.

Get your California Motor Carrier Permit from the California DMV. Most for-hire carriers transporting property in California need an MCP, and in almost all cases, if you need a CA Number you need this too.

The application requires your CA Number from CHP first, plus insurance verification with the DMV: public liability coverage and workers compensation or proof of exemption. We verify your CA Number (or file it for you), submit the DMV application, and coordinate the insurance filings that gate approval.

Pricing follows the DMV's own categories by fleet size and operation type, from a single truck to fleets of 35, for-hire or private property. The permit renews annually, and we remind you before it expires.

Get your Texas DMV Number for operating commercial vehicles in Texas. Required for motor carriers running vehicles over 26,001 lbs, transporting household goods at any weight, or hauling hazardous materials on Texas roads. Interstate carriers operating in Texas need it alongside their federal authority.

Texas gates the number behind two things carriers don't expect: specific insurance filings with the TxDMV (Form E for liability, Form H for cargo) and proof of enrollment in a drug-testing program. We coordinate the insurance filings and can set up the testing enrollment if you don't have it.

Pricing scales with fleet size and cargo type; pick your options at checkout and the price matches your operation.

Get your Ohio PUCO Certificate (CPCN) for operating as a for-hire motor carrier in Ohio. Intrastate carriers hauling point-to-point within Ohio must hold a CPCN from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio before beginning operations, and renew it annually.

Interstate carriers obtain the CPCN initially, but don't renew it in later years; keeping your UCR registration current covers you from there.

We file your application with PUCO, coordinate the insurance filings Ohio requires, and deliver your certificate. Pricing scales by vehicle count, from one truck to five.

Get your Kentucky KYU Number for operating commercial vehicles on Kentucky highways. Required for vehicles or combinations over 59,999 lbs combined weight, the KYU Number enrolls you in Kentucky's weight-distance tax program.

Kentucky charges tax on miles traveled in the state multiplied by your vehicle's weight class rate, instead of higher fuel taxes. That means quarterly returns from the day your account opens, on the same calendar as IFTA, even for quarters with no Kentucky miles.

We register you with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and explain the reporting, or take it over entirely through our State Permit Quarterly Reports service.

Register for Oregon's weight-mile tax program. Required for commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs combined weight operating on Oregon highways.

Oregon is the odd state out: it charges no fuel tax on diesel and bills carriers on weight and miles instead. The rate varies by weight bracket, and you pay for the actual miles you run in the state. Low-volume carriers file quarterly; high-volume carriers file monthly.

We file your application with ODOT, set up your weight-mile account, and guide you through the Oregon pass. Our State Permit Quarterly Reports service can take the return filing off your plate entirely.

Register for Connecticut's Highway Use Fee. Required for commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs gross weight operating on Connecticut roads, wherever the truck is based.

The program only went into effect in 2023, which makes it one of the most commonly missed registrations for carriers running the Northeast. It's charged on top of fuel taxes, with quarterly reports based on Connecticut miles, due on the same calendar as IFTA.

We register you with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and set up your account, and our State Permit Quarterly Reports service can handle the returns from there.

Register for New Mexico's weight-distance tax program. Required for commercial vehicles over 26,000 lbs gross weight operating on New Mexico roads, which covers most semi-trucks, heavy straight trucks, and hot-shots.

Each vehicle needs its own permit. The base filing covers your first truck, and additional vehicles are a small add-on each. From there it's quarterly returns based on New Mexico miles and vehicle weight, on the same calendar as IFTA.

We register you with New Mexico and deliver your permits, and our State Permit Quarterly Reports service can file the returns so the deadline is never yours to remember.

Register for New York's Highway Use Tax (HUT). Required for commercial vehicles over 18,000 lbs gross weight operating on New York highways, which sweeps in trucks that every other state program exempts, box trucks included.

Each vehicle needs its own HUT certificate of registration. The base filing covers your first truck, and additional vehicles are a small add-on each. Tax is calculated from New York miles and vehicle weight, filed quarterly on the same calendar as IFTA.

We register you with New York State and deliver your certificates, and our State Permit Quarterly Reports service can file the returns for you.

Form an LLC for your trucking company. A limited liability company separates your personal assets from your business, protecting your home, savings, and personal vehicles if something goes wrong on the road. Most insurance companies and brokers also prefer working with LLCs over sole proprietors.

There's a newer reason too: the FMCSA's MOTUS system requires business verification documents at DOT filing, and your Articles of Organization are the first of them. Forming the LLC is now step one of starting a trucking company, not an optional extra.

We file your formation documents with your state and deliver your Articles of Organization. Most states process within 5-7 business days, with expedited options available. State fees are separate, and we confirm yours before filing.

Get your Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Also called a Federal Tax ID, your EIN is required to open a business bank account, apply for DOT authority, hire employees, and file business taxes.

It's also half of your FMCSA paperwork now: the MOTUS system requires your EIN confirmation letter as a business verification document, with a name that exactly matches your formation documents. We file your IRS Form SS-4 and deliver your EIN with the confirmation letter, the same business day when the IRS allows immediate issuance.

One caveat: if you've had an EIN previously associated with your SSN, the IRS requires a manual filing with roughly 2-week processing.
Contact us first and we'll confirm which path applies.