Transportation · LLC guide · updated
How to start an LLC for a trucking company
One crash can produce a claim larger than everything a small carrier owns. An LLC keeps a judgment against the business away from your house and personal savings, as long as the company is run as its own business. It also gives FMCSA, brokers, shippers and your insurer one legal name to put on every filing.
Our registered agent is optional: $74.25 a year, the same at renewal. Questions first? Ray or Vinny picks up at (954) 470-8356.
- EIN
- USDOT number
- Operating authority
- BOC-3
- UCR
- Form 2290
Trucking Company businesses in the U.S.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (NAICS 484121) and U.S. Census Bureau, Nonemployer Statistics 2022 (NAICS 48412), the latest U.S. totals.
Why trucking company owners form an LLC
Accident claims
Injury and property claims after a crash can run past your policy limit. The LLC limits what the claimant can reach to the company's assets.
Equipment debt
Truck and trailer loans, fuel cards and factoring agreements belong to the company. Lenders often still ask for a personal guarantee, so read before you sign.
Cargo disputes
A shipper claiming damaged or late freight sues the carrier named on the bill of lading. That should be your LLC, not you.
An LLC keeps the company's debts and claims away from your personal assets when you run it as its own business: its own bank account, contracts signed in its name, and no mixing of money. It does not cover your own negligence, and lenders often ask for a personal guarantee. Insurance comes first.
Licenses and registrations for a trucking company
Federal items link to the agency's own page. State and local rules vary, so pick your state at the top for your state's business portal. Tick items off as you go; the list remembers your progress on this device.
- We do thisForm the LLC and get its EINAlmost every registration above asks for the company's legal name and EIN, so this comes first. We file the LLC with your state for $123.75 plus the state fee, and can get the EIN for $41.25; the IRS also issues it free online.
Insurance and taxes to plan for
Insurance
- Primary auto liability
The policy FMCSA requires on file. Set the limit by what your brokers require, not just the federal minimum.
- Motor truck cargo
Not federally required for most general freight, but nearly every broker contract asks for it.
- Physical damage and occupational accident
Covers your own truck, and covers you if you have no workers' comp.
Taxes
- Heavy Vehicle Use Tax
Trucks with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more file IRS Form 2290 every year; the return for trucks on the road in July is due August 31. The IRS requires an EIN, not an SSN, to e-file it. IRS / agency page
- Per diem and depreciation
Owner-operators often deduct meals while away under the transportation-worker per diem rules, and depreciate the truck. Ask a CPA how an S corporation election changes this.
Many fleets hold trucks and trailers in one LLC and run the dispatch and driving business in another, which leases the equipment. A crash claim then reaches the operating company, not the trucks. It only works if the lease, insurance and bank accounts are kept separate.
Forming the LLC itself: 7 steps in every state
- 1. Check the name
- 2. Name a registered agent
- 3. File with the state
- 4. Sign an operating agreement
- 5. Get an EIN
- 6. Open a bank account
- 7. Keep it in good standing
The filing office, fee and yearly report change by state. Open your state's step-by-step guide.
What it costs to form a trucking company LLC
| Cost | File it yourself | With Vermilion Vitez |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee (paid to the state) | $35 to $520 | $35 to $520 |
| Filing service, operating agreement included | $0 | $123.75 |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 | $0 yourself, or $41.25 if we get it |
| Registered agent, per year (optional) | $0 if you serve yourself | $74.25 |
State fees as charged at our checkout. Industry licenses, permits, bonds and insurance above are separate and set by each agency. Checkout shows the card processing fee before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an LLC before I apply for a USDOT number?
No, but it is easier to form the LLC first. The USDOT number, operating authority, insurance filings and UCR all go in the company's legal name. If you register as a sole proprietor first, you will have to update every one of those records later.
Can an owner-operator leased onto a carrier use an LLC?
Yes. Many owner-operators lease their truck to a carrier under its authority and run their own LLC for the truck, the payments and the expenses. The carrier's lease agreement sets what insurance and paperwork you need.
Does an LLC protect me if I am the driver in a crash?
Only partly. The LLC protects you from the company's debts and claims against the company, but you can still be sued personally for your own negligence behind the wheel. That is why insurance stays the first line of protection.
What state should a trucking company form in?
Usually the state where the trucks are based and the owners live. That is where IRP plates, IFTA and your insurance are tied. Forming elsewhere often means registering again at home as a foreign LLC.
How much does it cost to form an LLC for a trucking company?
Your state's filing fee ($35 to $520 depending on the state) plus $123.75 if we file it, with the operating agreement included. Industry licenses, bonds and insurance are extra and set by each agency.
Is this page legal or tax advice for my trucking company?
No. It summarizes public rules in general terms, with links to the agencies that set them. For your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA, or book a free call with us.
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Ready when you are
Have us file your Trucking Company LLC
$123.75 plus your state's filing fee, with the operating agreement included. Checkout shows the full total, card processing fee and all, before you pay.
Rather talk first? Call Ray or Vinny at (954) 470-8356.