The short answer
To get loads with a new MC, wait until FMCSA shows your authority as active, prepare your W-9 and certificate of insurance, set up factoring or direct pay, then complete carrier packets with brokers that accept new authorities. Deliver your first loads on time with clean paperwork to build the history more brokers want.
Six steps to your first loads
- Confirm your authority is active. Check the FMCSA record for your MC number and wait until it shows your operating authority as active. Brokers check this before they load you.
- Get your documents ready. Have your MC authority letter, a signed W-9 with your EIN and a certificate of insurance from your agent. Brokers ask for all three in every setup packet.
- Set up how you'll get paid. Choose a factoring company or have your bank details ready for direct pay, so brokers can add your payment information during setup.
- Find brokers that work with new authorities. Some brokers only load carriers whose authority has been active for a while, and the requirement varies by broker. Start with brokers that accept new MCs.
- Complete broker setups before you need them. Fill out carrier packets ahead of time with brokers on your lanes, so you're approved when the load you want is posted.
- Book, deliver and keep clean paperwork. Run your first loads on time, send signed BOLs and PODs quickly, and keep your safety record clean. Every delivered load builds the history more brokers look for.
Why some brokers turn new MCs away
Brokers carry the risk if a load goes wrong, so many set a minimum authority age or a minimum number of inspections before they'll use a carrier. The rules are different at every broker. A dispatcher who already knows which brokers work with new authorities saves you a lot of rejected calls.
What your first weeks can look like
Expect fewer broker options at the start. Focus on delivering on time, communicating early if anything changes, and sending paperwork fast. As your authority ages and your record builds, more brokers open up and rates usually improve.
How Prime Trucks Dispatch helps new carriers
- We start your setups with brokers that accept new MCs
- We fill out every carrier packet for you
- We check each rate confirmation before you sign
- The fee is 4.9% per booked load, with no setup fee for new authorities
More on this: broker setup service.
New MC loads: what to expect
Your first loads may pay less than the loads you'll get later, because fewer brokers are open to you at the start. Don't take loads below your costs to get started; take the best loads available from brokers that work with new authorities, and deliver them perfectly. Use the cost per mile calculator to know your floor.
Common questions
How soon can a new MC get loads?
Once FMCSA shows your authority as active and your insurance is on file, you can book with brokers that accept new authorities. Some brokers require more time.
Do I need factoring as a new carrier?
No, but many new carriers use it so they're paid quickly instead of waiting for broker payment terms.
Will a dispatcher help with a brand new authority?
Prime Trucks Dispatch works with new authorities and handles the broker setup packets.