How to Start a Trucking Company in Texas
Texas carries one of the largest in-state freight bases in the country, so a lot of Texas operators run intrastate only, and intrastate operation has its own state registration on top of (or instead of) federal authority. We sort out which side of that line your trucks sit on, then set you up the right way.
Reviewed by Adam Smith, Co-Founder.
Authority journey
Application filed
Filed
21-day federal protest period
Federal step
Authority active
Active
Application filed
Filed
21-day federal protest period
Federal step
Authority active
Active
Starting a trucking company in Texas
The first question for any new Texas company is whether you will cross state lines or stay inside the state, because the two paths register differently [VERIFY current TxDMV schedule]:
- Interstate, for-hire
- Carriers running across state lines still need federal USDOT and MC authority.
- Intrastate-only Texas
- These carriers register with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) for intrastate operating authority and may not need an MC number. We confirm which path fits your operation.
What we file for Texas carriers
The filings themselves are federal and done on our national pages. The Texas page just points you to the right ones.
Authority Package (DOT + MC)
USDOT and MC handled together as one setup.
Compliance Services hub
The full setup: BOC-3, UCR, insurance-filing coordination, and the rest.
Truck dispatch in Texas
Once you are road-legal, keeping the truck loaded is the next job. We book freight, handle broker calls, and run the back office so you can stay driving. See how our truck dispatch works across equipment types.
One team gets you road-legal, then keeps you loaded.
Read the full guide to starting a trucking company, or go straight to dispatch.
A Texas example
Texas client story clearing review.
Texas trucking FAQ
Do I need an MC number to run only inside Texas?
Often no. Intrastate-only Texas carriers register with the TxDMV for intrastate operating authority and may not need a federal MC number. We confirm which path fits before filing.
What does an interstate Texas carrier need?
For-hire carriers crossing state lines still need a federal USDOT number and MC authority. The TxDMV intrastate registration does not replace those federal filings.
Who issues intrastate authority in Texas?
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) handles intrastate operating authority for carriers running only within the state.
Setting up in Texas? We will sort intrastate from interstate and file it right.