The Challenge Every New Carrier Faces
You have your MC number, your truck is ready, insurance is in place — but no one will give you a load. New carriers face a chicken-and-egg problem: brokers want experience, but you can not get experience without loads. Here is exactly how to break through.
Step 1 — Make Sure Your Authority Is Active
Your MC authority takes 20-25 business days to activate after application. Do not start looking for loads until you confirm your authority is active at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov. Search your MC number and confirm the status shows "ACTIVE".
Also confirm your insurance filings (MCS-90 and BMC-91) are showing in the FMCSA system. Call your insurance agent if they are not visible within 24 hours of your authority activating.
Step 2 — Set Up Your Load Board Accounts
Sign up for DAT One and Truckstop.com immediately. Both offer free trials. DAT is the largest load board with the most freight volume. Having both gives you access to the most loads.
Complete your carrier profile fully: MC number, equipment type, home base location, preferred lanes. A complete profile helps brokers find you when they are searching for available trucks.
Step 3 — Prepare Your Carrier Packet
Before calling on any load, have your carrier packet ready to email instantly. Brokers will ask for it before they can book you. Include:
- MC and DOT numbers
- Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing $1,000,000 liability and $100,000 cargo
- W-9 form
- Signed broker-carrier agreement (brokers usually send their own)
- Equipment description
Step 4 — Target the Right Brokers First
Large national brokers (Echo, Coyote, XPO, Worldwide Express) are harder to get approved with as a new carrier — they require 6-12 months of authority and a safety rating. Instead, start with:
- Small regional brokers — more willing to work with new authorities
- Brokers posting loads on DAT with low credit scores — riskier but more accessible
- Factoring company load boards — some factoring companies also have load boards with broker relationships
Step 5 — Call Every Load, Not Just Email
New carriers have to hustle. Call the broker's number on every load you are interested in — do not just click "email carrier packet". Phone calls get faster responses and let you build rapport. Say:
"Hi, I'm calling about load [number] from [origin] to [destination]. I have a new authority — 6 weeks in — clean record, 2023 equipment, and I'm ready to roll today. Can we make this work?"
Honesty about being new builds trust. Brokers respect carriers who are upfront.
Step 6 — Post Your Truck
On DAT and Truckstop, you can post your available truck so brokers can find you. Post your truck every day — ideally by 7am. Include your location, available date, destination preference, and equipment type. Brokers actively search for available trucks when they have last-minute freight.
Step 7 — Consider Leasing On With a Carrier
If getting loads independently proves difficult in the first month, consider leasing your truck on with an established carrier temporarily. This builds your safety record, gives you freight, and keeps cash flowing while you build broker relationships on the side.
What to Expect the First 90 Days
- Days 1-30: Hardest period. Expect rejection. Focus on getting approved with any broker willing to work with you. Accept rates that cover your costs even if margin is thin
- Days 31-60: Start getting repeat calls from brokers who liked working with you. Rates improve slightly
- Days 61-90: CSA data starts appearing, safety rating process begins. Authority is more established. More brokers will work with you
Running Your First Load With TruxlyOS
TruxlyOS is designed for carriers of all sizes including brand-new authorities. Enter your first load, assign yourself as driver, and when the load is delivered, generate a professional invoice in one click. Brokers pay faster when they receive organized, professional invoices with all required documentation attached.
