How to start a trucking company in Georgia (2026)
Everything a new trucking company in Georgia needs in the first months: registration, licenses, taxes, insurance and the yearly deadlines, with official links.
1. Register your business
Most owners form an LLC with the Georgia Corporations Division. Once it's registered, find it here to claim a free website and see your exact dates.
2. Taxes
Get a free EIN from the IRS first. How. Register with Georgia before your first taxable sale. Register in Georgia
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, you pay estimated tax four times a year.
Georgia's yearly report
An annual registration is due between January 1 and April 1 every year, starting the year after you form. The state fee is about $60.
Example: an LLC formed today would have its first one due Apr 1, 2027.
Your first-month checklist
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Register for a USDOT number
Required before your trucks haul in interstate commerce. Free from FMCSA. Register at FMCSA
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Apply for operating authority if you haul for hire
An MC number lets you carry other people's freight across state lines.
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Get truck insurance filed with FMCSA
Your authority can't go active until your insurer files proof of liability coverage. See options
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File your BOC-3
Names a process agent in every state. Filed online, usually within a day. See options
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Get your EIN
Free from the IRS, online in about 10 minutes. Banks, clients and payroll all ask for it. You never need to pay a service for it. How to get it free
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Open a business bank account
Keeps the company's money separate from yours, which is what protects your LLC. See options
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Line up factoring or a line of credit
Brokers often pay in 30 days or more; factoring pays you in about a day. See options
What insurance costs
| Coverage | Typical per year |
|---|---|
| Full package, first year of new authority | $15,900 |
| Primary auto liability | $6,500 |
| Physical damage | $2,830 |
| Motor truck cargo | $1,060 |
Source: Truck Writers, Sep 2026. Your price depends on your work, location and history.
Other trades in Georgia
Sources: state agency sites linked above; annual report rules compiled from state sites (checked Oct 2026). Rules change, so confirm with the agency before filing.