How to start a trucking company in Texas (2026)
Everything a new trucking company in Texas 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 Texas Secretary of State. 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 Texas before your first taxable sale. Register in Texas
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, you pay estimated tax four times a year.
Texas's yearly report
No report to the Secretary of State, but a franchise tax report and Public Information Report are due to the Comptroller by May 15 every year, starting the year after you form. There's no state fee if you file on time.
Example: an LLC formed today would have its first one due May 15, 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 Texas
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.