ELD and Compliance for a New Trucking Authority
When does a new carrier need an ELD?
From the first mile run under your own authority. Set the account up during the 21-day protest period so it is live the day your MC activates. ELD Hub is $15 per truck per month, FMCSA-registered, with no contract.
Last verified by ELD Hub.
Register now, activate the day your MC clears
FMCSA requires an ELD from your first mile under authority. Set it up while you wait — $15 per truck per month, no contract, cancel anytime.
4 quick steps — personal details, company info, billing, done. About 2 minutes.
Start here
Startup cost calculator →
Itemized year-one budget for your state and truck count.
90-day launch checklist →
Every filing in dependency order, with deadlines.
How to start a trucking company →
The eight steps from LLC to first legal load.
Filing guides
USDOT number →
Free, issued in minutes. The first filing every carrier makes.
MC operating authority →
$300, non-refundable. Roughly 4–6 weeks from filing to active.
BOC-3 filing →
About $40 one-time. Must be on file before authority activates.
UCR registration →
About $46/year for 0–2 trucks. Due before the calendar year starts.
IRP apportioned plates →
$1,200–$2,500 in year one, filed with your base state.
Drug & alcohol consortium →
$50–$100 per driver per year. Required before the first dispatch.
Launching in your state
Start a trucking company in Texas →
$300 certificate of formation LLC · TxDMV Motor Carrier Division
Start a trucking company in California →
$70 articles of organization, plus $20 statement of information LLC · California DMV Motor Carrier Services
Start a trucking company in Florida →
$125 to form the LLC LLC · FLHSMV Bureau of Commercial Vehicle and Driver Services
Start a trucking company in Georgia →
$100 online articles of organization LLC · Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division
Start a trucking company in Illinois →
$150 articles of organization LLC · Illinois Secretary of State, Commercial and Farm Truck Division
Why new carriers pick ELD Hub
No contract while cash is tight
Month-to-month at $15 per truck. Cancel anytime — nothing to unwind if the authority takes longer than planned.
Keep hardware you already own
A PT-30 or IOSiX you bought secondhand works with ELD Hub at no extra hardware cost. New PT-30 is $150 with cable and free ground shipping.
Ready for the new-entrant audit
Driver logs, DVIRs and supporting documents are retained and exportable for the FMCSA safety audit in your first 12 months.
Set up in minutes, not weeks
Register, add the driver, plug in the device. No install appointment, no onboarding fee.
New authority ELD FAQ
Do I need an ELD before my MC authority is active?
You need one in the truck from the first mile you run under authority. Most new carriers register their ELD while the 21-day protest period runs, so the account is live the day the MC activates. ELD Hub bills per truck per month with no contract, so an early signup costs nothing extra.
What is the cheapest FMCSA-registered ELD for a new authority?
ELD Hub is $15 per truck per month with no contract and no cancellation fee. If you already own a PT-30 or IOSiX device, it works with ELD Hub at no hardware cost; otherwise a PT-30 is $150 with the cable and free ground shipping in the mainland US.
Will the new-entrant safety audit check my ELD records?
Yes. FMCSA audits new entrants within the first 12 months and hours-of-service records are a standard item. Keep six months of driver logs and supporting documents available; ELD Hub retains them in the portal so you can export them for the auditor.
Can I set up the ELD before I have a truck?
Yes. Create the account, add the driver, and add the vehicle when you take delivery. Hardware ships in five to seven business days, so ordering while the authority is pending avoids a gap between activation and your first load.
Register now, activate the day your MC clears
FMCSA requires an ELD from your first mile under authority. Set it up while you wait — $15 per truck per month, no contract, cancel anytime.
4 quick steps — personal details, company info, billing, done. About 2 minutes.