Buying and selling trucking companies
How aged authorities, valuations and FMCSA transfers actually work, written by people who close these deals.
Buying a trucking company
How to buy an MC authority the legal way
You can’t buy an MC number by itself. Here’s how buying an aged trucking company actually works, what to check, and how to stay on the right side of FMCSA.
Aged MC authority vs. a new authority
Should you apply for your own MC or buy an aged trucking company? Compare cost, time to first load, broker access, insurance and risk.
MC authority transfer: what happens after you buy
What to update with FMCSA, your state and insurers after you buy a trucking company, so the USDOT number and MC authority stay active.
Due diligence checklist for buying a trucking company
Everything to check before you buy a trucking company or aged MC authority: FMCSA records, insurance, liabilities, ownership and documents.
How to check a carrier on FMCSA SAFER
How to look up a USDOT number on FMCSA SAFER and read authority status, inspections, out-of-service rates, crashes and insurance.
What an LLC membership interest purchase means
Why buying a trucking company’s LLC membership interest keeps its USDOT number and MC authority, and how it differs from an asset purchase.
Commercial truck insurance after buying a trucking company
Federal minimums, what brokers require, and how to switch insurance after buying a trucking company without a lapse on your authority.
How to get set up on Amazon Relay
Amazon Relay requirements for carriers: authority age, safety, BASIC scores, insurance, and why Relay access adds value to a trucking company.
Box truck vs. semi authority
Compare box truck and semi-truck operating authority: licensing, insurance, broker access, load types and how each affects company value.
Red flags when buying an MC: how to avoid scams
Common scams and red flags when buying an aged MC authority or trucking company, and how to protect your money and your authority.
Selling your company
How much is my trucking company worth?
What drives the price of a trucking company or aged MC authority: authority age, safety record, insurance history, broker setups, equipment and profit.
How to sell your trucking company: step by step
How to sell a trucking company or aged MC authority: valuation, listing, buyer NDAs, letter of intent, escrow, closing and FMCSA updates.
Should you close your trucking company or sell it?
Thinking of shutting down your trucking company? Compare what you get from selling an aged authority versus closing it down.
How to prepare your trucking company for sale
Simple steps that raise your sale price and speed up closing: insurance, FMCSA records, state standing, documents and clean books.
Selling with trucks vs. authority only
How selling a trucking company with trucks, drivers and contracts differs from an authority-only sale in price, process and buyers.
Tax basics when selling a small trucking company
A plain-English overview of how selling a small trucking company is taxed: equity vs asset sale, capital gains, depreciation recapture and more.
FMCSA rules & compliance
Why brokers want a 1 to 2 year old authority
Why freight brokers and shippers turn down new MC authorities, what they check in carrier setup, and how new carriers can get loads sooner.
FMCSA’s Motus registration system explained
What FMCSA’s new Motus registration system changes for carriers: identity verification, MCS-150 updates, MC numbers, and buying or selling a company.
Are MC numbers going away?
FMCSA plans to move to a USDOT-number-only system. Here’s the current status and what it means for aged authorities and company sales.
Safety ratings explained: Satisfactory, Conditional, Not Rated
What each FMCSA safety rating means, how carriers get rated, and how the rating affects broker approval, insurance and sale price.