Trucking Authority University · Powered by QP Trucking Solutions
Learn the paperwork side of trucking — free.
We teach prospective and current authority owners how to start and run the business side of a trucking company — from LLC, USDOT and MC filings to BOC-3, IFTA, UCR and healthy cash flow. When you're ready for hands-on help, QP Trucking Solutions handles the filings for you.
Where are you in the process?
Everything on this site starts from one of two places.
Not yet applied
You're researching or planning your trucking authority. Start with the Before Applying lessons on startup costs and USDOT number vs. MC authority, then see what QP's processing fees do and don't cover.
Explore Free Authority SetupAlready applied
Your application is in — or your authority is active. Run a free Readiness Check on your USDOT or MC number and verify BOC-3, BMC-91 insurance, UCR, and New Entrant Safety Audit readiness.
Get readiness help
Brandon Bennett
Your Instructor · Trucking Authority University
Meet Brandon
Brandon is the voice behind Trucking Authority University. In short, plain-English lessons and guides, he walks through the paperwork and business decisions every authority owner faces — from choosing between your own trucking authority and leasing on, to keeping UCR, MCS-150, Form 2290 and IFTA deadlines from sneaking up on you.
Every written lesson in our University library and every guide in our Web Articles hub is free to read right now — no fluff, no jargon, just the steps in order.
What's Included — and What Isn't
We'd rather you know exactly where your money goes before you talk to anyone.
Covered by QP processing fees
- Free lessons and guides on starting and running your trucking authority
- A free consultation to figure out which USDOT number, BOC-3, IRP or IFTA filings your operation actually needs
- Preparation, submission and management of the paperwork for the services you choose
- Published processing fees — discounted for QP freight factoring or commercial truck insurance clients, and free for Circle Network members on most services
Not included
- Government fees — these are set by FMCSA, the IRS and state agencies, and are always paid separately
- Third-party costs such as commercial truck insurance premiums, truck payments or fuel — Circle Network membership does not mean all of your business costs are covered
- Services you don't need — not every carrier requires every item on our schedule
Circle Network
One team. Most filing fees waived.
Carriers who factor with QP and use a preferred insurance vendor qualify for the Circle Network — where most of the processing fees on our published schedule are waived entirely. Factoring and insurance clients also get access to the Nation's Largest Fuel Discount Network.
How Circle WorksCircle
Example: an LLC setup that costs a new customer $300 in QP processing fees is free for Circle Network members.
Why Carriers Trust Us
Not awards or made-up numbers — just how we actually operate.
Education-first, always free
The lessons, web articles and Readiness Check on this site cost nothing and pitch nothing you haven't asked about.
Published, transparent pricing
Every QP processing fee is on our pricing page — including what's included, what's excluded, and which fees belong to the government.
Real people, real number
Call 833-ROAD-HOG during staffed hours and a QP team member picks up — no bots, no runaround.
Backed by QP Trucking Solutions
Trucking Authority University is the education program of QP Trucking Solutions, a full-service trucking back-office provider.
Connected Knowledge Graph
Popular Trucking Authority Topics & Web Articles
Explore every step of starting, activating, insuring, and maintaining your motor carrier authority through clickable short-tail and long-tail guides.
Short-Tail Keywords
Core trucking & compliance topics
Long-Tail Search Guides
Specific step-by-step questions linked to full web articles
Official Agency & Industry Web Articles
FMCSA Registration & Licensing Official Portal
Official federal registration rules for USDOT numbers, operating authority, and biennial updates.
FMCSA SAFER System — Public Carrier Snapshot
Public federal safety and authority snapshot inspected by shippers, brokers, and enforcement.
IRS Trucking Tax Center (Form 2290 & EIN Resources)
Official IRS tax center built specifically for commercial motor carriers and owner-operators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers on free education, published QP processing fees, Circle Network waivers, and government filings.
No. Trucking Authority University is a free education program powered by QP Trucking Solutions, a private company. We are not affiliated with USDOT, FMCSA or any government agency, and you can always file documents directly with the agencies yourself.
Nothing. The lessons, guides and readiness checks on this site are free. If you later want hands-on help with filings, QP Trucking Solutions charges the processing fees published on our pricing page.
QP processing fees cover preparing and managing your paperwork. Government fees — the amounts charged by FMCSA, the IRS and state agencies — are separate and are paid to those agencies.
The discounted tier applies to QP factoring or insurance clients. Circle Network pricing — which makes most listed processing fees free — requires factoring plus a preferred insurance vendor.
Yes. Start on the Already Applied page: run a free readiness check on your USDOT or MC number and see what's typically still needed — BOC-3, insurance filings, UCR, testing programs and more.
A QP representative will contact you during staffed hours to schedule a free consultation. We never ask for payment or sensitive documents through this website.
A USDOT number identifies your company for safety inspections, crash data, and fleet census tracking, whereas an MC operating authority number grants legal permission to haul regulated freight for hire across state lines. Most interstate owner-operators booking brokered loads need both numbers active.
Once your FMCSA application is submitted, federal rules require a mandatory vetting/protest window (typically around 21 days), and FMCSA activates your authority only after both an electronic BOC-3 process agent filing and an electronic BMC-91 primary liability insurance filing are on record.
Yes. Every lesson in Trucking Authority University, every deep-dive Web Article, and our live USDOT/MC Readiness Check are completely ungated and free to use.
Request Help
Questions about your authority, or ready for a hand with the paperwork? Tell us where you are — a QP Trucking Solutions representative will reach out to schedule a free consultation.