10/23/2026
Getting your DOT authority active takes longer than most new carriers expect.
Between setting up your LLC and EIN, applying for your DOT and MC numbers, and the mandatory 21-day wait period, the first phase alone takes roughly 38 days.
Add in another 4 to 6 weeks to process your IFTA and IRP, and you're already looking at a longer timeline just to get cleared. If you want your authority active and ready to go by the first of the year, you need to start the process right now.