How to Obtain Trucking Permits

Trucking permits are essential to start your trucking business and become DOT/FMCSA compliant. Permits are used to ensure that qualified drivers and trucking companies comply with specific rules and regulations, which helps ensure traffic safety for all road participants, including your employees.

Trucking permits allow you to operate in other states, transport certain goods or hazardous materials, operate even though you are above weight limitations, and more. Though receiving such permits isn’t easy, they are worth the effort, especially since they allow your company to reach new horizons, build up your reputation, and create trust both for your partners and customers alike.

Simplex Group Permits can help you receive all the necessary permits you want to add to your trucking company without going to various places and getting lost in all that paperwork. You can use such trucking services to navigate federal and state requirements and easily ensure compliance. But how exactly do you obtain trucking permits?

Determining What Trucking Permits You Need

Before obtaining any trucking permit for your truck company, you must determine what type of permits and licenses you need. For example, suppose you want to transport hazardous materials. In that case, you will need a motor carrier permit (MCP), and your drivers, apart from needing to have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL), will need to obtain a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) permit.

If you want to perform intrastate or interstate operations, transport household goods, or you are dealing with oversized and overweight loads, you might need other specialized permits. Once you determine exactly what type of operations you want to engage in with your trucking company and where you want to operate, the next step is to research the requirements needed for obtaining said permits. The good news is that, in some instances, the requirements for different permits are similar.

Researching the Requirements

If you work with a premier service company that deals with issues related to the trucking industry, from compliance to permits, and tax reporting, you will easily find out exactly what requirements you need to meet to pursue your goals.

Each type of permit has its own specific requirements, ranging from insurance certificates, vehicle registrations, safety certifications, and other types of documents. In essence, you have to prove that your vehicles and drivers are up for the task by meeting various safety and competence requirements and that your company is also insured or able to deal with liability claims should they arise.

Completing the Application

The next step in obtaining your desired trucking permits is to complete the necessary application forms. The most important thing when completing a permit application form is to be accurate and provide complete information.

Some of these permit applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. Yet, if you work with a company that offers these types of services in the trucking industry, you won’t have to deal with wrongly filled applications, sending them to the wrong jurisdiction, and other issues. You will understand exactly how the process works. Since your application will be checked by professionals beforehand, you will have higher chances of approval and receiving your trucking permits earlier.

Paying the Fees and Waiting for Approval

Each type of trucking permit comes with its own fees, and in some instances, you will need to pass some inspections to be approved. For example, when you want to receive an MCP permit, a safety inspection will be conducted on your vehicles.

Similar inspections might occur for other permits, so it’s best to prepare your vehicles, drivers, and paperwork accordingly. In most instances, receiving approval for trucking permits can take several days or even weeks, depending on the type of permit you are pursuing and your jurisdiction.

Displaying the Permit

Once you send out your application, pay the fees, and go through the inspections, you will receive your trucking permits, but that doesn’t mean everything is over. Once your permit is approved, you must display it in the vehicle as state and federal laws require. For example, companies that received their MCP permit must have their drivers display it on their side door or on the left side of their trailers. Similar or different rules might apply to other types of permits.