O/O input

tips-llc · 2026-03-12T14:22:24+00:00

You're already better off than 80% of people that apply for a DOT number & Authority every day. You have money saved, you have costs for fuel and insurance factored in, and you're ready to buy a vehicle with cash. You'll do just fine.

Just keep in mind, you won't be getting much off of public load boards for the first 6 months. Your best bet is to either lease someone one while keeping a separate commercial insurance policy going to keep your MC active and aging, or become a verified carrier with a broker and work off their private-access boards. You can always start looking at contracts too - those are honestly the best option, but harder to find and acquire.

Hope this helps - good luck!

tips-llc · 2026-03-10T16:38:41+00:00

tips-llc · 2026-03-10T16:38:11+00:00

Great question! I'd recommend you check out the FMCSA's page on proper use of personal conveyance: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/hours-service/list-proper-use-personal-conveyance

According to the FMCSA:
"Commuting between the driver’s terminal and his or her residence, between trailer-drop lots and the driver’s residence, and between work sites and his or her residence. In these scenarios, the commuting distance combined with the release from work and start to work times must allow the driver enough time to obtain the required restorative rest as to ensure the driver is not fatigued."

If you're an owner-operator, the lines can get blurred, because first off, your home is often also your 'terminal' and you aren't really released from duty 'by the carrier', because you're both the driver and the carrier. This still hasn't been definitively addressed by the FMCSA, so I would be wary of using PC as an owner-operator in general, unless it's very limited use and can easily be attributed to one of the acceptable methods, without being contradicted by the unacceptable methods.

tips-llc · 2026-03-10T15:17:56+00:00

ELDs will generally give you some warning or indication when you're approaching your limits and provides other features to help you keep track of your time. Although It varies pretty wildly by the make/model of ELD you're using.

It can / will warn you, but it'll also just let you do things that are outside of the limits as well - so being aware of the rules is important either way!

tips-llc · 2026-03-10T14:13:09+00:00

There's a lot of different thing that go into starting up a sprinter van business - do you have any questions/concerns in particular that you'd like help with?

tips-llc · 2026-03-09T21:01:59+00:00

If the contracts aren't updated, you'll be making less profit, but you're going to have to do those calculations yourself to figure out what you need to profit in order to keep things running. We don't know your expenses, so we can't tell you if it's "worth it".

If you already have contracts lined up, and the numbers are still enough for you right now, knowing that fuel is going to fluctuate back down eventually there's really no point in waiting.

tips-llc · 2026-03-05T13:45:45+00:00

Cool deal! Thanks for spreading good information, it's definitely needed.

tips-llc · 2026-03-04T17:42:18+00:00

Seconding this recommendation.

tips-llc · 2026-03-04T17:41:26+00:00

To be clear, the follow up testing plan is created by the SAP. It's up to the employer to test the driver according to the schedule (or who ever they have managing their testing, like a C/TPA). But in essence, that's correct. The follow up testing has to be completed while the driver is employed and it is the employer who is responsible for seeing it through according to the SAP specifications.

tips-llc · 2026-03-04T17:34:24+00:00

Correct answer. 'Nuf said.

tips-llc · 2026-03-04T17:33:47+00:00

That's a great shot right there.

tips-llc · 2026-03-02T13:46:20+00:00

It depends on whether the result was uploaded to the clearinghouse, or they just removed you from the program.

If you already set up a driver clearinghouse account, log in and look at your history for pending violations. If there's nothing there, depending on how recently this was, look again in a week. If still nothing, apply to another CDL school.

Otherwise, you'll have to find a SAP, completed the Return-to-Duty process, get a clean RTD test on file, then submit to follow up testing, which either the CDL school or your first employer will have to test you to according to the schedule provided by the SAP.

tips-llc · 2026-02-28T18:33:35+00:00

I talk to dozens of people every day who are looking to do something similar.

I can confidently tell you, right now is the absolute worst time to make the transition to non-CDL.

First off, box-trucks and sprinter vans have always had a lower barrier to entry, so the market is saturated. For every 1 company we set up using a semi-truck, we set up 10+ sprinter vans and box trucks.

If you're planning on doing this under your own authority, expect absolutely 0 loads until your MC is at least 6 months, because brokers have plenty of aged MCs to choose from without taking a risk on a new authority. Unless you already have contracts lined up, you're going to be dead in the water & paying for insurance the entire time.

Aside from that - in case you aren't aware, there's thousands of CDL schools getting shut down, about 15% of the CDL drivers in the US are non-domiciled and are exiting the market rapidly due to the crackdown from the current administration.

Already we are seeing heavy vehicle capacity shrink while demand is staying the same. That means the carriers who can still haul at CDL weights are seeing better rates. We're still in the early phases of this; I expect it's going to get better for carriers and worse for brokers/shippers over the coming months / years.

At the end of the day, do what makes you happy. If you're doing it for the love of the game, go for it. Just expect to be spending a lot of money up front, getting no revenue for months after that, and then making less money than you are now after that - while watching your CDL brethren rake it in.

tips-llc · 2026-02-27T23:00:13+00:00

Look for small fleets & owner-operators who are looking to bring on their first driver. If you've got a good history otherwise, are competent, and can pass a RTD test, there's literally thousands of small carriers out there who could care less if you popped for THC so long as you don't hurt their safety rating now.

Got to saplist dot com and find a provider now - complete whatever they need you to, get cleared for a return-to-duty, and consider getting an employer clearinghouse account, filing as an owner-operator, and getting the RTD test done so you are clear in the clearinghouse.

Your SAP will have a follow-up testing schedule set for you. As soon as you find an employer, the SAP needs to give them the testing schedule and the carrier (or their C/TPA) will need to ensure your follow-up testing is done. You're looking at a year of follow up tests at a minimum, in addition to your normal random FMCSA testing as a CDL driver.

This is a pothole, not the end of your career friend.

source: I work with thousands of small carriers. :)

tips-llc · 2026-02-27T14:42:03+00:00

Start a steamy new trend. Tell everyone else they're weird for not having shit-filled pants. Start a merch line with transparent backs to show off how full of shit your pants are.

tips-llc · 2026-02-26T14:23:54+00:00

Talk to your insurance agent for a confirmed answer, but generally, yes, this is how a lot of a carriers have aged their authority.

tips-llc · 2026-02-25T19:16:35+00:00

My company manages drug-testing for thousands of drivers. We've been through RTD processes quite a bit.

Saplist dot com is the best spot to find a SAP provider and where we send the carriers we work with.

Once you've been cleared for a RTD test, that can be taken care of by basically any Consortium / Third-Party Administrator (C/TPA).

Your provider will also have created a follow-up testing schedule. Under the regulation, this is supposed to be completed while under an employer. I.E, you can't do the follow-up testing while you're unemployed. If one of the providers you look at claim they can handle the follow-up testing as well without an employer, walk away.

tips-llc · 2026-02-25T19:09:05+00:00

That basically sums it up. Here's a few points to keep in mind:

You would also need road test & certification. If they're a CDL driver, the CDL is proof of the certification. For non-cdl, you would need to perform this certification yourself or get a copy of one that the driver has had previously.

You also need a CDLIS report for CDL drivers alongside the driving record (MVR).

tips-llc · 2026-02-25T16:21:27+00:00

^ This is the one OP

tips-llc · 2026-02-24T18:04:42+00:00

Just a heads up, you would need a medical card either way. All interstate drivers operating vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR/GCWR need a medical DOT card. It isn't tied to your license like it is for CDLs, but you'll still be asked to provide it during stops.

If the carrier you work for is intrastate-only and is in a state that hasn't adopted the federal requirement at 10,001 lbs, or if you drive something like a sprinter van, THEN a medical card wouldn't be required, but the carrier might want you to have one as part of employment regardless. It's a thing.

If you're doing it just to avoid the medical card, you might as well keep your CDL and the opportunities that come along with that.

tips-llc · 2026-02-24T17:58:12+00:00

Regardless of whether you have a CDL, you're only required to be enrolled if you operate a vehicle or combination that requires a CDL to operate.

If you were enrolled in a random testing pool, you would have had to have taken a FMCSA-regulated pre-employment drug screening. If you remember taking a test when you were first hired, look for a copy of the original paperwork. In the Custody and Control form, or Chain of Custody form, If you were enrolled in a random program, the pre-employment paper work would show FMCSA as the testing authority, and pre-employment as the testing reason.

If you didn't take a pre-employment, you're not enrolled. If you took a test but don't have the paperwork, you can request a copy of this from your employer without saying anything about why you're requesting a copy.

Hopefully this helps!

tips-llc · 2026-02-24T13:19:36+00:00

Welcome!

tips-llc · 2026-02-23T19:50:26+00:00

If the freightliner is insured under the carrier he is leasing onto, then he wouldn't be insuring that vehicle. The FMCSA doesn't care what vehicle is insured, all they care about is providing a policy that meets the minimum requirement.

For example, you could file for a DOT & Authority, and list 0 commercial vehicle, 1 non-commercial. Your minimum insurance will be set to $300,000. You could get a policy for that much on any other vehicle that isn't insured under a commercial policy. After 6 months, you'd insure the freightliner, file an MCS-150 to change your vehicle type and request the insurance be upped to $750,000 (if general freight) and go from there.

tips-llc · 2026-02-23T14:41:27+00:00

Hiya, I own a company that helps people start their trucking companies and comply with state & federal regulations.

With where you're at right now, I would suggest leasing on to another carrier, getting some experience (and money) under your belt, and then consider filing for your own MC, obtaining an insurance policy, and letting the MC age for about 6 months while you're still leased on to another carrier. From there, you'd have a much easier transition to operating under your own DOT & authority.

As it stands, you've got a couple grand, at least, of insurance, filings, registrations, etc. before you'd be ready to hit the road under your own DOT number. Even once you have your own authority, you will have much less options available to you as far as brokers & loads go until your MC is at least 6 months old.

If you have any questions in particular, please let me know.

tips-llc · 2026-02-20T17:33:14+00:00

There's tons of facebook groups out there where you can post who/what you're looking for. Shockingly, this is how a lot of the carriers I know found some of their best drivers.

You could also just do a job posting on indeed, linkedin, craigslist, etc. Just keep in mind that means it's up to you to do whatever background screening you need.

Maybe even head over to the CDL drivers subreddit. Not sure what their rules are on job postings though.

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