Guides for owner-operators & small fleets
Straight answers to the questions truckers search most: what things cost, how they work, and how the big names compare. Every price comes from the vendor’s own site or an official source, with the date we checked it.
Starting out
How to become an owner-operator
Step-by-step checklist for starting your own trucking authority: USDOT/MC ($300), BOC-3, insurance minimums, UCR, IFTA/IRP, Form 2290, ELD and factoring.
Updated October 31, 2026How to get MC authority
How to get interstate operating authority (MC number) from FMCSA: who needs it, the $300 fee, insurance and BOC-3 filings, and the 20-25 business day timeline.
Updated October 31, 2026Truck insurance for new authority
What insurance a new trucking authority needs ($750,000 federal minimum for general freight), what brokers ask for, and how to shop quotes as a new carrier.
Updated October 31, 2026ELDs
Best ELD for owner-operators
ELDs for one-truck owner-operators compared by published monthly price, hardware cost and contract terms, with picks by situation. Vendor prices, dated.
Updated October 31, 2026Cheapest ELD
The cheapest ELDs by prices vendors actually publish: plans from $19/month, a one-time $249.99 device, and what month-to-month really costs over 3 years.
Updated October 31, 2026Motive vs Samsara
Motive vs Samsara for owner-operators and small fleets: ELD hardware, driver app, roadside transfer, quote-only pricing and which fits a 1-20 truck operation.
Updated October 31, 2026Load boards
Load board prices
Every carrier plan and price for DAT One, Truckstop, 123Loadboard and free load boards in one table, checked Oct 31, 2026, plus which tier you actually need.
Updated October 31, 2026DAT vs Truckstop
DAT One vs Truckstop for carriers: plan-by-plan prices, rate data, broker credit, book-it-now loads and which board fits a new authority or small fleet.
Updated October 31, 2026Free load boards
Free load boards and broker apps owner-operators can use with no subscription, what you give up versus paid boards, and how to vet brokers for free.
Updated October 31, 2026Factoring
How freight factoring works
Plain-English guide to freight factoring: how invoices get funded, advance rates, reserves, flat vs tiered fees, contracts, UCC liens and what to ask.
Updated October 31, 2026Recourse vs non-recourse factoring
Recourse vs non-recourse freight factoring: who takes the loss when a broker doesn’t pay, what non-recourse usually excludes, and the questions to ask.
Updated October 31, 2026Factoring for new authority
Factoring companies that accept new trucking authorities, compared on published terms: contracts, reserves, recourse, funding speed and fuel perks.
Updated October 31, 2026Fuel cards
Best fuel cards for owner-operators
Fuel cards for owner-operators compared on published fees, discount type, network and credit requirements: AtoB, Mudflap, TCS, Coast and more.
Updated October 31, 2026AtoB vs Mudflap vs TCS
AtoB vs Mudflap vs TCS for owner-operators: fees, how each discount works, credit checks and networks, from each company’s own published terms.
Updated October 31, 2026