WITH EMPLOYEES
7,055
U.S. CENSUS CBP 2023
GUIDES · TEXAS · TRUCKING
Start a trucking company in Texas
UPDATED JUL 2026 · DATA RETRIEVED JUL 2026
THE SHORT ANSWER
To start a trucking company in Texas you'll file a Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State ($300) and get a free EIN from the IRS. If you'll haul freight for other companies across state lines, federal interstate operating authority (MC number, $300) is a separate filing that takes roughly three to four weeks to activate. Any vehicle over 26,000 pounds also needs a Texas intrastate operating authority certificate from TxDMV. Total state filings: ~$300 and 5–10 business days for the LLC itself.
Source: Texas SOS · TxDMV · FMCSA — verified Jul 2026
RETRIEVED JUL 27 2026
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU · CBP + NES
TRUCKING — TEXAS ESTABLISHMENTS · NAICS 48412 · 2023
TX
STATE OF TEXAS
TRUCKING
TRUCKING
SOLO OPERATORS
SOLO
74,561
NONEMPLOYER 2023 · 91.4% OF TOTAL
STATE FILING FEE
$300
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION · FORM 205
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING
5–10
BUSINESS DAYS
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, CBP 2023 + NONEMPLOYER STATISTICS 2023 — RETRIEVED JUL 2026 CENSUS.GOV/CBP /METHODOLOGY/
MARKET SIGNAL
574,866 new business applications in Texas (last 12 mo) ▲ 17% YoY
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics — retrieved Jul 2026 Embed this chart
Texas is a fit for long-distance trucking beyond the LLC paperwork: the state sits at the center of major national freight lanes, and transportation ranks among the highest-volume sectors for new business applications nationwide. The state filing is genuinely the smallest cost on the list. Federal operating authority, insurance, and the TxDMV intrastate certificate for heavier vehicles are what actually gate a truck from hauling its first paid load.
File your Texas LLC in 7 steps
1
STEP 1 OF 7
Choose and search your business name
Pick a name that includes "LLC" or "L.L.C." and isn't already taken. Check existing Texas entities free through the Comptroller's taxable entity search: enter your candidate in the "Entity Name" field and review what is already registered. The Secretary of State makes the final availability call at filing (its own SOSDirect search charges a $1.00 statutory fee per search), so a close match here is your signal to pick something more distinct.
mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us — Taxable Entity Search
Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax Account Status Search, entity name lookup (UI as of Jul 2026)
2
STEP 2 OF 7
Appoint a registered agent
Texas requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state who is available during business hours. You can serve as your own agent, which puts your address on the public record. A commercial agent lists theirs instead and files the consent form for you.
3
STEP 3 OF 7
File the Certificate of Formation (Form 205)
Texas e-filing runs through SOSDirect, and the whole filing side sits behind a login: from the landing page you enter the site, create a session, choose "Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form 205)," enter your business name exactly as you researched it, and pay the $300 state fee by card. Most filings are approved in 5–10 business days.
sos.state.tx.us — SOSDirect landing
Texas SOSDirect — landing; filing continues behind a login, searches carry a $1.00 statutory fee (UI as of Jul 2026)
4
STEP 4 OF 7
Get a free EIN from the IRS
Once the LLC is approved, apply for an Employer Identification Number on the IRS website. It is free, takes about ten minutes online, and you need it to open a bank account, hire, and file taxes. Ignore any site that charges for an EIN.
irs.gov — EIN Assistant
IRS — "Get an employer identification number," EIN Assistant entry (UI as of Jul 2026)
5
STEP 5 OF 7
Create an operating agreement
Texas doesn't require an operating agreement, but banks and partners often ask for one, and it settles ownership questions before they become disputes. A single-member LLC can use a short standard agreement; multi-member LLCs should spell out splits and exits.
6
STEP 6 OF 7
Check licenses and local permits
Texas has no general statewide business license. Check your city and county for local permits before you take your first job. For trucking specifically: any vehicle over 26,000 pounds, or a for-hire household-goods carrier, needs a separate Texas Intrastate Operating Authority certificate from TxDMV in addition to federal USDOT registration. The insurer must file proof of coverage (Form E) directly with TxDMV; a policy alone does not satisfy the requirement. TxDMV's own Motor Carrier Handbook carries the current fee schedule.
7
STEP 7 OF 7
Set up franchise tax and a business bank account
Texas LLCs file an annual franchise tax report; most small businesses owe $0 under the no-tax-due threshold but must still file. Open a separate business bank account with your approved certificate and EIN to keep liability protection intact.
File it yourself, or have it done
Same state fee either way. The difference is your time, and whose address goes on the public record.
DIY
WITH NORTHWEST
State fee
$300
$300
Service fee
$0
$39
Your time
~4 hrs
~10 min
Registered agent (1 yr)
you, publicly listed
included, private
Start your Texas LLC →
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Common questions
Do I need a Texas-specific license to run a trucking company?
Texas has no general statewide business license, but any vehicle over 26,000 pounds, or a for-hire household-goods carrier, needs a separate Texas Intrastate Operating Authority certificate from TxDMV in addition to federal USDOT registration, and the insurer must file proof of coverage directly with TxDMV.
How long before I can legally haul a paid load in Texas?
The LLC itself is approved in about 5 to 10 business days. Federal operating authority for hauling other companies' freight takes longer: a mandatory 21-day public protest period means most new carriers wait three to four weeks after applying before authority becomes active.
Can I be my own registered agent in Texas?
Yes. Any Texas resident over 18 with a physical street address in the state can serve, including yourself. The trade-off is privacy: the agent's name and address go on the public record, and you must be available at that address during business hours to receive legal documents.
What does the $300 Texas filing fee cover?
The $300 is the state's one-time fee for filing the Certificate of Formation (Form 205), which creates the LLC itself. It does not include a registered agent service, an EIN (free from the IRS), or the annual franchise tax report you file to stay in good standing.
Source: BusinessFormation.us analysis of U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 and Nonemployer Statistics 2023 (establishment counts, NAICS 48412), and Business Formation Statistics (monthly applications); retrieved Jul 2026. businessformation.us/start/trucking-company/texas/