Your First 30 Days. Done Right.

By Austrin Parker, Founder & CEO, Evernex Transportation LLC

Week 1 — Foundation

• Confirm your MC authority is active (not just applied)
• BOC-3 process agent filed for all states
• UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) paid
• Liability ($1M) & cargo ($100K) insurance bound
• IRP apportioned plates & IFTA account set up
• ELD device installed and registered
• Open a separate business bank account

Week 2 — Money Flow

• Set up freight factoring (get paid in 24h) or confirm quick-pay options
• Create a simple invoice template with your MC number
• Build a 4-week cash cushion — brokers pay in 30+ days
• Track every expense from day one (fuel, tolls, maintenance)

Week 3 — First Loads

• Get on DAT and Truckstop load boards
• Start with shorter, familiar lanes — learn before you stretch
• Never take the first rate: negotiate every load
• Complete broker packets carefully — one error delays payment
• Do thorough pre-trip inspections; breakdowns kill week one

Week 4 — Systems

• Track revenue per mile and deadhead % weekly
• Set a preventive maintenance schedule
• Build relationships with 3–5 good brokers
• Consider a dispatcher — one good dispatcher pays for themselves many times over