You've got the truck and the miles in you — what you don't have yet is your own MC. That's not a wall, it's a starting line. You can run legal this week under a vetted carrier's authority, keep the bulk of the revenue, and build toward your own numbers when the math is right. Fortuna lines up the carrier, checks the fine print, and puts a real dispatcher on your load from day one.
Lease-on means you legally operate under a real, active carrier's MC and DOT authority — not a number rented on the side. Renting an MC is illegal and FMCSA prohibits it, so we don't touch it. Before you sign anything, Fortuna vets the carrier for you: payment history, CSA safety score, and the fine print that decides how your money and your miles get treated. Their authority covers the freight, with primary auto-liability and cargo insurance sitting behind the load. On your side, we point you toward occupational-accident and non-trucking-liability coverage so you're protected in the cab, not exposed.
How you actually get paid
You see the broker's real rate confirmation on every load — what the load paid is what you see, no hidden markup layered on top. You keep the large majority of the linehaul, typically 70–85% depending on the carrier's split, and settlements run through the carrier. There's no deposit to start, ever. If anyone asks you to pay to "hold a spot," walk away. Your dispatcher also chases the paperwork most drivers eat alone — TONU when a load cancels, lumper receipts, detention — so nothing quietly disappears from your check.
Moving to your own MC when you're ready
Lease-on is a fast start, not a cage. There's no lock-in, and when the numbers say go, we help you file for your own MC and DOT so you keep more and answer to no one. Until then:
Your hours and your ELD stay yours — we never push you past HOS or touch your logs.
You build a clean load history and broker relationships under real authority.
You move to your own numbers on your timeline, with the same desk still booking your freight.
Common questions
Is running under someone else's authority even legal?
Yes. Leasing on to an active carrier is legal and common — you operate under their MC, DOT, and insurance on a proper lease agreement. What's illegal is renting an MC number to run as if it were your own, which FMCSA prohibits. We only place you with real, vetted carriers, never a rented number.
Do I need my own insurance if I have no MC?
The carrier's authority carries the primary auto-liability and cargo coverage on the freight itself. You'll typically still want your own occupational-accident and non-trucking-liability coverage for injuries and time off-dispatch. We point you to the right cover before your first load, not after something goes wrong.
How do I get paid, and how fast?
You keep the large majority of each load's linehaul and settle through the carrier, and you see the broker's actual rate confirmation on every load. Exact pay timing depends on the carrier's settlement schedule, which your dispatcher walks you through up front so there are no surprises.
Will leasing on trap me from getting my own MC later?
No. There's no lock-in. Lease-on is meant as a running start while you build a clean load history. When you're ready, we help you file for your own MC and DOT and keep dispatching you the whole way through the switch.
How soon can I actually haul without an MC?
Usually about 5–7 days: a short call, your truck and a couple of documents, then carrier onboarding. Once the paperwork clears, your dispatcher books your first load. We can't promise an exact date, since carrier onboarding times vary, but we push it as fast as it's safe to.
Dispatch desk open now
Get loaded this week.
A real dispatcher answers in under 5 minutes, in your language — English, Ukrainian or Russian. No contract to start.
