Landstar Owner-Operator Requirements 

Below are Landstar's minimum requirements. While Landstar minimum requirements may appear to be similar to other carriers, Landstar insists on partnering with only the safest drivers in the industry. Having the safest drivers allows Landstar to move high-value and specialized freight for the most demanding customers, a privilege taken very seriously at Landstar. Meeting the Landstar minimum requirements does not guarantee approval.

• 23+ years old

• Class A CDL (Class A CDL or Class B CDL for Expedited)

• Hazmat endorsement

• One year verifiable OTR experience in the past three years (6 months verifiable OTR experience for Expedited or Hotshot) or three years of OTR experience in the past 10 years, as long as 6 months were in the past 4 years.

• Verifiable driving history

• No DOT-recordable/preventable accident in past 12 months

• No serious violations in past 36 months, including reckless driving or careless endangerment

• No DUI in past 60 months

• Overall safe driving record

• Felony and misdemeanor charges reviewed case-by-case

• No positive drug or alcohol tests

• Provide and maintain proper levels and types of approved insurance during your lease with Landstar including:

  • Unladen Liability and Occupational Accident coverage or, in some cases, statutory Workers’ Compensation coverage, are mandatory. If you do not participate in the Unladen Liability and/or CPP (Occupational Accident insurance) programs facilitated by Landstar, you must show comparable Unladen Liability coverage and/or Occupational Accident coverage through acceptable insurance carriers.

  • If statutory Workers’ Compensation coverage is required and you do not participate in the Fleet Workers’ Compensation Plan (FWCP) program, coverage must be provided by licensed carriers with acceptable interstate coverage.

These are minimum operator qualification standards subject to DOT requirements, and Landstar may impose more stringent requirements at its option. The decision whether to qualify an operator will be made by Landstar in its sole discretion and on a case-by-case basis.

To be approved with Landstar, you will also need to provide and maintain proper levels and types of approved insurance during your lease with Landstar including:

Unladen Liability and Occupational Accident coverage or, in some cases, statutory Workers’ Compensation coverage are mandatory. If you do not participate in the Unladen Liability and/or CPP (Occupational Accident insurance) programs, you must show comparable Unladen Liability coverage and/or Occupational Accident coverage through acceptable insurance carriers.

If statutory Workers’ Compensation coverage is required and you do not participate in the fleet workers’ compensation plan (FWCP) program, coverage must be provided by licensed carriers with acceptable interstate coverage.

Landstar minimum tractor/trailer equipment requirements:

Trucks and trailers that pass a Level One DOT inspection through an approved Landstar inspection facility may be leased on. Tractor must also be capable of functioning with an Electronic Logging Device (ELD). BCO candidates residing in California must be CARB compliant. Find CARB information at arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck and carbcompliance.info.

Does Landstar lease on teams?

Yes, we have a variety of loads including team freight. Currently we have team opportunities with van (van, dedicated van and temperature-controlled van), flatbed, step deck, heavy specialized, expedited (white-glove, pharmaceutical, automotive, and AA&E), and refrigerated.

Does Landstar require an electronic logging device (ELD)?

Yes.

As long as your tractor has an electronically controlled engine, capable of functioning with an ELD (Electronic Logging Device), it does not need to be any particular make, model, color, or year. Always remember, a Landstar driver’s main objective is to run smart, not hard, and the overwhelming consensus among Landstar owner operators is ELDs relieve drivers of having to maintain paper logs.

If you would like to speak to a Landstar recruiter, click here. If you would like to apply with Landstar, click here.

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