How to Become an Independent Courier Driver in the U.S. (No LLC Needed)

You do not need an LLC or a business license to drive with DAGO Express in the U.S. You can work as a sole proprietor under your own name and Social Security Number (SSN). If you already have an LLC or corporation, you use its EIN. Before your first payment, you fill out an IRS Form W-9 once – that is the only tax paperwork we need to get started.

This guide explains who can drive with us, which vehicles qualify, what insurance you need and how to sign up as an independent courier driver or fleet owner.

Who can drive with DAGO Express

DAGO Express is a courier and freight company operating in the United States as DAGO Express Inc. We work with independent drivers and owner-operators for same-day courier runs, regional jobs and long-distance loads. You are an independent contractor: you decide when you drive and which loads you accept.

Vehicles we work with:

• Bicycles and scooters – documents and small parcels in the city.
• Cars, SUVs and pickups – urgent parcels, boxes and city runs.
• Cargo vans and sprinters – boxes and pallets, local and regional.
• Box trucks and straight trucks – larger B2B shipments.
• Dry vans – full loads, regional and cross-country.

Your vehicle can be owned, leased or rented. You also need a valid driver's license and an iPhone or Android smartphone with the DAGO Express Driver App.

Do I need an LLC or a business license?

No. Many independent courier drivers in the U.S. work as sole proprietors – there is nothing to register with us beyond your account. A sole proprietor simply uses their own name and SSN. If you have an LLC or a corporation, you register with your business name and EIN instead. Either way, we treat you as an independent business partner, not an employee.

Some cities or counties have their own local licensing rules for self-employed people. That is between you and your local authority – DAGO Express does not ask for a business registration certificate.

What is Form W-9 and how do I fill it out?

Form W-9 is the IRS form that gives us your name (or business name), address, tax classification and taxpayer ID – your SSN or EIN. We need it once, before your first payment, so we can pay you and send you a Form 1099 at year end where required.

• Download our fillable Form W-9 – DAGO Express Inc. is already filled in as the requester.
• Not sure what goes where? Watch this 2-minute video on how to fill out a W-9.

Tip: the name on line 1 must match the name the IRS has on file for your SSN or EIN. A typo there is the most common reason a W-9 has to be redone.

What insurance do I need?

It depends on your vehicle:

• Bicycles, motorcycles, cars, SUVs and pickups: Motor Truck Cargo Insurance is not required. Your auto insurance must cover delivery work – check with your insurer, because many personal policies exclude it.
• Vans, box trucks and larger vehicles: commercial auto liability plus Motor Truck Cargo Insurance with at least $100,000 per occurrence. Cargo insurance covers damage to or loss of the freight you carry.

Most U.S. carriers send this as one Certificate of Insurance (COI, ACORD 25 form) that lists auto liability and motor truck cargo together. Please list DAGO Express Inc. as the certificate holder. You can get cargo coverage from any commercial insurer, for example Progressive, or through an independent insurance agent.

Do I need an MC number?

Only if you take loads that cross state lines. For interstate jobs you need an active MC number (operating authority) from the FMCSA, plus a USDOT number for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 lb or more. Without an MC number, you can still take loads that start and end in the same state.

How does pay work?

You are paid per job. The rate depends on the vehicle type and the distance, and you see the job details before you accept a load. You choose which loads you take – the more you drive, the more you earn. Standard payment is within 30 days of a complete invoice with signed proof of delivery; faster payout options are available.

How to sign up

1. Choose your path: Driver Partner if you drive yourself, or Fleet Manager if you run several vehicles with your own drivers.
2. Register online or in the DAGO Express Driver App.
3. Upload your W-9 and, for vans and larger vehicles, your certificate of insurance.
4. Once your documents are checked, you can start accepting loads.

Ready to start? Sign up as a Driver Partner or Fleet Manager.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive for DAGO Express without an LLC?
Yes. You can work as a sole proprietor with your SSN. No LLC, corporation or business registration certificate is required.

Can I deliver with my own car, SUV or pickup?
Yes. Cars, SUVs and pickups are welcome for parcels, boxes and urgent city runs. Cargo insurance is not required for these vehicles.

Do I need cargo insurance for a cargo van?
Yes. Vans, box trucks and larger vehicles need Motor Truck Cargo Insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence, together with commercial auto liability.

Will I get a Form 1099?
Where required by the IRS, we send you a Form 1099 at year end based on the W-9 you provided.

Can I take loads to other states?
Yes, with an active MC number. Loads that stay within one state do not require an MC number.

Am I an employee of DAGO Express?
No. You work as an independent contractor and decide yourself when you drive and which loads you accept.