Dakota Group, LLC

What Dakota Group, LLC does

Dakota Group, LLC is a US-based trucking compliance services company founded in 2019 by former trucker Ethan Aberbuch using personal savings. The company provides end-to-end FMCSA and DOT regulatory filing services for motor carriers, owner-operators, and fleet managers, including MCS-150 biennial updates, UCR annual filings, BOC-3 process agent designations, USDOT registration and reactivation, FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse registration and queries, drug and alcohol testing program enrollment (with access to 18,000+ testing locations), Form 2290 heavy vehicle tax filings, operating authority support, MOTUS modernization assistance, and state-specific permits including California MCP, IFTA, and IRP.

The company operates a hybrid service model: a US-based team of compliance specialists handles filings in-house, supplemented by a self-service MCS-150 web portal marketed as completing filings in under 10 minutes. Dakota Group maintains proprietary internal tooling for compliance tracking across its 85,000+ client accounts and uses Zendesk, HubSpot, and Google Suite for CRM and operations. The company explicitly differentiates on a 'human-first' approach with no AI or chatbot-driven support.

Dakota Group generates revenue through three primary streams: per-transaction compliance filing fees (MCS-150, UCR, BOC-3, Clearinghouse, Drug Testing, Form 2290, DOT activation) with pricing set via electronic Authorization Forms; recurring subscription/retainer-style consulting packages providing dedicated specialists on monthly, weekly, or daily cadences; and affiliate/referral revenue from an RTS Financial partnership that bundles factoring (same-day funding up to 97%) and fuel card services (25¢/gallon average savings at 3,500+ stations). Distribution combines direct sales (phone, web forms, Calendly scheduling with Director of Sales), self-serve portal intake, content marketing (weekly newsletter, blog), and industry conference presence (MATS, TOW, METS & SAX). The company operates from headquarters in New York (520 West 27th Street) with additional offices in California and Arizona, and reports presence across 10 states.

Name

Dakota Group, LLC

Legal name

Dakota Group, LLC

Website

https://dakotagroupus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dakota Group, LLC is a US-based trucking compliance services firm providing FMCSA and DOT filing services — including MCS-150, UCR, Clearinghouse, and drug testing — to motor carriers, owner-operators, and fleet managers across 10 states, with 85,000+ clients served since 2019.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

DOT/FMCSA Compliance Services

NAICS

Document Preparation Services (561410), Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (5412)

akta.pro primary industry

Provider Network, Credentialing & Contracting Support (BPAAAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Eligibility, Coverage Verification & Policy Administration Support (BPAAAFAC), Claims Adjudication & Rules/Edits Configuration Support (BPAAAFAE)

Keywords

• DOT compliance services
• FMCSA filing services
• Trucking compliance consulting
• Motor carrier compliance
• Transportation regulatory services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per-Transaction Compliance Filing Services: Dakota Group charges per filing/service transaction. Clients submit service requests (MCS-150, UCR, BOC-3, Clearinghouse, Drug Testing enrollment, Form 2290, DOT activation, etc.) and are billed per order. Prices are set by the company and agreed upon via an electronic Authorization Form signed by the client. Payment is processed through a secure merchant processor before filing begins. Compensation varies depending on the client and service type. Cancellation after processing yields no refund; partial refunds possible if filing not yet processed.
2. Consulting Package: Dedicated professional consulting offered on a recurring basis — 'once a month, once a week, every day' — suggesting subscription or retainer-style engagement for ongoing compliance management beyond one-off filings.
3. Fuel Card & Factoring Referral Revenue: Through the RTS partnership, Dakota Group refers clients to RTS for factoring and fuel discount services. This generates referral or co-marketing revenue as part of the partner ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dakota Group provides end-to-end FMCSA and DOT compliance filing services for U.S. motor carriers, owner-operators, and fleet managers, handling MCS-150 biennial updates, USDOT activation/reactivation, UCR annual registrations, BOC-3 process agent filings, operating authority applications, FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse registration and queries, drug and alcohol testing enrollment (18,000+ locations), Form 2290 filings, MOTUS registration support, SAFER profile management, and state-specific permits (California MCP, IFTA, IRP). All filings are completed in-house by a US-based specialist team, with a self-service MCS-150 portal also available.

Product overview

Dakota Group is a compliance-as-a-service company offering a suite of FMCSA and DOT regulatory filing services for commercial vehicle operators. The portfolio centers on core registration and compliance filings (MCS-150, UCR, BOC-3, DOT registration/reactivation, operating authority, and state permits/IFTA), supplemented by drug & alcohol testing enrollment with access to 18,000+ testing locations, Clearinghouse query support, and Form 2290 filings. Additional services include MOTUS support, SAFER profile review, driver qualification file management, and name/authority change support. A compliance consulting package provides dedicated specialists on flexible schedules. Through an RTS partnership, Dakota Group also offers working capital solutions (factoring with same-day funding up to 97%) and fuel card programs. A self-service MCS-150 portal is available for carriers preferring guided self-filing. All services are handled in-house by a US-based team of compliance specialists — the company explicitly differentiates by emphasizing no AI, no chatbots, and direct human specialist access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MCS-150 Filing Biennial Motor Carrier Identification Report filing service covering USDOT updates, vehicle/driver count reporting, and MCS-150 accuracy maintenance required by FMCSA for interstate motor carriers.
• UCR Filing Unified Carrier Registration annual filing service for interstate motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies required to pay UCR fees.
• DOT Registration (USDOT Activation/Reactivation) USDOT number registration, activation, and reactivation services for new entrants and existing carriers seeking to operate commercial motor vehicles.
• BOC-3 Filing Process agent designation filing required for motor carrier operating authority under FMCSA regulations.
• Drug & Alcohol Testing Enrollment DOT-compliant drug and alcohol testing program enrollment with access to 18,000+ testing locations nationwide, covering pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing for CDL drivers.
• Clearinghouse Registration & Query Support FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse employer and driver registration, pre-employment and annual CDL driver queries, C/TPA coordination, and return-to-duty process support for motor carriers.
• Form 2290 Filing Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 filing for carriers operating vehicles with gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more.
• Operating Authority Support For-hire interstate operating authority registration, name/address changes, and reinstatement through MCSA-5889 and related FMCSA forms for motor carriers.
• State Permits & Registrations State-specific commercial vehicle permits including California Motor Carrier Permits, CA numbers, IFTA fuel tax reporting, IRP registration, and local operating number filings for carriers operating across multiple states.
• Compliance Consulting Dedicated compliance specialist support offered on a monthly, weekly, or daily basis to help carriers navigate FMCSA regulations, safety audits, driver qualification files, and ongoing compliance management.
• MOTUS Support Assistance with FMCSA's modernized MOTUS registration system, including account setup, access control, and USDOT registration management through the new portal.
• SAFER Profile Review Public SAFER system profile review and accuracy maintenance to ensure carrier information reflects current legal name, address, operating status, and cargo classifications.
• DOT Activation & New Entrant Support Comprehensive onboarding support for new motor carriers including authority setup, BOC-3 filings, insurance submissions, UCR registration, drug testing enrollment, Clearinghouse registration, and new entrant safety audit preparation.
• Driver Qualification File Management Assistance with MVR reviews, CDL verification, medical examiner certificate tracking, road test documentation, annual driver reviews, and accident register maintenance for motor carriers.
• DOT Number & Authority Name Change Support Support for legal name, DBA, and address updates across USDOT records, operating authority, SAFER profile, insurance filings, and state motor carrier accounts.
• Factoring Services (via RTS Partnership) Working capital solutions through RTS Financial including same-day invoice funding (up to 97% advance rates), no ACH fees, no invoice upload fees, and 24/7 pricing transparency for carriers and owner-operators.
• Fuel Card & Discount Program (via RTS) Fuel discount cards averaging 25 cents per gallon at 3,500+ fuel stations, maintenance and tire discounts at 290+ truck care service centers, credit lines up to $3,200 per truck per week with no annual fees.
• Self-Filing Portal (MCS-150) Online MCS-150 self-filing tool allowing carriers to complete filings in under 10 minutes through structured intake and guided prompts, with professional specialist support available when needed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000+ clients served across the trucking industry
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• RTS (RTS Financial / Shamrock Trading Corporation)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRTS and Dakota Group work together to provide access to factoring and fuel services for Dakota Group's trucking clients. RTS is part of the Shamrock Trading Corporation Family of Brands and provides working capital solutions (same-day funding, no hidden fees, competitive advance rates), fuel cards (average savings of 25¢ per gallon at 3,500+ fuel stations, credit lines up to $3,200/truck/week), and additional services including load boards and transportation management. Dakota Group refers its compliance clients to RTS for financial services; RTS likely refers compliance-needing carriers back to Dakota Group. The partnership is marketed as bundled value for carriers on the Dakota Group website.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TruckingOffice: Provides compliance, operations, and accounting software for trucking carriers. Overlaps with Dakota Group on DOT compliance and IFTA filings while pairing it with broader carrier management.
• MySafetyManager: Avetta-owned platform providing DOT drug and alcohol testing, Clearinghouse, and compliance management to motor carriers. Direct overlap with Dakota Group's drug testing and Clearinghouse services.
• SafetyFirst Compliance: Specialized direct competitor providing DOT and FMCSA compliance, drug testing, and Clearinghouse services to motor carriers. Closely comparable in service offerings and target customer segment.
• 2290 File: Online IRS Form 2290 heavy vehicle use tax filing service for trucking. Direct competitor in the tax/administrative filing portion of Dakota Group's service portfolio.
• US Compliance Services: Direct competitor offering FMCSA/DOT registration, UCR, MCS-150, and ongoing compliance support to motor carriers. Very similar service catalog and customer base.

Broad incumbents

• J.J. Keller & Associates: Established leader in regulatory compliance for transportation, safety, and HR. Offers a broader portfolio of trucking compliance services and managed services that overlap directly with Dakota Group's FMCSA/DOT filing offerings, but at a much larger scale.
• Samsara: Public fleet management platform providing ELD, safety, and compliance tooling. Different primary product (telematics) but increasingly overlaps with FMCSA compliance workflows.
• PrePass / Drivewyze: Major player in trucking safety and compliance including weigh station bypass, safety scoring, and IFTA reporting. Wider footprint than Dakota Group but operating in the same compliance ecosystem.

Others

• RTS Financial: Strategic partner of Dakota Group providing factoring and fuel card services to carriers. Adjacent ecosystem player rather than a direct competitor, but represents the broader trucking BPO stack.

Emerging players

• CarrierHQ: Emerging tech-enabled carrier onboarding and compliance platform. Competes with Dakota Group on DOT registration and overall compliance workflows, but with a more digital-first approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dakota-groups

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dakota Group, LLC