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State guide

Start and run a trucking company in Alabama

Alabama splits trucking compliance across four agencies. The Public Service Commission (PSC) licenses for-hire carriers that haul inside the state, the Department of Revenue runs IFTA and IRP, ALDOT issues oversize and overweight permits, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) issues CDLs. The pages below take each one in turn, and every fee or limit links to the agency page it came from.

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026

The short answer

State authority
Required for covered operations
State filing fee
From $100
USDOT number
Prerequisite recorded

Authority application scope; check the DOT number page for registration criteria

Issued by Alabama Public Service Commission, Transportation Division, Motor Carrier Services Section

Credential Intrastate authority (PSC certificate or permit under the Alabama Motor Carrier Act)

What these terms cover

State filing fee: Property authority (Form 14A) carries a $100.00 filing fee. Each vehicle is registered at $6.00 on Form B2 or B3, and a transfer or lease of authority (Form 11) is $25.00. The PSC accepts cashier's checks or money orders only.

USDOT number: ALEA requires a USDOT number on Alabama intrastate commercial vehicles above 26,000 pounds GVWR or GCWR, and on passenger and hazardous materials vehicles at any weight. Lighter intrastate trucks are exempt.

Latest stored record/source date: Oct 6, 2026. Review each field's source, scope and unconfirmed notes.How we verify

Alabama compliance topics

Each topic has its own page with stored fields and source notes. Review the operation scope and unconfirmed fields before applying a requirement.

First, the federal side

Identical in every state, and not part of the Alabama sequence below: get your own authority, USDOT number, Form 2290, and what it all costs.

Before you file

  1. Start a trucking companyFederal steps plus this state, in order
  2. DOT numberState USDOT triggers and carrier numbers
  3. CDLLicense fees, testing, endorsements

State credentials

  1. Intrastate authorityState operating authority: rule, agency, fee
  2. Insurance requirementsState liability minimums and insurer filings

Plates, fuel tax and trip permits

  1. IRP registrationApportioned plates and cab cards
  2. IFTAFuel tax license, decals, filing
  3. Trip and fuel permitsTemporary IRP and IFTA permits

Permits and state taxes

  1. Trucking permitsEvery state permit a carrier may need
  2. Oversize permitsLegal limits, permit fees, escorts

How Alabama organizes trucking compliance

The PSC Motor Carrier Services Section issues intrastate certificates and permits and keeps the insurance filings. The Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division, licenses IFTA and issues apportioned IRP plates. ALDOT's Vehicle Enforcement Office sells oversize and overweight permits through its ALPASS system. ALEA runs CDL licensing and testing, enforces the USDOT marking rule, and supplies trooper escorts for superloads. Expect a separate account with each.

What you will find here

The intrastate authority page covers who needs PSC authority, the filing forms and the insurance minimums. The permit pages cover legal size limits, single-trip and annual permits, escorts and travel windows. The IFTA and IRP pages cover base-state licensing with the Department of Revenue, and the CDL page covers ALEA fees and testing. Every figure is a data field tied to its source.

Free calculators that cover Alabama

Frequently asked questions

Does Alabama require its own operating authority?

Yes, for hire. Anyone hauling passengers, property or household goods for pay between two points in Alabama needs a PSC certificate or permit unless the law exempts the move. A private carrier hauling its own goods does not. Our Alabama intrastate authority page walks the forms and fees.

Which agencies handle trucking compliance in Alabama?

The PSC handles intrastate authority and insurance filings. The Department of Revenue handles IFTA and IRP. ALDOT's Vehicle Enforcement Office handles oversize and overweight permits. ALEA handles CDLs and superload escorts.

Do I need a USDOT Number before the Alabama paperwork?

Usually. ALEA requires a USDOT number on intrastate trucks above its weight line and on any passenger or hazardous materials vehicle. Lighter intrastate trucks are exempt. Interstate carriers need the number at any weight that meets the federal definition.

Where do the numbers on these Alabama pages come from?

From the PSC, Department of Revenue, ALDOT and ALEA pages and rules, each shown with a source link you can open. When an agency publishes no figure, the page says so instead of guessing.

Sources

The official sources used on this page. Check the current instructions before you file or pay.

  1. Motor Carrier Services Section · Alabama Public Service Commission, Transportation Division
  2. Motor Carrier Safety Unit · Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol Division

Haul Handbook publishes educational information about trucking registration and compliance requirements. This is not legal, financial, or tax advice. Rules, fees, and deadlines change; confirm with the agency before you file or pay.