By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026
The launch sequence
Federal first, then Alabama. The federal side is identical in every state and is covered in depth by how to get your own authority; the state facts below come from our sourced Alabama data.
- Get a USDOT Number. Register with FMCSA first. ALEA requires the number on intrastate trucks above its weight line and on passenger and hazardous materials vehicles.
- Apply for PSC intrastate authority. For-hire carriers file Form 14A with the Public Service Commission, register each truck, and have their insurer put liability and cargo coverage on file.
- License for IFTA and IRP if you run interstate. Through the Alabama Department of Revenue: apportioned plates through the Alabama Motor Carrier portal and one quarterly IFTA return for multi-state fuel tax.
The order that works in Alabama
Federal first. Get the USDOT Number, and if you will haul for hire across state lines, the federal operating authority and insurance filings that go with it. Then the state layer: file the PSC property application, have your insurer put liability and cargo coverage on file, and register each truck with the PSC. If you run interstate, register for IRP through the Alabama Motor Carrier portal and file the IFTA application with the Department of Revenue.
Permits come last, and only if your loads need them. Open an ALPASS account with ALDOT before your first oversize move.
Where Alabama differs from other states
Alabama still licenses intrastate for-hire carriers through the PSC, and its intrastate insurance minimums sit well below the federal interstate floor. Permitted oversize loads move in daylight only and never on Sundays. The Department of Revenue lists IFTA and IRP as its only motor carrier filings, so there is no separate mileage tax return.
The Alabama facts you will need
The complete tables live on the dedicated pages: intrastate authority, IRP registration, IFTA, and trucking permits.
Budget the launch before you file
The trucking startup cost calculator builds a line-item estimate from the sourced fee data, and the cost pillar explains every line. Neither replaces a quote for your truck and insurance, which are the two biggest variables.
Common mistakes when launching in Alabama
Skipping the USDOT Number
ALEA requires a USDOT number on heavier intrastate trucks too, so an Alabama-only carrier is not automatically exempt.
Assuming the state minimum covers interstate work
The PSC insurance minimum is far below the federal floor. A carrier that crosses state lines for hire needs the federal amount.
Booking an oversize move at night or on a Sunday
ALDOT permits allow daylight travel only and bar Sundays and named holidays, so plan the move inside those windows.