Everything Mississippi requires, in order
Each step is its own page, with the Mississippi figures read from the agency that publishes them.
First, the federal side
Identical in every state, and not part of the Mississippi sequence below: get your own authority, USDOT number, Form 2290, and what it all costs.
Before you file
- Start a trucking companyFederal steps plus this state, in order
- DOT numberState USDOT triggers and carrier numbers
- CDLLicense fees, testing, endorsements
State credentials
- Intrastate authorityState operating authority: rule, agency, fee
- Insurance requirementsState liability minimums and insurer filings
Plates, fuel tax and trip permits
- IRP registrationApportioned plates and cab cards
- IFTAFuel tax license, decals, filing
- Trip and fuel permitsTemporary IRP and IFTA permits
Permits and state taxes
- Trucking permitsEvery state permit a carrier may need
- Oversize permitsLegal limits, permit fees, escorts
How Mississippi organizes trucking compliance
Three agencies share the work. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Permit & Motor Carrier Division registers intrastate carriers, handles the state's UCR registration, sells trip permits, and issues oversize and overweight permits through ExpressPass. The Department of Revenue runs apportioned registration and IFTA out of one Clinton office, both filed on the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP). The Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau issues CDLs.
Expect a mix of paper and portals. Intrastate authority is still a mailed application with Form MSR-1. Plates, IFTA returns, and the yearly IFTA renewal live in TAP, and oversize permits live in ExpressPass.
What you will find here
The intrastate authority page owns the MDOT registration answer: who files, the fee schedule, insurance, and the renewal. The permits pages cover legal size and weight limits, permit fees, escorts, and travel restrictions. The IFTA and IRP pages cover licensing, quarterly returns, and apportioned plates, and the CDL, DOT number, insurance, and trip permit guides fill in the rest.
Every figure on those pages is a data field tied to the MDOT, Department of Revenue, or DPS document it came from. Where an agency leaves a fact unpublished, we say so plainly instead of guessing.
Mississippi filing walkthroughs
Step-by-step articles for the recurring Mississippi filings, written against the same sourced records as the pages above.
- Mississippi IFTA Filing Walkthrough (Quarterly)
Mississippi IFTA: register and file on DOR's TAP portal, use the new Excel template, get free decals and renew each December on TAP.
Free calculators that cover Mississippi
- Trucking startup cost calculator estimates your launch budget by state.
- IFTA calculator applies the current quarterly rates to your miles and gallons.
- Oversize permit cost estimator prices a permit by state and dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mississippi require its own operating authority?
Yes. A carrier hauling property between points in Mississippi registers with MDOT as a restricted motor carrier on the General Freight application, with a certificate of insurance on file. Household goods movers and passenger carriers apply separately for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, which goes to a hearing.
Which agencies handle trucking compliance in Mississippi?
MDOT handles intrastate authority, UCR, trip permits, and oversize and overweight permits. The Department of Revenue handles apportioned registration and IFTA from one office. The Department of Public Safety Driver Service Bureau issues CDLs and gives road tests alongside certified third-party testers.
Does Mississippi require a USDOT Number for intrastate trucking?
Mississippi is not on FMCSA's list of states that require one for intrastate registrants. You will still be asked for it on the MDOT General Freight application, on IRP registration, and before any oversize or overweight permit issues.
Where do the numbers on these Mississippi pages come from?
Every fee, limit, and deadline is a data field tied to the MDOT, Department of Revenue, DPS, or FMCSA page it was read from, with a source marker you can open. Anything the agencies leave unpublished is labeled as unconfirmed rather than guessed at.
Sources
The official sources used on this page. Check the current instructions before you file or pay.
- General Freight Operating Authority, Intrastate Guidelines · Mississippi Department of Transportation