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State guide

Start and run a trucking company in Missouri

Missouri requires its own intrastate operating authority for for-hire carriers through the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), on top of the federal USDOT Number. The pages below walk each piece, and every fee or limit comes from an official agency page.

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Aug 27, 2026

The short answer

State authority
Required

Weight trigger 26,000 lb GVWR, among others

State filing fee
From $10
USDOT number
Required first

Issued by MoDOT Motor Carrier Services

Credential Missouri Operating Authority (Intrastate Operations)

What these terms cover

State filing fee: $10 per power unit annual license decal, required only for authorized carriers that do not participate in the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) program; renewal decals are also $10 each.

USDOT number: MoDOT requires carriers to obtain a USDOT number before applying for Missouri intrastate operating authority through MoDOT Carrier Express.

Every figure above is a sourced agency fact, checked Aug 27, 2026.How we verify

Everything Missouri requires, in order

Each step is its own page, with the Missouri figures read from the agency that publishes them.

First, the federal side

Identical in every state, and not part of the Missouri 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 Missouri organizes trucking compliance

The Missouri Public Service Commission, Motor Carrier Services Section, issues intrastate operating authority and regulates for-hire motor carriers. Oversize and overweight permits run through the Missouri Law Enforcement Agency (MISS), and IFTA plus apportioned plates are administered by the Missouri Department of Revenue. Expect separate accounts with each agency along the way.

What you will find here

The intrastate authority page owns the Missouri answer: who needs PSC authority, the filing steps, and the insurance minimums. The permits pages cover legal size limits, single-trip and annual oversize/overweight permits, and escorts. The IFTA and IRP pages cover base-state licensing through the Department of Revenue. Every figure is a data field tied to the agency page it came from.

Free calculators that cover Missouri

Frequently asked questions

Does Missouri require its own operating authority?

Yes. For-hire motor carriers transporting property or passengers in intrastate commerce must obtain operating authority from the Missouri Public Service Commission, Motor Carrier Services Section. The triggers turn on for-hire operation; our Missouri intrastate authority page walks the requirements with sources.

Which agencies handle trucking compliance in Missouri?

The PSC Motor Carrier Services Section issues intrastate operating authority. MISS handles oversize and overweight permits. The Missouri Department of Revenue administers IFTA and IRP apportioned registration. Plan on separate accounts with each.

Do I need a USDOT Number before the Missouri paperwork?

Yes. A USDOT Number is a prerequisite for federal and most state trucking credentials, and Missouri intrastate authority applications reference it. Interstate carriers also need federal operating authority before the state steps make sense.

Where do the numbers on these Missouri pages come from?

Every fee, limit, and deadline is a data field tied to the PSC, MISS, or Department of Revenue 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 for this page

The official pages behind the figures above. Fees and rules change, so check the source before you file.

  1. Missouri Operating Authority - Intrastate Operations · Missouri Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services

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.