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Missouri trucking

Missouri intrastate operating authority

Yes, Missouri requires state operating authority for for-hire carriers: a certificate or permit from the Missouri Public Service Commission, Motor Carrier Services Section. You apply through the PSC after you hold a USDOT Number, and your insurer files proof of coverage with the state. Every figure on this page comes from the PSC's own pages.

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

The Missouri requirements table

Authority required
Yes
Agency
MoDOT Motor Carrier Services
Program name
Missouri Operating Authority (Intrastate Operations)
State carrier number
None assigned
Application
Application form not yet verified against the agency page; carriers apply through the state motor carrier authority (confirm the exact form with the agency).
Filing fee
From $10; fee for each authority type below
Renewal
Renewal terms per the agency; confirm with the carrier section.
Statute
RSMo Chapter 390 (exemptions at RSMo 390.030)

Application fee schedule by authority type

Missouri charges one application filing fee per class of authority, so what a carrier pays depends on the certificate being applied for rather than on a term or a fleet size.

Missouri motor carrier authority application fees by authority type
Authority typeFiling feeRecurringNotes
Missouri Operating Authority (Intrastate Operations)$10Yes$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.

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Who the requirement covers

GVWR threshold
26,000 lbMoDOT requires carriers to obtain a USDOT number before applying for Missouri intrastate operating authority through MoDOT Carrier Express.
For-hire only
YesFor-hire intrastate carriers need authority; private carriers operating not for hire are outside the requirement.
Property carriers
Yes
Passenger carriers
Yes
Household goods
Yes
Hazmat
Yes
For hire only absent
No

Missouri insurance minimums

State minimums can differ from the federal filing levels; the federal side is covered in our insurance filings guide.

Liability minimum
State intrastate liability minimum not yet verified against the agency page; rendered as Not confirmed.
By operation type
See the operation-type table below
Cargo minimum
Not confirmed
Differs from federal
Not confirmed

Minimum liability by operation type

General freight is not the floor for every carrier. Hazmat and larger passenger operations carry higher minimums; buy against the row that matches what you haul.

Missouri minimum liability coverage by operation type
Operation typeMinimum liability
general_freightNot applicable

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Other Missouri insurance requirements

Cargo scope
None for general freight; household goods movers require cargo coverage per the agency.

Insurance filing forms

Your insurance company makes these filings with the state, not you.

Liability proof
Filed by insurer with the agency

More Missouri authority rules

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

Who needs PSC operating authority

The general trigger is for-hire operation: a motor carrier transporting property or passengers for compensation in intrastate commerce needs PSC authority. Private carriers not operating for hire are outside the requirement. The trigger fields below carry the PSC's own wording so you can judge your case against the source.

Filing and fees

Missouri issues authority as a certificate or permit depending on the operation. The application is filed with the PSC, and the state charges filing and statutory fees that the PSC publishes. Your insurer files proof of liability coverage with the state as part of the application. The fee table on this page lists each amount from the PSC page.

Insurance minimums and filings

Missouri sets liability minimums for authorized carriers, and your insurance company makes the filing with the PSC, not you. The minimums table on this page lists each operation type with its amount from the PSC page.

Renewal and processing

Authority is renewed on the PSC schedule, and your insurer must keep proof of coverage on file continuously. After approval you manage the certificate through the PSC Motor Carrier Services Section.

Where this fits in the Missouri launch

A cell reading "Not confirmed" means the agency did not publish a figure we could verify, so we left it open rather than guessed. For the full launch order, work through start a trucking company in Missouri, then line up IRP registration and IFTA if you run beyond state lines. To compare every state at once, see the national intrastate authority table.

Frequently asked questions

Does Missouri require intrastate operating authority for for-hire trucking?

Yes. For-hire motor carriers transporting property or passengers in intrastate commerce need a certificate or permit from the Missouri Public Service Commission. Private carriers not operating for hire are outside the requirement.

Do I need a USDOT Number before PSC authority?

Yes. A valid USDOT Number is a prerequisite for the federal and state credentials Missouri references, even for carriers that never leave the state.

What insurance does Missouri require for intrastate carriers?

Liability minimums set by operation type, filed by your insurer with the PSC. The sourced table on this page lists each amount.

What does Missouri authority cost?

The total depends on the filing and statutory fees the PSC publishes for the authority type you need. The fee table on this page carries each amount from the PSC page.

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.