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Missouri trucking

How to start a trucking company in Missouri

A new Missouri for-hire carrier gets a USDOT number, opens a MoDOT Carrier Express account, applies for intrastate authority and has its insurer file proof of coverage. Carriers that cross state lines add IRP plates and an IFTA license from the same MoDOT office. Private carriers hauling their own goods inside Missouri skip the authority step.

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026

The launch sequence

Federal first, then Missouri. 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 Missouri data.

  1. Get a USDOT number. Register with FMCSA. MoDOT requires it before an authority application.
  2. Open a MoDOT Carrier Express account. Complete the new customer application; every MoDOT program runs through this account.
  3. Apply for intrastate authority if you haul for hire. Apply online and have your insurer file Form E. Buy a decal for each power unit if you are outside UCR.
  4. Add IRP and IFTA if you run interstate. Apportioned plates first, then a free IFTA license on your Missouri plate.

The order that works in Missouri

Register any corporation or business name with the Missouri Secretary of State; MoDOT matches names on IFTA and IRP applications. Get your USDOT number from FMCSA. Complete the new customer application in MoDOT Carrier Express, then apply for intrastate authority and have your insurer file Form E. If you are outside UCR, buy a license decal for each power unit.

For interstate work, register for IRP plates in the same account with your title, county personal property tax receipt and mileage, then add IFTA once you hold a Missouri plate.

Where Missouri differs from other states

Missouri runs nearly everything through one agency and one portal. Its intrastate insurance minimum is a split limit well below the federal general-freight figure, and it charges a small per-truck decal instead of an authority filing fee. IRP plates are permanent with a yearly cab card, and you need a county personal property tax receipt to renew them.

The Missouri facts you will need

State authority required
Yes
State agency
MoDOT Motor Carrier Services (830 MoDOT Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65102; 1-866-831-6277; contactmcs@modot.mo.gov)
State filing fee
$10 ($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.)

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 Missouri

  • Going to the Department of Revenue for IFTA or plates

    MoDOT Motor Carrier Services handles IFTA, IRP and trip permits. Revenue handles only driver licenses.

  • Assuming interstate authority covers Missouri hauls

    Point-to-point for-hire moves inside Missouri need Missouri authority.

  • Missing a quarterly IFTA return

    File every quarter online, even with no miles, or the penalty applies.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the USDOT number if I only run inside Missouri?

Not as a for-hire carrier: MoDOT requires one before you apply for authority. A private carrier needs one once its truck is above the state weight line in RSMo 307.400, or hauls placarded hazmat.

What does it cost to start a trucking company in Missouri?

There is no authority application fee, and IFTA is free. Carriers outside UCR pay a small decal fee per truck each year. IRP plates are priced on weight and miles, and insurance is the largest cost.

Who handles fuel tax for Missouri carriers?

MoDOT Motor Carrier Services, not the Department of Revenue.

Do I need a Missouri plate before applying for IFTA?

Yes. MoDOT asks for a Missouri registration receipt or cab card with the IFTA application.

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.