By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 4, 2026
The launch sequence
Federal first, then New Hampshire. 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 New Hampshire data.
- Form the business and get an EIN. Register with the New Hampshire Secretary of State and get an Employer Identification Number. IFTA will not accept a Social Security number and wants proof of a physical New Hampshire business location.
- Decide whether you need a state certificate. General freight needs none. A for-hire mover needs a Household Goods Carrier certificate, and a for-hire passenger carrier needs a Passenger Carrier certificate, both from the Department of Safety.
- Register with FMCSA if you cross state lines. Interstate carriers get a USDOT number from FMCSA, add operating authority if they haul for hire, and file UCR with New Hampshire as the base state. Mark each truck with your name, plus the USDOT number on interstate trucks.
- Buy insurance. Interstate and hazmat carriers carry the federal minimums the state adopts. Intrastate general freight has no state floor, so pick limits with your insurer, shippers and lenders in mind. Movers keep a certificate of insurance on file.
- Get the town permit, then IRP plates. New Hampshire residents get the town or city registration permit first. Interstate fleets then open an IRP account with Motor Carrier Services in Concord or Twin Mountain.
- License fuel tax under IFTA. Interstate carriers with qualified vehicles license through Motor Carrier Connect, order a decal set for each truck, and file quarterly returns.
- Line up CDLs and permits. Drivers of heavy trucks need a New Hampshire CDL, with entry-level driver training before the road test. Add oversize or overweight permits from NHDOT only when a load needs one.
The order that works in New Hampshire
Business first. IFTA wants an active New Hampshire Secretary of State registration, an Employer Identification Number and proof of a physical New Hampshire business location, so settle all three before any credential.
Then federal. If you haul across state lines, register with FMCSA for a USDOT number, add operating authority if you haul for hire, and file UCR with New Hampshire as your base state. Mark each truck with your name, and the USDOT number on interstate trucks.
Then insurance, fuel and plates. Buy coverage to the federal minimums if you run interstate or haul hazmat. Get the town or city registration permit before state registration, then open IRP and IFTA accounts through Motor Carrier Connect. Oversize permits come last, only if your loads need them.
Where New Hampshire differs from other states
Four things catch new New Hampshire carriers. The state sets no insurance floor of its own for intrastate general freight, so the minimum you carry is a business decision until you cross a state line or haul hazmat. Drivers can start younger for intrastate work than for interstate work, except on hazmat loads.
IFTA licensing needs an EIN and a physical New Hampshire business address; a Social Security number will not do. And trucks can be certified by the DMV to carry more weight than the standard limits, a credential that does not combine with an oversize or overweight permit.
The New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire
Assuming no authority means no rules
New Hampshire sells no authority for general freight, but it adopts the federal safety regulations for intrastate carriers. Driver files, hours of service, inspections and marking all apply inside the state.
Moving household goods without a certificate
Movers are the one freight business the state certifies. Hauling household goods for hire between New Hampshire points without the RSA 359-T certificate is a violation.
Applying for IFTA under a Social Security number
New Hampshire accepts only an EIN on the IFTA application, along with proof of a physical New Hampshire business location.
Skipping the town registration permit
The state will not register a resident's truck until the town or city permit is paid, and IRP registration does not replace it.
Scheduling an oversize move for a weekend
Oversize permits are not valid on weekend days outside the seasonal Saturday-morning window, and never on the listed holidays.
Stacking weight certification with an overweight permit
NHDOT will not combine DMV additional weight certification with an oversize or overweight permit. Apply for the permit at the load's actual weight and size.