What is a state USDOT number mandate?

FMCSA requires a USDOT number for carriers in interstate commerce. On top of that, many states make their own rule that a carrier operating only inside the state must also get a USDOT number, register it with a state agency, or display it. That state-level rule is what this table tracks.

Is a USDOT number the same as operating authority?

No. A USDOT number is an identifier used for safety monitoring; operating authority is permission to haul freight for hire. A carrier can hold a USDOT number with no authority at all. The two get mixed up constantly, which is why we keep a separate guide on the difference.

How many states require a USDOT number for intrastate carriers?

In this table, 37 of 51 US jurisdictions require some form of USDOT number or state equivalent from intrastate carriers, 9 do not, and 5 could not be confirmed either way on an official source at review time.

What does "Not confirmed" mean?

It means no official statute or agency statement settling the question was reachable when the row was verified, so the cell stays open instead of carrying a guess. The row note explains exactly what we looked at, and each row lists the sources we checked with dates.

Do vehicle weight and type change the answer?

Often, yes. State mandates typically reach commercial vehicles above a weight threshold, or those hauling passengers or placarded hazmat, and the cutoffs vary by state. The row notes in the table record each threshold we verified, straight from the state rule that sets it.

State reference table

Which states require a USDOT number for intrastate trucking?

Does your state make intrastate-only truckers get a USDOT number? Yes in 37 of the 51 US jurisdictions, no in 9, and 5 could not be confirmed on an official source. The table below gives every state's answer, the agency rule behind it, and a source link you can check.

By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Jul 18, 2026

Two different numbers, one common mix-up

The USDOT number is a federal identifier: FMCSA uses it to track a carrier's safety record. It is not permission to haul freight; that permission is operating authority, and the two are easy to confuse (our operating authority vs USDOT number guide untangles them). The federal mandate reaches carriers in interstate commerce. What surprises new owners is the state layer: a state can decide that trucks which never leave its borders still need the number.

Here is why this table exists: no single federal list of those state mandates is published in a form you can rely on, so we verified each state against its own statute or agency page. Once you hold a number, keep it current; the MCS-150 biennial update is the filing that does that.

USDOT number mandates in all 50 states and DC

Each source marker opens the statute or agency page we verified, with the date we checked it. The notes column records the exact rule, threshold, or gap we found.

State USDOT number mandates for intrastate-only carriers. Verified Jul 18, 2026.
State	USDOT number required intrastate	What the state rule says
Alabama (AL)	Yes	All commercial vehicles must be marked with an interstate or intrastate USDOT number; intrastate straight trucks and truck-trailer combinations of 26,000 lbs GVWR/GCWR or less (non-passenger, non-hazmat) are exempt.
Alaska (AK)	Yes	17 AAC 25.210(d): a motor carrier operating only in intrastate commerce shall file a motor carrier identification report with FMCSA and receive an intrastate USDOT identification before beginning operations, updated every 24 months (25.210(e)). Commercial motor vehicles at or under 26,000 lb GVW/GVWR operating intrastate are exempt per 25.210(j).
Arizona (AZ)	Yes	Arizona requires a USDOT number for intrastate carriers operating a vehicle or combination with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds (for-hire carriers generating revenue transporting property also meet the motor carrier definition). Intrastate-only carriers are exempt from the FMCSA new-entrant safety audit.
Arkansas (AR)	Not confirmed	Could not be confirmed on a primary source. ArDOT's intrastate application form AR-RS1 lists 'U.S. DOT No.' as 'if applicable,' and neither ArDOT nor FMCSA pages stating an intrastate USDOT mandate were reachable at verification time (HTTP 403). Left null rather than inferred.
California (CA)	Yes	CVC 34507.5 requires every motor carrier of property, including intrastate-only carriers, to first obtain a USDOT number from FMCSA and provide it on the CA# application. Carriers therefore need all three: USDOT number, CA#, and MCP.
Colorado (CO)	Yes	Colorado adopted FMCSR Part 390 for intrastate carriers (42-4-235(4)(a) C.R.S.). A USDOT number is required for any vehicle meeting the CMV definition operated in intrastate or interstate commerce; the intrastate CMV threshold is a GVWR/GCWR of at least 16,001 lbs (vs 10,001 lbs interstate). Intrastate-only carriers must mark vehicles with the USDOT number followed by the suffix 'CO'.
Connecticut (CT)	Yes	Connecticut requires an intrastate USDOT number for vehicles engaged in intrastate commerce with GVWR/GCWR or GVW/GCW of 18,001 lb or more, vehicles hauling placardable hazmat, or vehicles designed/used to transport more than 8 passengers (for compensation) or more than 15 passengers (not for compensation). CGS 14-163c adopts the FMCSRs for intrastate carriers.
Delaware (DE)	Yes	21 Del. C. sec. 4702 adopts 49 CFR Parts 374, 385-387, 390-393, 395-397 (including Part 390, which contains USDOT registration and marking) as Delaware law; sec. 4702(b) exempts intrastate vehicles of 26,000 lb GVWR/GVW or less unless placarded hazmat or 16+ passenger. Net: intrastate carriers over 26,000 lb are subject to the adopted federal safety regime including USDOT numbering.
District of Columbia (DC)	No	No DC DMV or DDOT source was found requiring a USDOT number for intrastate-only carriers. DC DMV runs USDOT/VIN checks (SAFER/PRISM via CMS/DCTRUCS) for IRP apportioned registrants, which are interstate operations by definition. Negative inference, rated medium.
Florida (FL)	Yes	FLHSMV: companies are required to register for a USDOT number and display it on all CMV power units, including carriers solely engaged in intrastate operations (registration fees waived for intrastate-only). Statutes cited by FLHSMV: ss. 316.302, 316.70, F.S.; penalties under s. 316.3025, F.S. Exemption noted for vehicles with declared GVW under 26,001 lb transporting non-placardable property (s. 316.302(2)(f), F.S.).
Georgia (GA)	Yes	Georgia DPS has run an intrastate USDOT numbering program since October 1, 1998. Intrastate carriers with a GVWR over 10,000 lb (or meeting passenger or placardable hazmat criteria) must display a USDOT number followed by 'GA' plus the carrier legal name on each side of the power unit (DPS Rules 1-390.19 and 1-390.21, Fact Sheet 29).
Hawaii (HI)	Yes	Hawaii DOT Motor Vehicle Safety Office: all motor carriers operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate and/or intrastate commerce within the State of Hawaii are required to have a USDOT number per Hawaii Administrative Rules 19-141-5 and the applicable Part 390 FMCSRs, and must mark the CMV with the USDOT number on both sides.
Idaho (ID)	Yes	Rule 19 of the Idaho Motor Carrier Rules (IDAPA 11.13.01, Idaho State Police): intrastate carriers must obtain a USDOT number if the vehicle has a GVWR of 26,001 lb or greater or a combination weight rating, transports more than 8 passengers, or hauls placardable hazmat. The number itself is issued through FMCSA registration.
Illinois (IL)	No	The ICC's Motor Carriers of Property FAQ enumerates intrastate-only requirements (Public Carrier Certificate, cab card, ILL. C. C. number vehicle marking per 625 ILCS 5/18c-4701) and does not require a USDOT number for intrastate-only carriers; identification requirements for intrastate-only carriers are set by state law, with federal identification rules applying only to interstate operators. Confirmed from the primary FAQ by absence of any USDOT requirement, not by an explicit statement.
Indiana (IN)	Yes	Indiana requires a USDOT number for intrastate carriers; exempt only if the carrier stays in Indiana, hauls its own non-hazardous private property, and GVWR/combined GVWR is under 26,000 lb. Intrastate for-hire carriers under 10,001 lb GVWR may use an Indiana ID Number instead.
Iowa (IA)	Yes	Iowa DOT requires an active USDOT number before issuing intrastate for-hire authority (taxicab services excepted), and intrastate-only carriers must display the USDOT number followed by IA on the power unit.
Kansas (KS)	Yes	Intrastate carriers subject to KCC regulation must obtain and display a USDOT number. K.S.A. 66-1,129(c) excepts some wholly intrastate private carriers between 10,001 and 26,000 lb; the exception does not apply to for-hire operations, 16-plus passenger vehicles, or placardable hazmat.
Kentucky (KY)	Yes	KYTC requires an active USDOT number for intrastate carriers with vehicles of 10,001 lbs GVWR or greater (and all vehicles over 26,000 lbs CLW); only carriers under 10,001 lbs GVWR are exempt.
Louisiana (LA)	No	No Louisiana statute or agency page requires a USDOT number for purely intrastate general-property carriers; the State Police Motor Carrier Safety Unit enforces the FMCSRs but publishes no intrastate USDOT registration mandate, and the OMV ties USDOT numbers to apportioned (interstate) plates as a PRISM state. FMCSA's page listing states with intrastate USDOT mandates returned HTTP 403 and could not be verified, so this cell is medium confidence.
Maine (ME)	Yes	USDOT number required for intrastate vehicles with GVWR or GCWR over 26,000 lb. Intrastate vehicles 10,000 to 26,000 lb that are not buses and do not transport hazardous materials are exempt under 29-A M.R.S.A. sec. 556.
Maryland (MD)	No	A USDOT number is not mandatory for Maryland-only carriers. Every truck over 10,000 lb GVW, truck tractor, and bus operated intrastate must display either a USDOT number or a Maryland-issued Motor Carrier Identification Number (MD DOT #); intrastate-only carriers that never cross state lines and carry no interstate cargo obtain the MD DOT # instead (Md. Code, Transp. Sec. 22-404.3).
Massachusetts (MA)	Yes	Since September 1, 2018, intrastate motor carriers must obtain and display a USDOT number per 540 CMR 2.22 (RMV commercial marking regulation) for CMVs of 10,001 lb or more GVWR/GCWR, placarded hazmat, or vehicles designed for more than 15 passengers.
Michigan (MI)	Yes	MSP CVED requires a valid USDOT number application for intrastate-only carriers as part of the CVED Authority application when the vehicle GVWR is over 26,001 lbs.
Minnesota (MN)	Yes	MnDOT states that motor carriers of passengers and property providing transportation services within Minnesota are required to have a USDOT number, obtained through FMCSA.
Mississippi (MS)	Yes	MDOT's intrastate operating-authority application collects the carrier's USDOT number, and Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 77-7-16 adopts USDOT rules for intrastate carriers, exempting vehicles of 26,000 lb GVWR/GCWR or less operating intrastate only (unless placarded hazmat or 16+ passengers). Practical effect: intrastate for-hire carriers over 26,000 lb need a USDOT number; a verbatim 'USDOT number required' statement was not found on a primary page, so treat the threshold framing as statute-derived.
Missouri (MO)	Yes	MoDOT requires carriers to obtain a USDOT number before applying for Missouri intrastate operating authority through MoDOT Carrier Express.
Montana (MT)	Yes	MDT Motor Carrier Services states that regardless of whether the operation type is intrastate or interstate, Montana has adopted the federal regulations, so all carriers must obtain a USDOT number and file biennial MCS-150 updates. Applies to CMVs of 10,001 lb GVWR or more, placarded hazmat, or 16-plus passengers.
Nebraska (NE)	Yes	Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement issues/administers intrastate USDOT numbers; intrastate-only carriers must mark CMVs with their USDOT number followed by the letters NE. Confirmed in the NSP Nebraska Truck Information Guide (older 2011-12 edition; re-verify against a current NSP publication).
Nevada (NV)	Yes	Nevada requires a USDOT number on all intrastate companies operating commercial vehicles rated 26,001 pounds or heavier.
New Hampshire (NH)	No	New Hampshire is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number (page last updated Nov. 22, 2024). Federal USDOT requirements still apply to interstate operations and to intrastate hazmat requiring a safety permit (49 CFR 385.403).
New Jersey (NJ)	Yes	New Jersey adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for intrastate operations under N.J.A.C. 13:60. The NJ State Police NJ FMCSR Adoption FAQ defines a commercial motor vehicle as one with a GVWR/GCWR or GVW/GCW of 4,536 kg (10,001 pounds) or more, whichever is greater, and states that commercial motor vehicles are required to display a USDOT number on both sides of the vehicle. Intrastate carriers at or above 10,001 lb therefore need USDOT registration.
New Mexico (NM)	No	MVD's commercial vehicle registration guidance lists a USDOT number (via FMCSA) only for interstate carriers; intrastate-only requirements listed are titling, IRS Form 2290 if applicable, weight distance tax registration, and for-hire operating authority.
New York (NY)	Yes	NYSDOT: 'All property carriers applying for intrastate operating authority must have a USDOT number.'
North Carolina (NC)	Yes	G.S. 20-101 requires vehicles operated in intrastate commerce with a GVWR over 26,000 lb to be marked with the carrier's identification number preceded by USDOT and followed by the letters NC, unless the vehicle is already subject to the federal marking rules of 49 CFR Part 390.
North Dakota (ND)	No	Per the NDHP handbook, motor carriers operating only in intrastate commerce in North Dakota are not required to obtain a USDOT number unless they need a Hazardous Materials Safety Permit under 49 CFR Part 385.
Ohio (OH)	Yes	All for-hire intrastate motor carriers must register with FMCSA for an intrastate USDOT number before applying for a PUCO CPCN (Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-21-03). All carriers operating vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001 lbs or greater must have a USDOT number.
Oklahoma (OK)	Yes	OCC: intrastate for-hire and intrastate private carriers must obtain and display a USDOT number; no fee for an intrastate-only USDOT number; biennial update required.
Oregon (OR)	Yes	ODOT's Motor Carrier Registration and Tax Manual (rev. Oct 2024) states as a general requirement, alongside Oregon authority requirements and not limited to interstate operations: 'Carriers operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more are required to have a USDOT Number.'
Pennsylvania (PA)	Yes	PennDOT states that intrastate vehicles are also required to display a USDOT number pursuant to 67 Pa. Code Chapter 231.
Rhode Island (RI)	Not confirmed	No Rhode Island primary source confirming or denying an intrastate USDOT number mandate was reachable; the DPUC Intrastate Registration Form does not ask for a USDOT number, and FMCSA's state-list page could not be fetched. Left null rather than guessed.
South Carolina (SC)	Not confirmed	Unconfirmed from a fetchable primary source. FMCSA's 'Do I Need a USDOT Number?' state list returned HTTP 403 on 2026-07-18, and no SCDMV or SC DPS page fetched states an intrastate USDOT-number registration requirement (SCDMV references USDOT numbers only for IRP, UCR, and trip permits). What is confirmed: the State Transport Police has exclusive statewide authority to enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations under SC Code 58-23-1120.
South Dakota (SD)	No	Not stated explicitly by a state source. The SD Truck Info portal ties USDOT identification numbers to interstate commerce only ('Motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce must have a United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) identification number'), and its Intrastate Carriers section lists no USDOT requirement. Treated as a sourced negative inferred from the official portal's structure.
Tennessee (TN)	Not confirmed	Unconfirmed. FMCSA's 'Do I Need a USDOT Number?' page (which lists states requiring intrastate registrants to obtain a USDOT number) returned HTTP 403 on every fetch attempt this session, and no tn.gov primary page stating the requirement for intrastate carriers was located. Left null rather than asserted.
Texas (TX)	Yes	TxDMV requires a valid USDOT Number before a carrier can apply for a TxDMV Number, including intrastate-only carriers.
Utah (UT)	Yes	UDOT: companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in intrastate or interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT number (via form MCS-150; no application fee).
Vermont (VT)	No	Vermont is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number (page last updated Sept. 3, 2025). Vermont DMV's MCSAP page explains how to get a USDOT number via URS for carriers that need one but states no intrastate mandate. Federal USDOT requirements still apply to interstate operations.
Virginia (VA)	Not confirmed	Unconfirmed on a primary source. Virginia DMV's USDOT page lists the federal vehicle criteria (10,001+ lb GVWR, passenger counts, placarded hazmat) without stating whether Virginia mandates a USDOT number for intrastate-only carriers; no statute or DMV statement mandating it for intrastate operations was found on the pages fetched.
Washington (WA)	Yes	Per the UTC, Washington law requires a USDOT number for intrastate operations even when FMCSA says none is needed: common carriers at 16,001 lb GVW or more, or hauling hazardous materials at any weight; other UTC-regulated carriers (household goods, solid waste, buses) regardless of weight. RCW 46.32.080(4) sets the underlying state department of transportation number regime at a 16,001 lb GVWR threshold, with carriers holding a current USDOT number exempt from a separate state number.
West Virginia (WV)	Yes	FMCSA lists West Virginia among the states that require intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number.
Wisconsin (WI)	Yes	Form MV2843 instructions: 'If you are operating at over 10,000 lbs. you must have a US DOT Number.' Applies to intrastate LC applicants; the USDOT legal name must match the LC application, DFI filing, and Form E insurance.
Wyoming (WY)	Yes	WYDOT requires a US DOT number from intrastate contract motor carriers when GVW exceeds 26,000 lbs (or taxi hauling more than 7 passengers), and from private motor carriers (intrastate and interstate) as part of the operating authority filing.

How to read the table

Yes means the state requires intrastate-only carriers to obtain, register, or display a USDOT number or a state-issued equivalent. The note records the rule and any weight or vehicle-type threshold.
No means we found no state rule imposing the number on purely in-state carriers. Federal triggers, like hauling interstate freight, still apply on their own.
Not confirmed means the official sources we could reach did not settle the question, so the cell stays open. The note says what we checked and why it fell short.
Mandates often carve out lighter vehicles. Read the note before assuming your truck is covered or exempt, then confirm with the agency the source links to.

If your state says yes

Next steps: register through FMCSA's system as our USDOT number guide walks through, then check whether your state also licenses in-state for-hire hauling in our intrastate authority by state table, since the number and the authority are separate obligations. Carriers planning to cross state lines should start from how to get your own authority instead, and fleets registering trucks for multi-state work will also need the IRP registration office for their base state.

Frequently asked questions

What is a state USDOT number mandate?: FMCSA requires a USDOT number for carriers in interstate commerce. On top of that, many states make their own rule that a carrier operating only inside the state must also get a USDOT number, register it with a state agency, or display it. That state-level rule is what this table tracks.
Is a USDOT number the same as operating authority?: No. A USDOT number is an identifier used for safety monitoring; operating authority is permission to haul freight for hire. A carrier can hold a USDOT number with no authority at all. The two get mixed up constantly, which is why we keep a separate guide on the difference.
How many states require a USDOT number for intrastate carriers?: In this table, 37 of 51 US jurisdictions require some form of USDOT number or state equivalent from intrastate carriers, 9 do not, and 5 could not be confirmed either way on an official source at review time.
What does "Not confirmed" mean?: It means no official statute or agency statement settling the question was reachable when the row was verified, so the cell stays open instead of carrying a guess. The row note explains exactly what we looked at, and each row lists the sources we checked with dates.
Do vehicle weight and type change the answer?: Often, yes. State mandates typically reach commercial vehicles above a weight threshold, or those hauling passengers or placarded hazmat, and the cutoffs vary by state. The row notes in the table record each threshold we verified, straight from the state rule that sets it.

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.