Which states require a USDOT number for intrastate trucking?
Haul Handbook's table records an intrastate USDOT requirement in 36 of 51 US jurisdictions, no general mandate in 14, and an unconfirmed answer in 1. Read each row's scope and exceptions, including hazardous materials; federal registration needs a separate check. Record date: Oct 6, 2026.
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. Matrix record date: Oct 6, 2026.
State
USDOT number required intrastate
What the state rule says
Alabama (AL)
YesMotor Carrier Safety UnitRecorded access date: Oct 6, 2026
ALEA requires an interstate or intrastate USDOT number on commercial vehicles in Alabama. Intrastate straight trucks and truck-trailer combinations rated 26,000 pounds GVWR or GCWR or less are exempt unless they carry passengers or hazardous materials or waste.
Alaska (AK)
Yes17 AAC 25.210, Safe operation of commercial motor vehicles.Recorded access date: Oct 4, 2026
17 AAC 25.210(d): a motor carrier operating only in intrastate commerce files the motor carrier identification report with FMCSA and receives an intrastate USDOT number before it begins operations, updated every 24 months (25.210(e)). For intrastate vehicles under 26,001 pounds, 17 AAC 25.250(a) uses the AS 19.10.399 definition of commercial motor vehicle, which starts at 14,000 pounds GVWR or GCWR (or actual weight). The only weight-based carve-out is 25.210(j): intrastate vehicles of 26,000 pounds or less run by licensed commercial fishermen or registered sport fishing operators or guides outside the Municipality of Anchorage and the City of Fairbanks, with no placarded hazmat and no more than 15 people aboard.
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)
No general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number?Recorded access date: Sep 27, 2026
Arkansas is not on FMCSA's list of states that require their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT Number. ARDOT's intrastate permit application (Form AR RS 1) lists the U.S. DOT No. only among identification numbers marked if applicable. Interstate operation is a separate matter and is governed by the federal rule.
California (CA)
YesCalifornia Vehicle Code Section 34507.5Recorded access date: Oct 12, 2026
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)
YesGeneral Regulations (FMCSR Part 390): Colorado intrastate adoptionsRecorded access date: Oct 6, 2026
Colorado requires a USDOT number for intrastate vehicles that meet its commercial vehicle definition: 16,001 lbs GVWR or GCWR and up, an apportioned plate, a tow vehicle, or placarded hazmat (C.R.S. 42-4-235(1)(a)). Intrastate-only carriers mark the number with the suffix "CO".
Connecticut (CT)
YesGet or update a DOT number in CTRecorded access date: Jul 25, 2026
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)
Not confirmed21 Del. C. ch. 47, Motor Carrier Safety - Responsibility (sections 4702 to 4708)Recorded access date: Oct 5, 2026
Unsettled. No Delaware statute, rule or agency page states a stand-alone USDOT number duty for intrastate-only carriers. 21 Del. C. 4702(a) adopts 49 CFR Part 390 (which holds the federal registration and marking rules) and 4703 extends it to intrastate commerce, but 4702(b) exempts intrastate vehicles of 26,000 lb or less unless placarded for hazmat or seating 16 or more. FMCSA lists Delaware among the jurisdictions requiring an intrastate USDOT number, and the DMV Motor Carrier account for IRP and IFTA requires one marked interstate.
District of Columbia (DC)
No general requirementDistrict of Columbia International Registration Plan (IRP) Carriers Manual, rev. January 2026Recorded access date: Oct 9, 2026
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)
YesFlorida USDOT NumbersRecorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
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)
YesUSDOT Number Requirements for Georgia Intrastate Commercial Motor Carriers (Fact Sheet 29)Recorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
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)
YesRequirement for a US DOT NumberRecorded access date: Oct 5, 2026
The HDOT Motor Vehicle Safety Office requires a USDOT number of every motor carrier operating a commercial motor vehicle in interstate or intrastate commerce within Hawaii (HAR 19-141-5 applies the adopted federal rules to intrastate operations), marked on both sides of the vehicle. Nonpassenger vehicles of 10,000 lb GVWR or less are exempt from the motor carrier safety law unless they carry placarded hazardous materials (HRS 286-207(1)).
Idaho (ID)
YesDepartment of Transportation (USDOT numbers; Rule 19, Idaho Motor Carrier Rules)Recorded access date: Sep 28, 2026
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 general requirementMotor Carriers of Property Frequently Asked Questions (Transportation Division, rev. Nov 15 2022)Recorded access date: Jul 24, 2026
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)
YesUCR USDOT Numbers and Indiana Operating Authority ChecklistRecorded access date: Aug 9, 2026
Indiana sets no weight floor on the intrastate filing. The Department of Revenue's checklist routes every intrastate carrier to State Form IOA-1, which is itself the route by which an Indiana intrastate carrier obtains or renews a USDOT number, and IC 8-2.1-24-21 requires display of that number, or any other identification the department requires, on or in each vehicle. Only an intrastate for-hire property carrier whose vehicles rate under 10,000 pounds takes an Indiana ID Number in its place.
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)
YesAre there any exceptions to obtaining a USDOT number for intrastate commerce (wholly within Kansas)?Recorded access date: Sep 27, 2026
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)
YesInterstate and Intrastate CarriersRecorded access date: Jul 25, 2026
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 general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number? (includes the list of states that require intrastate registrants to obtain a USDOT number)Recorded access date: Aug 5, 2026
Louisiana is absent from FMCSA's published list of states that require their intrastate registrants to obtain a USDOT number, read on the FMCSA page itself. No Louisiana statute or agency page imposes an intrastate USDOT mandate on a general-property carrier: the State Police Motor Carrier Safety Unit enforces the FMCSRs but publishes no state registration requirement. The number becomes unavoidable the moment the carrier crosses a state line or takes apportioned plates, because Louisiana is a PRISM state and every apportioned plate holder must be associated with a USDOT number.
Maine (ME)
YesUnited States Department of Transportation NumberRecorded access date: Sep 28, 2026
USDOT number required for intrastate vehicles with GVWR or GCWR over 26,000 lb, for buses, and for placarded hazardous materials loads at any weight. Since July 19, 2015, intrastate vehicles rated 10,000 to 26,000 lb that are not buses and do not haul hazardous materials are exempt, under the State Police rule adopted with authority from 29-A M.R.S. sec. 555-A.
Maryland (MD)
No general requirementMaryland DOT NumbersRecorded access date: Jul 25, 2026
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)
YesNew USDOT Number Requirement for Intrastate CMVs (Regulatory Bulletin)Recorded access date: Sep 27, 2026
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.
MSP CVED lists a valid USDOT number, if applicable, among the CVED Authority approval requirements for intrastate-only carriers and words the line as GVWR over 26,001 lbs. The statute sets it at 26,001 pounds or more: MCL 480.11a(3) keeps an intrastate vehicle under the federal rules only if it is a commercial motor vehicle under 49 CFR 383.5.
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)
No general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number?Recorded access date: Sep 28, 2026
Mississippi is not on FMCSA's list of states that require their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT Number. MDOT's General Freight application still asks for the carrier's USDOT and MC numbers (used to verify Unified Carrier Registration and waive the per-vehicle fee), and MDOT's 2026 permit manual requires a valid federal DOT number before any oversize or overweight permit issues (same facts as mississippi/_state/the state DOT number page). Interstate operation is a separate matter and is governed by the federal rule.
Missouri (MO)
YesRSMo 307.400Recorded access date: Oct 6, 2026
RSMo 307.400 applies 49 CFR Parts 390-397 to intrastate commercial vehicles and exempts intrastate property vehicles of 26,000 lbs or less unless they carry placarded hazmat or seat 16 or more, so the general intrastate trigger is 26,001 lbs. Every for-hire carrier needs a USDOT number before applying for Missouri authority.
Montana (MT)
YesARM 18.8.1502, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Rules and State Modifications (amended effective 5/9/2026)Recorded access date: Sep 28, 2026
For an intrastate freight carrier the USDOT number is itself the Montana requirement: MDT assigns one to each intrastate motor carrier, marked with an MT suffix (ARM 18.8.1502(2)(d)), and the carrier files the MCS-150 before operating and every 24 months after. The intrastate line is a vehicle of 26,001 pounds or more GVWR, GCWR, GVW or GCW, one carrying more than eight passengers for compensation or more than 15 not for compensation, or any vehicle hauling placardable hazardous materials (ARM 18.8.1501(2)(a); Mont. Code Ann. 61-10-154(2)(c)); farm vehicles operating solely in Montana are excluded.
Nebraska (NE)
Yes2026-27 Nebraska Truck Information GuideRecorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
The Nebraska State Patrol Truck Information Guide (2026-27) says motor carriers operating vehicles or combinations over 10,000 lbs. must register and obtain a DOT number before beginning operations, and that first-time applicants for either an intrastate (within Nebraska) or interstate DOT number must apply online. The current guide no longer prints the older rule that intrastate-only carriers add the letters NE after the number; it describes the federal USDOT marking only.
Nevada (NV)
YesNew Motor CarriersRecorded access date: Sep 2, 2026
Nevada requires a USDOT number on all intrastate companies operating commercial vehicles rated 26,001 pounds or heavier.
New Hampshire (NH)
No general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number?Recorded access date: Oct 4, 2026
New Hampshire is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number (page last updated September 3, 2025). A USDOT number is still required for interstate operations and for intrastate hazardous materials loads that need a federal safety permit.
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 general requirementHow do I register a commercial vehicle in New Mexico?Recorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
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.
NYSDOT: 'All property carriers applying for intrastate operating authority must have a USDOT number.'
North Carolina (NC)
YesN.C. Gen. Stat. 20-101, Certain business vehicles to be markedRecorded access date: Jul 29, 2026
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 general requirement2026 Motor Carrier Driver's Handbook (Commercial Vehicle Regulations), Carrier Registration and Operating Authority sectionsRecorded access date: Sep 27, 2026
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)
YesIntrastate motor carriers and registration informationRecorded access date: Jul 26, 2026
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)
YesUSDOT NumbersRecorded access date: Aug 5, 2026
The Corporation Commission requires intrastate for-hire motor carriers and intrastate private carriers to obtain and display a USDOT number, and issues one itself at no cost to an intrastate-only carrier that does not already hold one from FMCSA. OAC 165:30-3-17(c) adds the letters OK after the carrier identification number when the USDOT number is designated intrastate only.
Oregon (OR)
YesOregon Motor Carrier Registration and Tax Manual (revised October 2024)Recorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
ODOT's Motor Carrier Registration and Tax Manual (rev. Oct 2024) lists the USDOT number as a general requirement, not limited to interstate operations, and words the line both as vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW and as 10,000 pounds or more. Oregon applies 49 CFR Part 390 to intrastate carriers (OAR 740-100-0010), and Part 390 sets the commercial motor vehicle line at 10,001 pounds or more.
PennDOT states that intrastate vehicles are also required to display a USDOT number pursuant to 67 Pa. Code Chapter 231.
Rhode Island (RI)
No general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number? (section: States that Require a USDOT Number)Recorded access date: Oct 4, 2026
Rhode Island is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number (page last updated September 3, 2025). The DPUC property carrier application and Intrastate Registration Form ask for the DPUC certificate number, not a USDOT number. A USDOT number is still required for interstate operations and to open a Rhode Island IRP account.
South Carolina (SC)
YesFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) South Carolina Intrastate DOT NumbersRecorded access date: Aug 5, 2026
Yes, and at a low threshold. The State Transport Police FAQ on South Carolina intrastate DOT numbers answers it directly: a carrier operating commercial motor vehicles solely inside South Carolina needs an intrastate USDOT number, with the trigger set by the federal commercial motor vehicle definition at a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating, or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight, of 10,001 lbs or more, whichever is greater; or a vehicle carrying more than 8 passengers including the driver for compensation, or more than 15 not for compensation; or placardable hazardous materials. That is roughly 16,000 lbs below the 26,001 lb line most states use. The number is free, is obtained from FMCSA rather than from any South Carolina agency, and is displayed with the letters SC appended (the FAQ's own worked example is USDOT 12345SC). Read the vintage: the FAQ sets an October 1, 2011 application deadline, so it dates to roughly 2010; the rule it describes, S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 38-424, is current and was amended May 27, 2022 without disturbing the adoption. Enforcement sits with the Transport Police Division, which SC Code 58-23-1120 gives exclusive authority in this State over the commercial motor vehicle carrier laws.
South Dakota (SD)
No general requirementMotor Carrier Handbook, Chapter 3: Operating Credentials, Interstate Operating AuthorityRecorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
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 confirmed absence inferred from the official portal's structure.
Tennessee (TN)
No general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number? (includes the list of states that require intrastate registrants to obtain a USDOT number)Recorded access date: Jul 30, 2026
Tennessee does not appear on FMCSA's published list of states that require their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number. The Application for Intrastate Authority prints a USDOT field in Section B, but neither the form, the Department of Revenue intrastate authority page, nor the March 2026 Motor Carrier Education Guide states that an intrastate-only carrier must hold one. Interstate operation is a separate matter and is governed by the federal rule.
Texas (TX)
YesTxDMV Number (Motor Carrier Registration)Recorded access date: Oct 8, 2026
TxDMV requires a valid USDOT Number before a carrier can apply for a TxDMV Number, including intrastate-only carriers.
Utah (UT)
YesUSDOT Numbers & Registering with the FMCSARecorded access date: Sep 26, 2026
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 general requirementDo I Need a USDOT Number? (States that Require a USDOT Number; page last updated September 3, 2025), read from Internet Archive snapshot 20261003153210Recorded access date: Oct 5, 2026
Vermont is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number. A USDOT number is still required for Vermont IRP registration and IRP trip permits, and the IFTA application asks for one. The 26,001 lb figure in the DMV motor carrier guide is where an intrastate vehicle falls under the safety rules, not a registration trigger.
Virginia (VA)
No general requirementInformation for Interstate Motor Carriers (DMV 247), included with IRP 1ARecorded access date: Oct 6, 2026
Virginia does not require a USDOT number for carriers operating exclusively intrastate, except for placarded hazardous materials; FMCSA does not list Virginia among the states with an intrastate USDOT requirement.
Washington (WA)
YesUSDOT Number RequirementRecorded access date: Aug 9, 2026
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)
Yes150CSR9, Rules Governing Motor Carriers, Private Commercial Carriers, and the Filing of Evidence of Insurance and Financial Responsibility by Motor Carriers (effective January 13, 2022)Recorded access date: Sep 28, 2026
150CSR9 rule 4.13.1 requires every motor carrier and private commercial carrier, intrastate or interstate, to display a USDOT (or Commission) identification number on each for-hire vehicle, each commercial vehicle of 10,001 pounds GVWR or more, each vehicle designed to carry more than 15 passengers including the driver, and each vehicle carrying placarded hazardous materials.
Wisconsin (WI)
YesWisconsin Motor Carrier Authority Application, Form MV2843 (6/2021)Recorded access date: Jul 24, 2026
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)
Yes2020 Wyoming Operating Authority Manual (revised 12.2020, current manual linked from WYDOT operating authority page)Recorded access date: Jul 24, 2026
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 the reviewed row records no general intrastate mandate. Read its scope and exceptions, including hazardous materials; a negative general rule does not establish an unconditional exemption or settle federal registration.
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.
