What trucking permits do I need to run in another state?

It depends on the load and the credentials you already hold. A truck inside legal size and weight limits, with apportioned plates and a fuel tax license that cover the state, needs no extra permit. Go over a size or weight limit and you need that state's oversize or overweight permit. Run without apportioned plates or a fuel license and you need its temporary trip and fuel permits instead. Haul for hire on trips that start and end inside one state and you may also need that state's own operating credential.

Are trucking permits the same in every state?

No, and that is the point of this table. 28 of the 51 jurisdictions here require a state operating credential of their own before a for-hire carrier can run intrastate freight, and the office issuing oversize permits is the state DOT in most places but the Department of Public Safety, the revenue department, or the DMV in others. Each row names the office we verified.

Do I need a permit for every state I drive through?

For oversize and overweight moves, yes: a permit is per state and per move, so a load crossing three states needs three permits. Fuel and registration credentials work differently. One IFTA license and one apportioned registration, filed in your base state, cover every member jurisdiction on your cab card, which is why temporary trip and fuel permits are the exception path rather than the norm.

Which states charge a mileage tax on top of permits?

Connecticut, Kentucky, New Mexico, New York, Oregon levy a weight-distance or highway-use tax that runs alongside the permit stack, so a truck can hold every permit it needs and still owe a per-mile tax on the same trip. Our weight-distance tax page covers who owes it and how it is filed.

Where does a permit service fit in?

Wire services and permit companies resell state permits with a markup, which is legitimate when you need a permit at 2am from the road. What they charge is not what the state charges. Every office in this table sells the permit directly, and the source link on each row opens the agency page we checked, so you can always see the state's own channel first.

National reference table

Trucking permits by state

Every state runs its own permit counter, and the paperwork a truck needs changes at the state line. This table covers all 51 US jurisdictions, DC included: the state operating credential where one is required, the office that issues oversize and overweight permits, and the fuel and mileage permits that ride alongside them. 28 jurisdictions require a state operating credential and 51 publish a named oversize permit office.

By Haul Handbook editorial team· Updated Oct 6, 2026

The four permit families

“Trucking permit” is four different things, and mixing them up is how new carriers overbuy. A state operating credential is permission to haul for hire on trips that stay inside one state. An oversize or overweight permit is per move, bought when a load exceeds a legal limit. A trip permit stands in for apportioned registration and a fuel permit stands in for a fuel tax license, both bought only when you lack the annual credential.

48 of the 51 jurisdictions are IFTA members, so a single fuel tax license filed in your base state covers fuel reporting in almost every state you run. That is why the fuel permit column matters mostly to carriers who have not licensed yet.

Permits and issuing offices, all 50 states and DC

Each source marker opens the agency page we verified, with the date we checked it. A dash is an honest blank, never a guess.

Trucking permit families and issuing offices by US jurisdiction. Verified Oct 6, 2026.
State	State operating permit	Oversize / overweight permit office	Fuel and mileage permits	State guide
Alabama (AL)	Intrastate authority (PSC certificate or permit under the Alabama Motor Carrier Act)	Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), Vehicle Enforcement Office (ALPASS online permitting)	IFTA fuel permits	Alabama truck permits
Alaska (AK)	None	Alaska DOT&PF Division of Measurement Standards and Commercial Vehicle Compliance, Commercial Vehicle Customer Service Center (SWOOP online permitting)	Alaska is not an IFTA member jurisdiction (absent from the iftach.org member-jurisdiction list). Alaska taxes highway fuel at the dealer level instead (AS 43.40.010).	Alaska truck permits
Arizona (AZ)	None	Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, Commercial Vehicle Permits (Enforcement Services)	IFTA fuel permits	Arizona truck permits
Arkansas (AR)	Arkansas Intrastate Operating Authority (Intrastate Permit)	ArDOT Arkansas Highway Police Division, Permit Section	IFTA fuel permits	Arkansas truck permits
California (CA)	Motor Carrier Permit (MCP)	Caltrans, Office of Commercial Vehicle Operations (Transportation Permits)	IFTA fuel permits	California truck permits
Colorado (CO)	None	Colorado Department of Transportation, Office of Freight Mobility & Safety (COOPR online permitting system)	IFTA fuel permits	Colorado truck permits
Connecticut (CT)	None	CTDOT Oversize / Overweight (OS/OW) Permit Office, Bureau of Highway Operations	IFTA fuel permitsPlus Connecticut Highway Use Fee	Connecticut truck permits
Delaware (DE)	None	Delaware Department of Transportation, Hauling Permit Office (Oversize/Overweight Permit System)	IFTA fuel permits	Delaware truck permits
District of Columbia (DC)	None	District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Public Space Permit Office, via the TOPS online permitting system (tops.ddot.dc.gov)	DC is not among the IFTA member jurisdictions (48 contiguous US states plus 10 Canadian provinces). DC DMV's IRP Carriers Manual states: 'The District of Columbia does not participate in the collection of motor fuel taxes.'	–
Florida (FL)	None	Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Permits Office (Over-Weight Over-Dimension Permits / One Stop Permitting)	IFTA fuel permits	Florida truck permits
Georgia (GA)	None	Georgia Department of Public Safety, Oversize Permit Unit (GAPROS system)	IFTA fuel permits	Georgia truck permits
Hawaii (HI)	Motor carrier certificate of public convenience and necessity (common carrier) or contract carrier permit, property classification	Hawaii Department of Transportation, Highways Division (district engineer offices on Oahu, Maui County, Hawaii Island and Kauai)	Hawaii is not an IFTA member jurisdiction. Motor fuel is taxed at the distributor level under HRS 243-4, so a carrier buying taxed fuel in Hawaii files no fuel tax return.	Hawaii truck permits
Idaho (ID)	None	Idaho Transportation Department, Commercial Vehicle Services (special permits)	IFTA fuel permits	Idaho truck permits
Illinois (IL)	Public Carrier Certificate	Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Oversize/Overweight Permit Office (ITAP system)	IFTA fuel permits	Illinois truck permits
Indiana (IN)	Intrastate Operating Authority (Form IOA-1 registration), plus a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for carriers of passengers or household goods	Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services (permits issued by DOR MCS under INDOT rules)	IFTA fuel permits	Indiana truck permits
Iowa (IA)	Intrastate For-Hire Authority (Motor Carrier Permit for property, household goods, and liquid; Motor Carrier Certificate for passengers)	Iowa DOT Office of Vehicle and Motor Carrier Services (online via ia.gotpermits.com)	IFTA fuel permits	Iowa truck permits
Kansas (KS)	KCC intrastate operating authority: certificate of public service (for-hire property), certificate of convenience and necessity (household goods and passengers), private carrier license or permit	Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), Central Permitting Office	IFTA fuel permits	Kansas truck permits
Kentucky (KY)	Kentucky Intrastate For-Hire Certificate	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Carriers (Overweight/Over-Dimensional Permits, Kentucky Automated Permit System)	IFTA fuel permitsPlus Kentucky Weight Distance Tax (KYU)	Kentucky truck permits
Louisiana (LA)	None	Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Truck Permit Office	IFTA fuel permits	Louisiana truck permits
Maine (ME)	None	Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services (Overlimit Permits unit)	IFTA fuel permits	Maine truck permits
Maryland (MD)	None	MDOT State Highway Administration, Office of Traffic and Safety, Motor Carrier Division, Hauling Permits Unit	IFTA fuel permits	Maryland truck permits
Massachusetts (MA)	None	MassDOT Highway Division (OASIS Oversize Overweight Permitting and Routing Application)	IFTA fuel permits	Massachusetts truck permits
Michigan (MI)	CVED Authority (intrastate operating authority under the Motor Carrier Act)	Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Transport Permits Unit (MiTRIP / MDOT Permit Gateway)	IFTA fuel permits	Michigan truck permits
Minnesota (MN)	Motor Carrier of Property Certificate of Registration (Intrastate Property Carrier Registration)	MnDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, Oversize/Overweight Permits	IFTA fuel permits	Minnesota truck permits
Mississippi (MS)	Mississippi Intrastate General Freight Operating Authority (Restricted Motor Carrier registration, form MSR-1)	Mississippi Department of Transportation (ExpressPass permitting, permits.mdot.ms.gov)	IFTA fuel permits	Mississippi truck permits
Missouri (MO)	Missouri Intrastate Operating Authority	MoDOT Motor Carrier Services (MoDOT Carrier Express)	IFTA fuel permits	Missouri truck permits
Montana (MT)	None	Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division	IFTA fuel permits	Montana truck permits
Nebraska (NE)	None	Nebraska Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Permit Section	IFTA fuel permits	Nebraska truck permits
Nevada (NV)	Intrastate Commerce Authority (Letter of Authority, Form MC 208)	Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Over-Dimensional Vehicle permit office	IFTA fuel permits	Nevada truck permits
New Hampshire (NH)	None	New Hampshire Department of Transportation permit office (nhdotpermits.org; rules at Tra 304)	IFTA fuel permits	New Hampshire truck permits
New Jersey (NJ)	None	New Jersey Department of Transportation (issuing oversize/overweight permits on behalf of the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission) via the NJPass/SUPERLOAD portal	IFTA fuel permits	New Jersey truck permits
New Mexico (NM)	Motor carrier operating authority (warrant for for-hire property carriers; certificate for household goods and passenger services)	New Mexico Department of Transportation, Ports of Entry / Permit Office (truckpermits.dot.nm.gov)	IFTA fuel permitsPlus Weight Distance Tax (WDT)	New Mexico truck permits
New York (NY)	Intrastate Operating Authority - Property, Except Household Goods	NYSDOT Special Hauling Permits (Central Permit Bureau)	IFTA fuel permitsPlus Highway Use Tax (HUT)	New York truck permits
North Carolina (NC)	None	NCDOT Oversize/Overweight Permit Unit	IFTA fuel permits	North Carolina truck permits
North Dakota (ND)	None	North Dakota Highway Patrol, Motor Carrier Operations (e-permits system)	IFTA fuel permits	North Dakota truck permits
Ohio (OH)	Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)	Ohio Department of Transportation (special hauling permits under Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 5501:2-1)	IFTA fuel permits	Ohio truck permits
Oklahoma (OK)	Intrastate Motor Carrier License	Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Size and Weight Permits office	IFTA fuel permits	Oklahoma truck permits
Oregon (OR)	Motor Carrier Account with Oregon intrastate for-hire operating authority (For-Hire Certificate or Permit; Class 1A Permit for general commodities except household goods)	ODOT Commerce and Compliance Division, Over-Dimension Permit Unit (permits issued via the ORION online system)	IFTA fuel permitsPlus Oregon Weight-Mile Tax	Oregon truck permits
Pennsylvania (PA)	Certificate of Public Convenience, Motor Common Carrier of Property	PennDOT, special hauling permits issued through the Automated Permit Routing/Analysis System (APRAS) under 67 Pa. Code Chapter 179	IFTA fuel permits	Pennsylvania truck permits
Rhode Island (RI)	Certificate of operating authority as a common carrier of property (R.I. Gen. Laws chapter 39-12), or a contract carrier permit	Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), Oversize & Overweight Division	IFTA fuel permits	Rhode Island truck permits
South Carolina (SC)	Certificate of Compliance (COC), Class E-L / Class E-LC	South Carolina Department of Transportation, Oversize/Overweight (OSOW) Permit Office, 955 Park Street, Columbia (SafeHaul online permitting)	IFTA fuel permits	South Carolina truck permits
South Dakota (SD)	None	South Dakota Highway Patrol Permit Center (South Dakota Automated Permitting System online at sdtruckinfo.sd.gov; also any Highway Patrol District Office, Highway Patrol Trooper, or Motor Carrier Inspector)	IFTA fuel permits	South Dakota truck permits
Tennessee (TN)	Intrastate Authority	Tennessee Department of Transportation, Traffic Operations Division, OS/OW Permit Office	IFTA fuel permits	Tennessee truck permits
Texas (TX)	Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number)	Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Division (Permits Office)	IFTA fuel permits	Texas truck permits
Utah (UT)	None	Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division	IFTA fuel permits	Utah truck permits
Vermont (VT)	None	Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Commercial Vehicle Operations	IFTA fuel permits	Vermont truck permits
Virginia (VA)	For-Hire Intrastate Operating Authority (property carriers receive a permit; household goods and common carriers a certificate)	Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Hauling Permits Section (EZ Haul)	IFTA fuel permits	Virginia truck permits
Washington (WA)	Common Carrier Permit	WSDOT Commercial Vehicle Services	IFTA fuel permits	Washington truck permits
West Virginia (WV)	None	West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Highways, Permit Section	IFTA fuel permits	West Virginia truck permits
Wisconsin (WI)	Wisconsin Intrastate Local Cartage (LC) authority	Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Bureau of Highway Maintenance (Oversize-Overweight Permits, osow@dot.wi.gov)	IFTA fuel permits	Wisconsin truck permits
Wyoming (WY)	Wyoming Operating Authority (Letter of Authority)	Wyoming Highway Patrol (WYDOT ports of entry / highway shops; e-permitting at wydotpermits.wyo.gov)	IFTA fuel permits	Wyoming truck permits

How to read the table

State operating permit names the credential a for-hire carrier needs for intrastate freight, where the state requires one. “None” means the state has no such credential to sell, which is the honest answer rather than an empty cell.
Oversize / overweight permit office is the agency that issues per-move permits. It is the state DOT in most places, but several states route permits through public safety, revenue, or motor vehicle agencies instead.
Fuel and mileage permits flags IFTA membership, which decides whether a temporary fuel permit is even a thing you can buy there, and names the mileage tax where the state levies one.
State guide links the full permit walkthrough for the states this site covers in depth. The rest carry the sourced facts in the table itself.

What permits cost, and where the rest of the stack lives

This page answers which permits exist and who sells them. For the money, the oversize permit costs by state table carries single-trip base fees and the legal width and height limits that trigger a permit in the first place, and the oversize permit cost estimator prices a specific load state by state.

Permits sit on top of credentials, not instead of them. The state operating credential in column two is covered in full by the intrastate authority by state table, apportioned plates by IRP registration by state, fuel tax by IFTA rates by state, and the mileage tax by the weight-distance tax states page. Federal registration comes first for interstate carriers: how to get your own authority runs that sequence end to end.

State permit guides

For the states this site covers in depth, each guide walks the whole permit stack: which permits that state runs, who issues each one, and the temporary permits that stand in for annual credentials.