Interstate Carrier ResourcesWhich States Require a USDOT Number for Intrastate Carriers? The Full List
Reviewed by Austin Park, founder of ICR Filings · Updated October 29, 2026
- Federal rules require a USDOT number for interstate carriers, and for intrastate carriers hauling hazmat that needs a safety permit.
- On top of that, FMCSA lists 38 states and Puerto Rico that require one from their own intrastate commercial vehicle registrants.
- Each state sets its own vehicle weight and type thresholds. Check with your state's motor carrier agency.
- A USDOT number has no government fee, and the same number works if you later go interstate.
The federal USDOT number is built around interstate trucking. But a carrier that never leaves its state can still need one, because many states adopted the USDOT number for their own intrastate carriers. FMCSA keeps the list on its "Do I need a USDOT number?" page.
The federal rule first
Under FMCSA's rules, you need a USDOT number if your vehicle:
- hauls hazardous materials in intrastate commerce in types and quantities that require a safety permit, or
- is in interstate commerce and has a weight rating or weight of 10,001 lbs or more, carries more than 8 passengers for compensation, or carries more than 15 passengers.
Interstate covers more than crossing a state line. Here is how FMCSA defines it.
States that require a USDOT number for intrastate carriers
FMCSA lists these jurisdictions as requiring their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to get a USDOT number:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Source: FMCSA, "Do I need a USDOT number?", last updated September 3, 2025.
States not on FMCSA's list
These states do not appear on the list: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia. Not being listed does not mean there is nothing to register. Some of these states run their own motor carrier registration or permits, and the federal rules still apply to any interstate operations.
What to check in your state
- Which vehicles it coversStates set their own thresholds. Some follow the federal 10,001 lb line; others start higher or cover only certain vehicle types.
- Whether it has its own number tooSome states issue their own carrier number or permit in addition to the USDOT number, such as Texas and California.
- Who to askFMCSA's advice is to check with your state's responsible agency for intrastate registration. That is often the state DOT, the motor vehicle agency, or the public utilities commission.
Getting the number
New USDOT numbers are issued through FMCSA's Motus registration system, with no government fee. Read how to get a USDOT number, or have us file it: we handle the application and send you the number when FMCSA issues it.
Common questions
Does my state require a USDOT number if I never cross state lines?
If your state is on FMCSA's list, likely yes for at least some commercial vehicles. Which vehicles depends on your state's own rules, so confirm with the agency that registers motor carriers there.
My state is not on the list. Am I done?
Not necessarily. You still need a USDOT number if any of your operations are interstate, or if you haul hazmat requiring a safety permit. Your state may also have its own registration that is not a USDOT number.
Is an intrastate USDOT number different from an interstate one?
It is the same USDOT number. Your registration records whether you operate intrastate, interstate, or both. If you start running interstate later, you update your registration rather than getting a second number.
How much does a USDOT number cost?
There is no government fee for a USDOT number. Operating authority, which only some carriers need, has a separate FMCSA fee.
Official sources
- FMCSA: Do I need a USDOT number?
- 49 CFR 390.5: definitions (commercial motor vehicle, interstate and intrastate commerce, private and for-hire carrier)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you file.
Related guides
- GVWR vs GCWR: How the 10,001 lb Rule Decides If You Need a USDOT Number
- Covered Farm Vehicles: Which FMCSA Rules Farm Trucks Skip, and Which They Do Not
- How to Get a USDOT Number in 2026: Who Needs One, Cost, and the Motus Application
Want us to handle it?
Your USDOT application prepared, reviewed, and submitted. Our turnaround: submitted within 1 business day. That is when we submit; FMCSA approval is separate and can take several weeks.
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