What is intrastate operating authority?

It is a state government's permission to run a for-hire trucking business on trips that start and end inside that state. It sits apart from federal operating authority, which covers freight that crosses state lines, and apart from safety registrations like a USDOT number.

How many states require intrastate operating authority?

27 of the 51 US jurisdictions in this table (50 states plus the District of Columbia) require some form of state credential before a for-hire carrier can haul freight that stays inside state lines. The table on this page names the agency and the credential for each one.

Do I need federal authority if I never leave my state?

Federal operating authority from FMCSA covers interstate for-hire trucking. If every load starts and ends inside one state and never continues an interstate movement, your state's rules decide what you need instead. Some states also want intrastate carriers to carry a USDOT number; our state DOT number table covers that question separately.

What does a dash or "Not confirmed" mean in the table?

A dash means the state has no such item to list, so an empty cell is the honest answer. "Not confirmed" means we could not verify the fact on an official agency source at review time, so we left it open rather than guessed. Nothing in this table is filled in without a source.

How current is this table?

Every row carries its own verification date and its own source list, and each source link opens the agency page we checked. The matrix behind this page was last verified on Jul 18, 2026.

State reference table

Intrastate operating authority by state

Do you need intrastate operating authority? In 27 of the 51 US jurisdictions (50 states plus DC), a for-hire carrier that never crosses state lines still needs a state credential before hauling freight. The table below shows every state's rule, agency, credential, and fee, each cell backed by an official source.

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

What intrastate authority is, in one minute

Operating authority is permission to haul other people's freight for pay. Cross a state line and the federal layer applies: FMCSA issues that authority, usually as an MC number. Stay inside one state and the state itself decides whether you need a credential, which agency issues it, and what it costs. Some states run the program through a public utilities commission, some through the DOT or DMV, and some ask for nothing beyond safety registration.

The result is a patchwork, and that is exactly what this page maps. If you are sorting out the federal side first, start with how to get your own authority and the difference between operating authority and a USDOT number. Then come back here for your state's answer.

Intrastate authority in all 50 states and DC

Each source marker opens the agency page or statute we verified, with the date we checked it.

Intrastate operating authority for for-hire property carriers, by US jurisdiction. Verified Jul 18, 2026.
State	Authority required	Issuing agency	Program and credential	Filing fee
Alabama (AL)	Yes	Alabama Public Service Commission, Transportation Division (Motor Carrier Section)Ala. Code Title 37, Chapter 3 (Alabama Motor Carrier Act)	Intrastate Authority (certificate or permit under the Alabama Motor Carrier Act)	$100
Alaska (AK)	No	–17 AAC 25.210	–	–
Arizona (AZ)	No	Arizona Department of Transportation, Enforcement and Compliance Division	–	–
Arkansas (AR)	Yes	Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT), Legal DivisionArk. Code Ann. 23-13-206 (commodity exemptions; permit issued under the Arkansas Motor Carrier Act)	Arkansas Intrastate Operating Authority (Intrastate Permit)Carrier number: Arkansas M-Number	$25
California (CA)	Yes	California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Registration Operations DivisionCal. Veh. Code 34620 (permit requirement); Cal. Veh. Code 34507.5 (carrier identification number); Rev. & Tax. Code 7236 (fees)	Motor Carrier Permit (MCP)Carrier number: CA#	$250
Colorado (CO)	No	Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC)C.R.S. 40-10.1-105(1)(i)	–	–
Connecticut (CT)	No	Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), Regulatory and Compliance UnitConn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 245c (Secs. 13b-387 to 13b-410c)	–	–
Delaware (DE)	No	–2 Del. C. ch. 18	–	–
District of Columbia (DC)	No	–	–	–
Florida (FL)	No	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)	–	–
Georgia (GA)	No	Georgia Department of Public Safety, Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD)	Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) RegistrationCarrier number: Intrastate USDOT number with 'GA' suffix	–
Hawaii (HI)	Yes	Hawaii Public Utilities CommissionHRS chapter 271 (Motor Carrier Law); HRS section 271-8 (certificate or permit required); exemptions at HRS section 271-5	Motor Carrier Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) or Contract Carrier Permit, Property ClassificationCarrier number: PUC number	$30
Idaho (ID)	No	Idaho Transportation Department, DMV Commercial Vehicle Services (Motor Carrier Services)	–	–
Illinois (IL)	Yes	Illinois Commerce Commission (Transportation Division)625 ILCS 5/18c-4101 (Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, 625 ILCS 5/18c-1101 et seq.); 92 Ill. Adm. Code Chapter III	Public Carrier CertificateCarrier number: ILL. C. C. number	$50
Indiana (IN)	No	Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services DivisionIC 8-2.1-22	Indiana Intrastate Operating Authority (Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity; required only for household goods and passenger carriers, not general for-hire property carriers)	–
Iowa (IA)	Yes	Iowa DOT Office of Vehicle and Motor Carrier ServicesIowa Code ch. 325A (fees at Iowa Code 325A.4)	Intrastate For-Hire Authority (Motor Carrier Permit for property, household goods, and liquid; Motor Carrier Certificate for passengers)	$150
Kansas (KS)	Yes	Kansas Corporation Commission, Transportation DivisionK.S.A. 66-1,114; K.S.A. 66-1,115; K.S.A. 66-1,139	KCC intrastate operating authority (certificate of convenience and necessity or certificate of public service; private carrier permit for non-for-hire operations of 26,001 lb or more)	Not confirmed
Kentucky (KY)	Yes	Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor CarriersKRS 281.655	Kentucky Intrastate For-Hire CertificateCarrier number: K-Number (KYTC Number also assigned)	$25
Louisiana (LA)	No	Louisiana Public Service CommissionLa. R.S. 45:162; La. R.S. 45:164	–	–
Maine (ME)	No	Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services (Operating Authority Unit)29-A M.R.S. sec. 1611 (insurance, bond or self-insurance required before registration of vehicles operated for hire)	For-Hire Insurance filing	–
Maryland (MD)	No	Maryland Public Service Commission regulates passenger-for-hire carriers only; property carriers register with MDOT State Highway Administration, Motor Carrier Division (MD DOT number)Md. Code, Transportation Article, Sec. 22-404.3 (number display requirement)	Maryland Motor Carrier Identification Number (intrastate ID number, not an operating-authority program)Carrier number: MD DOT #	–
Massachusetts (MA)	No	Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, Transportation Oversight DivisionM.G.L. c. 159B, s. 3 (certificates for common carriers of property by motor vehicle; applied in practice to household goods carriage)	DPU operating authority (household goods movers, towing, and intrastate buses only)Carrier number: MDPU No.	–
Michigan (MI)	Yes	Michigan State Police, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED), Regulatory and Credentialing SectionMotor Carrier Act, 1933 PA 254; MCL 478.2 (fees); MCL 479.8 (decal, cab card, MPSC marking)	CVED Authority (intrastate operating authority under the Motor Carrier Act)Carrier number: MPSC number (the carrier's account number, displayed with the letters 'MPSC' on both sides of each power vehicle per MCL 479.8)	$100
Minnesota (MN)	Yes	Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle OperationsMinn. Stat. 221.0251	Motor Carrier of Property Certificate of Registration (Intrastate Property Carrier Registration)	$0
Mississippi (MS)	Yes	Mississippi Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier SectionMiss. Code Ann. Title 77, Ch. 7 (Motor Carrier Regulatory Law); 'restricted motor carrier' (for-hire property except household goods) defined at Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 77-7-7; 'commission' means the Mississippi Transportation Commission	Mississippi Intrastate General Freight Operating Authority (Restricted Motor Carrier registration, form MSR-1)	$50
Missouri (MO)	Yes	MoDOT Motor Carrier ServicesRSMo Chapter 390 (exemptions at RSMo 390.030)	Missouri Operating Authority (Intrastate Operations)	$10
Montana (MT)	No	Montana Public Service CommissionMont. Code Ann. 69-12-101; 69-12-301	–	–
Nebraska (NE)	No	Nebraska Public Service CommissionNeb. Rev. Stat. ch. 75, art. 3 (§ 75-301 et seq.)	–	–
Nevada (NV)	Yes	Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier DivisionNRS Chapter 706 (specifically NRS 706.169, 706.186, 706.291, 706.437, 706.438, 706.439, 706.4395)	Intrastate Commerce Authority (Letter of Authority, Form MC 208)	Not confirmed
New Hampshire (NH)	No	–NH RSA 375, 375-A, and 375-B, all repealed (RSA 375-B repealed by 2013, 100:6, I, eff. Aug. 23, 2013; RSA 375-A, household goods, repealed by 2022, 14:2, eff. Jan. 1, 2023)	–	–
New Jersey (NJ)	No	–	–	–
New Mexico (NM)	Yes	New Mexico Department of Transportation, Transportation Regulation BureauNMSA 1978, Sections 65-2A-4 through 65-2A-13 (Motor Carrier Act); 18.3.2 NMAC	Motor carrier operating authority (warrant for for-hire property carriers; certificate for household goods and passenger services)Carrier number: New Mexico Operating Authority No.	Not confirmed
New York (NY)	Yes	New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)N.Y. Transportation Law art. 8 (Carriers of Property by Motor Vehicle; certificate/permit requirement at sec. 172)	Intrastate Operating Authority - Property, Except Household Goods	Not confirmed
North Carolina (NC)	No	–	–	–
North Dakota (ND)	No	–	–	–
Ohio (OH)	Yes	Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)ORC 4921.19; Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 4901:2-21	Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN)Carrier number: PUCO identification number (displayed on vehicles preceded by the letters PUCO)	$30
Oklahoma (OK)	Yes	Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Transportation DivisionOAC 165:30-3-11 (OCC motor carrier rules; insurance filing requirement)	Intrastate For-Hire Motor Carrier License	$100
Oregon (OR)	Yes	Oregon Department of Transportation, Commerce and Compliance Division (CCD)ORS 825.100 (certificate or permit required to operate as a motor carrier); permits granted under ORS 825.102	Motor Carrier Account with Oregon intrastate for-hire operating authority (For-Hire Certificate or Permit; Class 1A Permit for general commodities except household goods)Carrier number: CCD Account Number	$300
Pennsylvania (PA)	Yes	Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC), Bureau of Technical Utility Services66 Pa.C.S. § 1101	Certificate of Public Convenience, Motor Common Carrier of PropertyCarrier number: PUC No. A-	$100
Rhode Island (RI)	Yes	Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, Motor Carriers DivisionR.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 39-12 (Motor Carriers of Property)	Certificate of Operating Authority (Common Carrier of Property)Carrier number: DPUC Certificate Number	$250
South Carolina (SC)	Yes	South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Services (Certificate of Compliance); SC Public Service Commission / Office of Regulatory Staff for passenger, household goods, and hazardous waste carriers onlySC Code 58-23-40 (PSC certificate scope, as amended 2022); SC Code 58-23-920 (insurance required of motor vehicles transporting goods for hire)	Certificate of Compliance (COC), Class E-L / Class E-LC	$25
South Dakota (SD)	No	–	–	–
Tennessee (TN)	Yes	Tennessee Department of Revenue	Intrastate Authority	Not confirmed
Texas (TX)	Yes	Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Division	Motor Carrier Registration (TxDMV Number)Carrier number: TxDMV Number	$100
Utah (UT)	No	Utah Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Division (safety and credentials oversight; no economic authority certificate)UCA 41-1a-201 (vehicle registration)	–	–
Vermont (VT)	No	–	–	–
Virginia (VA)	Yes	Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Motor Carrier ServicesVa. Code 46.2-2148 (required permit for intrastate property carriers); Va. Code 46.2-2120 (filing fees)	For-Hire Intrastate Operating Authority (property carriers are issued a Permit; household goods carriers a Certificate of Fitness)	$50
Washington (WA)	Yes	Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC)RCW 81.80 (Motor Freight Carrier Laws); WAC 480-14 (Motor Carrier Rules)	Common Carrier Permit	$275
West Virginia (WV)	No	Public Service Commission of West VirginiaW. Va. Code 24A-2-5; exemptions at W. Va. Code 24A-1-3(10) and 24A-1-3(14)	Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (motor carrier)	–
Wisconsin (WI)	Yes	Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier ServicesWis. Stat. s. 194.41 (for-hire liability insurance filing requirement, as cited on Form MV2843 instructions)	Wisconsin Intrastate Local Cartage (LC) authorityCarrier number: LC Number	$500
Wyoming (WY)	Yes	Wyoming Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Services, Operating Authority SectionW.S. 31-18-209 (cited in the WYDOT Operating Authority Manual; Wyoming Statutes Title 31, Chapter 18, Regulation of Motor Vehicle Carriers)	Wyoming Operating Authority (Letter of Authority)	$50

How to read the table

Authority required answers one question: does the state make a for-hire property carrier get a state credential before hauling loads that stay inside state lines? Passenger carriers and household-goods movers often follow stricter rules even where this column says No.
Issuing agency is where you apply. Where the answer is No, the agency listed is the one that oversees motor carriers anyway, since safety rules still apply to in-state trucking.
Program and credential names the authority type and, where one exists, the carrier number the state assigns.
Filing feeis the application or filing charge the agency publishes. "Not confirmed" means the agency did not publish a figure we could verify, so we left it open rather than guessed.
A dash is an honest blank: the state has nothing to list in that cell.

Where this fits when you start a trucking company

Intrastate authority is one layer of the paperwork stack, and it only controls where your loads may run. Your state may also want an in-state carrier to hold a USDOT number, a separate question with its own patchwork; our state DOT number requirements table answers it for all 51 jurisdictions. Trucks that run in more than one state register through the plan mapped in our IRP registration by state table, and their fuel tax follows the IFTA rates by state.

Next steps: if you are budgeting the whole launch, work through how much it costs to start a trucking company, and if you are still choosing a home base, compare the best states to start a trucking company.

Frequently asked questions

What is intrastate operating authority?: It is a state government's permission to run a for-hire trucking business on trips that start and end inside that state. It sits apart from federal operating authority, which covers freight that crosses state lines, and apart from safety registrations like a USDOT number.
How many states require intrastate operating authority?: 27 of the 51 US jurisdictions in this table (50 states plus the District of Columbia) require some form of state credential before a for-hire carrier can haul freight that stays inside state lines. The table on this page names the agency and the credential for each one.
Do I need federal authority if I never leave my state?: Federal operating authority from FMCSA covers interstate for-hire trucking. If every load starts and ends inside one state and never continues an interstate movement, your state's rules decide what you need instead. Some states also want intrastate carriers to carry a USDOT number; our state DOT number table covers that question separately.
What does a dash or "Not confirmed" mean in the table?: A dash means the state has no such item to list, so an empty cell is the honest answer. "Not confirmed" means we could not verify the fact on an official agency source at review time, so we left it open rather than guessed. Nothing in this table is filled in without a source.
How current is this table?: Every row carries its own verification date and its own source list, and each source link opens the agency page we checked. The matrix behind this page was last verified on Jul 18, 2026.

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.