By Evan Reid, Founder of Haul Handbook · Updated Jul 19, 2026
The launch sequence
Federal first, then Kentucky. The federal side is identical in every state and is covered in depth by how to get your own authority; the state facts below come from our sourced Kentucky data.
- Finish the federal spine. Get your USDOT number, and for interstate for-hire work the federal operating authority and insurance filings that go with it. Kentucky sits on top of the federal identifiers.
- Take out intrastate authority if you haul for pay in Kentucky. For-hire carriers moving another party's goods inside Kentucky apply for the intrastate authority certificate through the Motor Carrier Portal, and their insurer files a Form E.
- Register for the KYU number if your trucks are heavy. A combined license weight at or above the state's heavy-truck line means the KYU weight distance tax. Get the number through the portal before you run, since the tax starts on your first Kentucky mile.
- Choose KIT or IFTA for fuel tax. Kentucky-only carriers running mid-weight trucks license for the KIT fuel tax. Carriers that cross state lines license for IFTA with Kentucky as the base jurisdiction. Both file quarterly.
- Open an IRP account for interstate plates. Apportioned plates come through IRP on the Motor Carrier Portal, with fees based on the distance share your fleet runs in each jurisdiction. New accounts need the lease agreement, apportioned certificates, and a stamped Form 2290.
- Set up permits only if a load runs over legal size or weight. Oversize and overweight permits, single-trip or annual, plus coal haul decals, run through the portal. File annual permits ahead, since they take processing time.
- Calendar the quarterly returns. The KYU return, and the KIT or IFTA return, are due every quarter, and the KYU zero-mile return is mandatory even with no travel. A missed return adds penalty, interest, and a revocation fee.
The order that works in Kentucky
Federal first. Get the USDOT number, and if you will haul for hire across state lines, the federal operating authority and insurance filings that go with it. Kentucky sits on top of that spine, so the federal identifiers come first.
Then the state layer. For-hire carriers moving another party's goods inside Kentucky take out an intrastate authority certificate through the Motor Carrier Portal, and their insurer files proof of liability coverage. If your combined license weight reaches the heavy-truck line, register for a KYU number before you run, since the weight distance tax starts with your first Kentucky mile. Carriers that never leave the state and run mid-weight trucks license for the KIT fuel tax instead of IFTA.
Interstate work adds two more accounts: apportioned plates through IRP and a fuel tax license through IFTA, both based in Kentucky when your business is located here. Permits come last, and only if a load runs over legal size or weight.
Where Kentucky differs from other states
Two things surprise new carriers here. First, the weight distance tax. Kentucky is one of a small group of states that tax heavy trucks by the mile, and its KYU rate is a single flat figure rather than a bracket table, so the math is plain but the filing is mandatory every quarter. Miss a return, even a zero-mile one, and the state adds penalty, interest, and a revocation fee.
Second, the KIT fuel tax. A carrier based in Kentucky that never crosses a state line does not use IFTA; it uses the Kentucky Intrastate Tax license instead, with the same quarterly discipline. Get these two right early, because both attach to the truck before it earns a dollar.
The Kentucky facts you will need
The complete tables live on the dedicated pages: intrastate authority, IRP registration, IFTA, and trucking permits.
Budget the launch before you file
The trucking startup cost calculator builds a line-item estimate from the sourced fee data, and the cost pillar explains every line. Neither replaces a quote for your truck and insurance, which are the two biggest variables.
Common mistakes when launching in Kentucky
Skipping the KYU zero-mile return
A quarter with no Kentucky travel still needs a zero-mile KYU return. Skipping it triggers penalty, interest, and a revocation fee, and it is the most common way a KYU account goes bad.
Assuming IFTA covers a Kentucky-only carrier
A carrier that never leaves Kentucky uses the KIT fuel tax license, not IFTA. Registering for the wrong one leaves a gap the state will notice.
Running heavy before the KYU number is active
The weight distance tax starts on your first Kentucky mile at or above the weight line. Get the KYU number, issued right away on the portal, before the truck rolls.
Treating off-interstate weight limits like the interstate ceiling
Kentucky caps gross weight by highway class on non-interstate roads, so a load that is legal on the interstate can be overweight on a state road. Check the class limit before you route.
Moving a manufactured home on the wrong day
Manufactured home moves are daylight-only and prohibited on Sundays, unlike most oversize loads that may run around the clock. Plan the route around that window.
Guessing at the intrastate certificate fee
Kentucky does not publish the intrastate authority certificate fee, and the liability minimum is set by statute without a printed amount. Confirm both with the division rather than budgeting a guessed figure.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to start a trucking company in Kentucky?
- The state-side costs are the intrastate authority filing, the insurance your carrier files with the state, IRP and IFTA if you run interstate, and permit fees for oversize loads. Kentucky does not publish some of these amounts, so we mark them unconfirmed rather than invent a figure. The federal costs sit on our startup cost guide.
Do I need a KYU number to start?
- You do if your combined license weight reaches Kentucky's heavy-truck line. The KYU number is issued right away through the Motor Carrier Portal once your account is set up, and the weight distance tax applies from your first mile on a Kentucky highway.
What is the difference between KYU and KIT?
- KYU is the weight distance tax on heavy trucks, charged by the Kentucky mile. KIT is a fuel tax license for mid-weight trucks that operate only inside Kentucky and would otherwise use IFTA. Some carriers owe both, and both require a quarterly return even with no travel.
Who handles fuel tax for Kentucky carriers?
- The Division of Motor Carriers. Kentucky-based interstate carriers license for IFTA and file one quarterly return through the Motor Carrier Portal. Carriers that stay inside Kentucky use the KIT license instead.
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.