USDOT number for in-state trucks: required · State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes · State trucking taxes or permits: ALDOT oversize/overweight permits.
What Alabama requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in AlabamaAlabama requires a USDOT number on intrastate commercial vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more, for both for-hire and private carriers. Intrastate trucks of 26,000 lbs or less are exempt unless they carry placarded hazardous materials or are passenger buses. Source
- Alabama operating authorityFor-hire carriers hauling property between points inside Alabama need intrastate authority (a certificate or permit) from the Alabama Public Service Commission's Motor Carrier Services Section. The same requirement covers household goods movers and passenger carriers. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersThe Alabama PSC requires intrastate property carriers to file proof of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, $50,000 for property damage, and $5,000 in cargo coverage. Source
Once a Alabama truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Alabama is a UCR participating state.
Alabama trucking taxes and permits
- ALDOT oversize/overweight permitsThe Alabama Department of Transportation permit office in Montgomery issues single-trip and annual permits for loads that exceed legal size or weight limits. Source
Workers’ comp for Alabama trucking companies
Workers' compensation insurance is required once a business regularly employs five or more people, counting part-time workers and corporate officers. Alabama does not have a monopolistic state fund, so employers buy coverage from private insurers or the assigned risk pool, or qualify to self-insure. Source
Where Alabama trucks run
Main freight corridors are I-65, I-20/I-59, I-85 and I-10, with the Port of Mobile on the Gulf and manufacturing hubs around Birmingham, Huntsville and Montgomery. The busiest freight markets include Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Dothan.
Alabama is one of the few states that still uses pure contributory negligence, which can affect how truck accident claims are defended. Gulf Coast operations around Mobile also face hurricane exposure.
Alabama trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Alabama | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 1,807 | #23 of 51 | -4.5% from the year before; 66% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 116 | #11 of 51 | 112 fatal crashes among 3,399 reportable truck crashes; 1,323 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 23.6% | #27 of 49 | 43,562 inspections; drivers out of service 6.8% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,095 | #20 of 51 | 13.1 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 73 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 39 | #16 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm, hurricane. |
From the public FEMA, NOAA, Storm Prediction Center, USGS and FMCSA records behind each linked report; ranks count all 50 states and Washington, DC unless noted.
Common questions
Do I need a USDOT number for intrastate trucking in Alabama?
Alabama requires a USDOT number on intrastate commercial vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 26,001 lbs or more, for both for-hire and private carriers. Intrastate trucks of 26,000 lbs or less are exempt unless they carry placarded hazardous materials or are passenger buses.
What insurance does Alabama require for intrastate trucking?
The Alabama PSC requires intrastate property carriers to file proof of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, $50,000 for property damage, and $5,000 in cargo coverage.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Alabama?
Workers' compensation insurance is required once a business regularly employs five or more people, counting part-time workers and corporate officers. Alabama does not have a monopolistic state fund, so employers buy coverage from private insurers or the assigned risk pool, or qualify to self-insure.
Sources
- Alabama: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Alabama: State operating authority
- Alabama: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Alabama: Workers’ compensation
- Alabama: ALDOT oversize/overweight permits
- FMCSA: States that require intrastate carriers to obtain a USDOT number
- FMCSA: Insurance filing requirements (49 CFR 387)
- Unified Carrier Registration
General information as of October 2026, not legal advice; confirm current rules with the agency.