State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes · State trucking taxes or permits: ARDOT oversize/overweight permits.
What Arkansas requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in ArkansasArkansas is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. A compliance publisher reports that Arkansas adopted the federal marking rule for intrastate vehicles but does not enforce it, and intrastate for-hire carriers mark their vehicles with their Arkansas permit number. Source
- Arkansas operating authorityAll for-hire carriers hauling property or passengers wholly within Arkansas need an Arkansas Intrastate Permit from ARDOT's Legal Division, renewed every year; private carriers hauling their own freight are exempt. Household goods movers and passenger carriers apply under separate, higher-fee categories. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersArkansas intrastate for-hire property carriers must carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $30,000 for property damage (Rule 13.1), filed with ARDOT on an ACORD certificate. Source
Once a Arkansas truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Arkansas is a UCR participating state.
Arkansas trucking taxes and permits
- ARDOT oversize/overweight permitsThe Arkansas Highway Police permit section issues special permits for non-reducible loads over 8 ft 6 in wide, 13 ft 6 in high or 80,000 lbs, and takes part in the multi-state envelope permit program. Source
Workers’ comp for Arkansas trucking companies
Most Arkansas employers with three or more employees must carry workers' compensation, or two or more for building and building repair work. There is no monopolistic state fund. Source
Where Arkansas trucks run
I-40, I-30, I-49 and I-55 carry most freight, connecting Little Rock, Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas and the West Memphis area across from Memphis. The busiest freight markets include Little Rock, Fort Smith, Northwest Arkansas (Springdale/Lowell/Fayetteville), West Memphis, Jonesboro and Texarkana.
Arkansas is home to several of the largest U.S. trucking companies, and I-40 through the state is one of the busiest truck corridors in the country. Carriers that hold federal authority still need a separate Arkansas intrastate permit to haul for hire inside the state.
Arkansas trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Arkansas | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 796 | #35 of 51 | -4.9% from the year before; 63% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 95 | #22 of 51 | 78 fatal crashes among 2,614 reportable truck crashes; 915 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 33.3% | #7 of 49 | 46,267 inspections; drivers out of service 6.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 521 | #35 of 51 | 24 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 40 | #15 of 51 | Most often for severe storm, severe ice storm. |
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 Arkansas?
Arkansas is not on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. A compliance publisher reports that Arkansas adopted the federal marking rule for intrastate vehicles but does not enforce it, and intrastate for-hire carriers mark their vehicles with their Arkansas permit number.
What insurance does Arkansas require for intrastate trucking?
Arkansas intrastate for-hire property carriers must carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $30,000 for property damage (Rule 13.1), filed with ARDOT on an ACORD certificate.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Arkansas?
Most Arkansas employers with three or more employees must carry workers' compensation, or two or more for building and building repair work. There is no monopolistic state fund.
Sources
- Arkansas: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Arkansas: State operating authority
- Arkansas: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Arkansas: Workers’ compensation
- Arkansas: ARDOT oversize/overweight permits
- 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.