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: Connecticut Highway Use Fee, CT DOT oversize/overweight permits.
What Connecticut requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in ConnecticutFMCSA lists Connecticut among the states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. Connecticut applies federal safety rules to intrastate vehicles of 18,001 lbs or more and requires their owners to file a motor carrier identification report and proof of insurance each year. Source
- Connecticut operating authorityConnecticut issues no operating authority for general freight; its state motor carrier licensing now covers only household goods carriers, which need a certificate of public convenience and necessity from CT DOT. Buses, livery and taxis are licensed under separate chapters. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersConnecticut requires for-hire and private motor carriers in the regulated weight classes to show coverage at least equal to the federal Part 387 minimums ($750,000 for general freight). Source
Once a Connecticut truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Connecticut is a UCR participating state.
Connecticut trucking taxes and permits
- Connecticut Highway Use FeeSince January 1, 2023, carriers running vehicles of 26,000 lbs or more in FHWA classes 8 to 13 on Connecticut roads pay a per-mile fee that rises with weight, filed with DRS through myconneCT. Source
- CT DOT oversize/overweight permitsCT DOT issues oversize and overweight permits, including annual permits for divisible loads. Source
Workers’ comp for Connecticut trucking companies
With few exceptions, all Connecticut employers must carry workers' compensation for their employees, starting with the first one. Corporate officers and LLC members can elect out, and there is no monopolistic state fund. Source
Where Connecticut trucks run
I-95, I-84, I-91 and I-395 carry most freight, with the I-95 shoreline corridor linking New York and Boston and port activity at New Haven and New London. The busiest freight markets include Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Waterbury and New London.
Connecticut's Highway Use Fee is a weight-distance charge that heavy trucks must track and report every quarter. Heavy congestion on I-95 in Fairfield County adds to accident exposure.
Connecticut trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Connecticut | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 1,159 | #29 of 51 | +0.7% from the year before; 65% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 36 | #39 of 51 | 32 fatal crashes among 1,377 reportable truck crashes; 292 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 33.4% | #6 of 49 | 20,811 inspections; drivers out of service 10.0% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 642 | #29 of 51 | 12.5 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 32 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 14 | #43 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 Connecticut?
FMCSA lists Connecticut among the states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. Connecticut applies federal safety rules to intrastate vehicles of 18,001 lbs or more and requires their owners to file a motor carrier identification report and proof of insurance each year.
What insurance does Connecticut require for intrastate trucking?
Connecticut requires for-hire and private motor carriers in the regulated weight classes to show coverage at least equal to the federal Part 387 minimums ($750,000 for general freight).
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Connecticut?
With few exceptions, all Connecticut employers must carry workers' compensation for their employees, starting with the first one. Corporate officers and LLC members can elect out, and there is no monopolistic state fund.
Sources
- Connecticut: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Connecticut: State operating authority
- Connecticut: Workers’ compensation
- Connecticut: Connecticut Highway Use Fee
- Connecticut: CT DOT 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.