USDOT number for in-state trucks: required · State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: no · State trucking taxes or permits: FDOT overweight/over-dimensional permits.
What Florida requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in FloridaFlorida applies federal safety rules, including USDOT registration and marking, to intrastate commercial vehicles of 26,001 lbs or more and to placarded hazmat; lighter intrastate vehicles are exempt from most of them. FMCSA lists Florida among the states that require intrastate USDOT numbers. Source
- Florida operating authorityFlorida does not issue operating authority for intrastate general freight. Intrastate household goods movers and moving brokers must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Chapter 507. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersFlorida Statute 627.7415 sets combined liability minimums by weight: $50,000 for 26,000 to under 35,000 lbs, $100,000 for 35,000 to under 44,000 lbs and $300,000 for 44,000 lbs or more. Vehicles subject to federal Part 387 must carry the federal amounts. Source
Once a Florida truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Florida doesn’t participate in UCR; interstate carriers based here still register through a participating state.
Florida trucking taxes and permits
- FDOT overweight/over-dimensional permitsFDOT's permit office issues oversize and overweight permits through its Permit Application System, and carriers can self-issue trip permits for loads up to set dimension and weight limits. Source
Workers’ comp for Florida trucking companies
Non-construction employers in Florida, which includes trucking, must carry workers' compensation once they have four or more employees, counting corporate officers and LLC members; construction employers need it from the first employee. There is no monopolistic state fund. Source
Where Florida trucks run
I-95, I-75, I-4, I-10 and Florida's Turnpike are the main corridors, serving JAXPORT, PortMiami, Port Everglades, Port Tampa Bay and the Lakeland/Orlando distribution hubs. The busiest freight markets include Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Lakeland and Fort Lauderdale.
Florida does not take part in UCR, so Florida-based interstate carriers register through another participating state. Hurricane season brings evacuation surges, storm damage and supply disruptions that affect physical damage and cargo exposure.
Florida trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Florida | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 12,792 | #3 of 51 | -2.6% from the year before; 69% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 363 | #3 of 51 | 334 fatal crashes among 8,909 reportable truck crashes; 3,310 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 25.6% | #20 of 49 | 87,282 inspections; drivers out of service 5.9% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 5,283 | #3 of 51 | 13.3 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 514 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 41 | #13 (tied) of 51 | Most often for hurricane, severe 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 Florida?
Florida applies federal safety rules, including USDOT registration and marking, to intrastate commercial vehicles of 26,001 lbs or more and to placarded hazmat; lighter intrastate vehicles are exempt from most of them. FMCSA lists Florida among the states that require intrastate USDOT numbers.
What insurance does Florida require for intrastate trucking?
Florida Statute 627.7415 sets combined liability minimums by weight: $50,000 for 26,000 to under 35,000 lbs, $100,000 for 35,000 to under 44,000 lbs and $300,000 for 44,000 lbs or more. Vehicles subject to federal Part 387 must carry the federal amounts.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Florida?
Non-construction employers in Florida, which includes trucking, must carry workers' compensation once they have four or more employees, counting corporate officers and LLC members; construction employers need it from the first employee. There is no monopolistic state fund.
Sources
- Florida: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Florida: State operating authority
- Florida: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Florida: Workers’ compensation
- Florida: FDOT overweight/over-dimensional 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.