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: Oversize/overweight permits (GAPROS).
What Georgia requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in GeorgiaFMCSA lists Georgia among the states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. Georgia defines a commercial motor vehicle as 10,001 lbs GVWR/GCWR or more, or a vehicle carrying placarded hazmat or certain passenger loads. Source
- Georgia operating authorityCarriers running commercial vehicles only inside Georgia, plus for-hire operators of lighter commercial vehicles, must register each year with the Department of Public Safety under the Georgia Intrastate Motor Carrier (GIMC) program. Household goods and passenger carriers also need DPS certificates. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersGeorgia DPS rules set a baseline intrastate minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, and GIMC registrants file proof of coverage (Form E) with DPS. Source
Once a Georgia truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Georgia is a UCR participating state.
Georgia trucking taxes and permits
- Oversize/overweight permits (GAPROS)Georgia's Oversize Permit Unit issues single-trip, annual, seasonal and superload permits through the GAPROS online system. Source
Workers’ comp for Georgia trucking companies
Georgia requires workers' compensation once a business regularly employs three or more people, counting regular part-time workers and corporate officers or LLC members. There is no monopolistic state fund. Source
Where Georgia trucks run
I-75, I-85, I-20, I-16 and I-95 meet around Atlanta, a major distribution hub, and feed the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick. The busiest freight markets include Atlanta, Savannah, Macon, Augusta, Columbus and Valdosta.
Port of Savannah container traffic and Atlanta's warehouse belt create heavy drayage and regional freight demand, and Georgia requires a separate state registration (GIMC) for intrastate-only carriers rather than relying on UCR.
Georgia trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Georgia | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 6,477 | #4 of 51 | +0.0% from the year before; 65% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 181 | #4 of 51 | 167 fatal crashes among 8,668 reportable truck crashes; 2,051 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 26.5% | #18 of 49 | 76,729 inspections; drivers out of service 10.6% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 4,080 | #4 of 51 | 16.4 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 297 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 24 | #28 (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 Georgia?
FMCSA lists Georgia among the states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number. Georgia defines a commercial motor vehicle as 10,001 lbs GVWR/GCWR or more, or a vehicle carrying placarded hazmat or certain passenger loads.
What insurance does Georgia require for intrastate trucking?
Georgia DPS rules set a baseline intrastate minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, and GIMC registrants file proof of coverage (Form E) with DPS.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Georgia?
Georgia requires workers' compensation once a business regularly employs three or more people, counting regular part-time workers and corporate officers or LLC members. There is no monopolistic state fund.
Sources
- Georgia: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Georgia: State operating authority
- Georgia: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Georgia: Workers’ compensation
- Georgia: Oversize/overweight permits (GAPROS)
- 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.