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: PUC annual financial report and gross revenue fee, HDOT Vehicle Identification Card and safety check.
What Hawaii requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in HawaiiHawaii DOT's Motor Vehicle Safety Office applies the federal motor carrier safety rules, including USDOT number display, to carriers running vehicles over 10,000 lbs, smaller vehicles carrying passengers for a business, or placarded hazmat, whether the carrier is for-hire or private. Hawaii is on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number. Source
- Hawaii operating authorityAny carrier hauling property or passengers for hire on Hawaii's public highways needs a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (or permit) from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission under HRS chapter 271, issued island by island; carriers hauling only their own property are exempt. Passenger carriers apply under a separate passenger classification with the same commission. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersFor a PUC property-carrier certificate, Hawaii requires at least $250,000 bodily injury per person, $750,000 bodily injury per accident and $250,000 property damage per accident; proof is due within 120 days of the commission's approval order. Source
Once a Hawaii truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Hawaii doesn’t participate in UCR; interstate carriers based here still register through a participating state. Hawaii isn’t an IFTA or IRP jurisdiction.
Hawaii trucking taxes and permits
- PUC annual financial report and gross revenue feeEvery PUC-certificated motor carrier must file an annual financial report by April 30 and pay a fee based on the prior year's gross revenue, even in a year with no revenue. Source
- HDOT Vehicle Identification Card and safety checkNew motor carriers file a safety acknowledgement and a Vehicle Identification Card for each commercial vehicle with HDOT's Motor Vehicle Safety Office, and vehicles must pass Hawaii's periodic DOT safety check. Source
Workers’ comp for Hawaii trucking companies
Hawaii requires workers' comp for any employer with one or more employees, full- or part-time, with only narrow exclusions; coverage is bought from private insurers or through approved self-insurance, as Hawaii is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where Hawaii trucks run
Trucking is island-based and centers on Honolulu Harbor, where most of the state's imported goods arrive, moving over H-1, H-2 and H-3 on Oahu, with neighbor-island freight running through Kahului, Hilo, Kawaihae and Nawiliwili harbors. The busiest freight markets include Honolulu, Kapolei, Kahului, Hilo, Kailua-Kona and Lihue.
Hawaii does not take part in IFTA or IRP, and its trucks never cross a state line by road, so most work is harbor drayage and local delivery under a PUC certificate that is granted per island. Getting that certificate involves public notice, letters from prospective customers and a typical 6 to 12 week review.
Hawaii trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Hawaii | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 204 | #48 of 51 | -23.6% from the year before; 56% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 2 | #48 of 51 | 2 fatal crashes among 104 reportable truck crashes; 64 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 15.6% | — | 2,311 inspections; drivers out of service 6.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 5 | #51 of 51 | 0 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 21 | #35 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm, flood. |
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 Hawaii?
Hawaii DOT's Motor Vehicle Safety Office applies the federal motor carrier safety rules, including USDOT number display, to carriers running vehicles over 10,000 lbs, smaller vehicles carrying passengers for a business, or placarded hazmat, whether the carrier is for-hire or private. Hawaii is on FMCSA's list of states that require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT number.
What insurance does Hawaii require for intrastate trucking?
For a PUC property-carrier certificate, Hawaii requires at least $250,000 bodily injury per person, $750,000 bodily injury per accident and $250,000 property damage per accident; proof is due within 120 days of the commission's approval order.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Hawaii?
Hawaii requires workers' comp for any employer with one or more employees, full- or part-time, with only narrow exclusions; coverage is bought from private insurers or through approved self-insurance, as Hawaii is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- Hawaii: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Hawaii: State operating authority
- Hawaii: Workers’ compensation
- Hawaii: HDOT Vehicle Identification Card and safety check
- 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.