USDOT number for in-state trucks: required · State operating authority: none found for general freight · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes · State trucking taxes or permits: Weight-and-mileage registration over 60,000 lbs, 129,000-lb routes and overlegal permits.
What Idaho requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in IdahoUnder the Idaho Motor Carrier Rules, vehicles that operate only in Idaho need an intrastate USDOT number if they have a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, carry more than 8 passengers, or haul placarded hazmat. Carriers that only haul agricultural commodities are excepted, and FMCSA issues the number free of charge. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersIdaho State Police rules for intrastate carriers incorporate the federal financial responsibility rules (49 CFR Part 387), so the federal minimums apply, generally $750,000 for general freight. Intrastate property carriers between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs are held to a shorter list of federal rules that does not include Part 387. Source
Once a Idaho truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Idaho is a UCR participating state.
Idaho trucking taxes and permits
- Weight-and-mileage registration over 60,000 lbsFor commercial vehicles over 60,000 lbs, Idaho sets the registration fee from both the declared gross weight and the miles driven, so carriers must report mileage at registration. Source
- 129,000-lb routes and overlegal permitsITD issues overlegal permits, including annual permits that allow combinations up to 129,000 lbs on designated routes. Source
Workers’ comp for Idaho trucking companies
Idaho employers must carry workers' comp before hiring their first full-time, part-time, seasonal or occasional employee unless the employer is specifically exempt; operating without it is a misdemeanor. Idaho is not a monopolistic state, and coverage comes from authorized insurers. Source
Where Idaho trucks run
Freight moves on I-84 through the Boise/Treasure Valley and Magic Valley, I-86 and I-15 through Pocatello and Idaho Falls, and I-90 across the northern panhandle, with food processing, dairy and agriculture driving volume and the Port of Lewiston providing Snake River barge access. The busiest freight markets include Boise, Nampa, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls and Coeur d'Alene.
Idaho allows combinations up to 129,000 lbs on designated routes by permit, and bases heavy-truck registration fees on miles driven as well as weight, which is unusual.
Idaho trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Idaho | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 735 | #37 of 51 | +10.4% from the year before; 64% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 43 | #35 of 51 | 40 fatal crashes among 675 reportable truck crashes; 408 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 24.3% | #25 of 49 | 10,570 inspections; drivers out of service 8.5% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 410 | #38 of 51 | 34 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 17 | #41 of 51 | Most often for flood, 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 Idaho?
Under the Idaho Motor Carrier Rules, vehicles that operate only in Idaho need an intrastate USDOT number if they have a GVWR of 26,001 lbs or more, carry more than 8 passengers, or haul placarded hazmat. Carriers that only haul agricultural commodities are excepted, and FMCSA issues the number free of charge.
What insurance does Idaho require for intrastate trucking?
Idaho State Police rules for intrastate carriers incorporate the federal financial responsibility rules (49 CFR Part 387), so the federal minimums apply, generally $750,000 for general freight. Intrastate property carriers between 10,001 and 26,000 lbs are held to a shorter list of federal rules that does not include Part 387.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Idaho?
Idaho employers must carry workers' comp before hiring their first full-time, part-time, seasonal or occasional employee unless the employer is specifically exempt; operating without it is a misdemeanor. Idaho is not a monopolistic state, and coverage comes from authorized insurers.
Sources
- Idaho: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Idaho: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Idaho: Workers’ compensation
- Idaho: Weight-and-mileage registration over 60,000 lbs
- Idaho: 129,000-lb routes and overlegal 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.