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 through DOR.
What Indiana requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in IndianaIndiana's Department of Revenue requires every intrastate motor carrier to obtain and renew either a USDOT number or an Indiana ID number through its Intrastate Operating Authority registration (Form IOA-1). Intrastate for-hire carriers whose vehicles are under 10,000 lbs GVWR may use an Indiana ID number instead. Source
- Indiana operating authorityIntrastate carriers register with the Indiana Department of Revenue, Motor Carrier Services, for Intrastate Operating Authority (Form IOA-1), renewed each year by November 30. For-hire carriers and private hazmat carriers must also have a Form E insurance filing. Carriers of passengers or household goods for hire need a separate Indiana Operating Authority. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersIntrastate for-hire carriers file proof of liability coverage of at least $750,000 for non-hazardous freight, or $300,000 if they operate only vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or less. Hazmat haulers need $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the material. Source
Once a Indiana truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Indiana is a UCR participating state.
Indiana trucking taxes and permits
- Oversize/overweight permits through DORIn Indiana, oversize/overweight permits, IRP, IFTA and intrastate authority are all handled by the Department of Revenue's Motor Carrier Services division, not the state DOT. Source
Workers’ comp for Indiana trucking companies
Indiana's Worker's Compensation Act requires employers to carry insurance or be approved to self-insure, with no minimum number of employees; independent contractors can file with the Worker's Compensation Board for a certificate of exemption. Indiana is not a monopolistic state. Source
Where Indiana trucks run
Indianapolis, the 'Crossroads of America,' sits where I-65, I-69, I-70 and I-74 meet and hosts a major FedEx air hub, while the I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road and I-94 cross the Northwest Indiana steel and logistics belt and the Ports of Indiana serve Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon. The busiest freight markets include Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Gary/Northwest Indiana, Evansville, South Bend and Lafayette.
Indiana handles nearly all trucking credentials (IRP, IFTA, oversize permits, intrastate authority) at the Department of Revenue. Intrastate authority is renewed every year, separately from federal registration.
Indiana trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Indiana | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,872 | #11 of 51 | -1.5% from the year before; 67% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 141 | #10 of 51 | 133 fatal crashes among 5,042 reportable truck crashes; 1,409 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 22.0% | #30 of 49 | 54,104 inspections; drivers out of service 6.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,924 | #10 of 51 | 11.4 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 184 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 22 | #33 (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 Indiana?
Indiana's Department of Revenue requires every intrastate motor carrier to obtain and renew either a USDOT number or an Indiana ID number through its Intrastate Operating Authority registration (Form IOA-1). Intrastate for-hire carriers whose vehicles are under 10,000 lbs GVWR may use an Indiana ID number instead.
What insurance does Indiana require for intrastate trucking?
Intrastate for-hire carriers file proof of liability coverage of at least $750,000 for non-hazardous freight, or $300,000 if they operate only vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or less. Hazmat haulers need $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the material.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Indiana?
Indiana's Worker's Compensation Act requires employers to carry insurance or be approved to self-insure, with no minimum number of employees; independent contractors can file with the Worker's Compensation Board for a certificate of exemption. Indiana is not a monopolistic state.
Sources
- Indiana: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Indiana: State operating authority
- Indiana: Workers’ compensation
- Indiana: Oversize/overweight permits through DOR
- 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.