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: BMV overlimit permits and Maine Turnpike permits.
What Maine requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MaineMaine has adopted the federal USDOT number requirement for intrastate carriers but, since July 2015, exempts intrastate-only vehicles of 10,001 to 26,000 lbs that are not buses and do not carry hazmat. Intrastate vehicles over 26,000 lbs must obtain and display a USDOT number. Source
- Maine operating authorityMaine does not appear to issue a separate operating-authority certificate for intrastate general freight. Instead, the Secretary of State will not register a vehicle for hire until insurance meeting state minimums is filed with the BMV's Operating Authority Unit, and petroleum, waste oil and solid waste haulers need separate state licenses. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersMaine's minimum for intrastate for-hire property carriers is $350,000 combined single limit, which must be on file with the Secretary of State for the vehicle to be registered for hire; passenger carriers have higher, seat-based minimums. Source
Once a Maine truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Maine is a UCR participating state.
Maine trucking taxes and permits
- BMV overlimit permits and Maine Turnpike permitsNon-divisible loads over legal size or weight need an overlimit permit from the BMV's Motor Carrier Services, and the Maine Turnpike has its own size and weight limits and issues its own permits at toll plazas. Source
Workers’ comp for Maine trucking companies
Maine requires almost all employers to carry workers' comp, with exceptions for some agricultural and aquacultural employers that carry employers' liability coverage, domestic workers, and owners who may waive coverage for themselves. Maine is not a monopolistic state; MEMIC must offer coverage to employers that cannot find it elsewhere. Source
Where Maine trucks run
I-95 and the Maine Turnpike run from Kittery through Portland, Augusta and Bangor to the Canadian border at Houlton, with I-295 and I-395 as spurs. Portland's port, paper and forest products, and cross-border trade with New Brunswick and Quebec drive much of the freight. The busiest freight markets include Portland, Bangor, Lewiston-Auburn, Augusta and Presque Isle.
Maine sets its own lower intrastate for-hire liability minimum ($350,000 CSL), exempts light intrastate trucks from USDOT numbers, and federal law lets heavier six-axle trucks (up to 100,000 lbs) use its interstates, which suits log and paper hauling.
Maine trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Maine | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 359 | #42 of 51 | +16.6% from the year before; 52% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 26 | #42 of 51 | 25 fatal crashes among 747 reportable truck crashes; 205 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 17.5% | #41 of 49 | 14,529 inspections; drivers out of service 5.9% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 120 | #47 of 51 | 9 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 29 | #25 (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 Maine?
Maine has adopted the federal USDOT number requirement for intrastate carriers but, since July 2015, exempts intrastate-only vehicles of 10,001 to 26,000 lbs that are not buses and do not carry hazmat. Intrastate vehicles over 26,000 lbs must obtain and display a USDOT number.
What insurance does Maine require for intrastate trucking?
Maine's minimum for intrastate for-hire property carriers is $350,000 combined single limit, which must be on file with the Secretary of State for the vehicle to be registered for hire; passenger carriers have higher, seat-based minimums.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Maine?
Maine requires almost all employers to carry workers' comp, with exceptions for some agricultural and aquacultural employers that carry employers' liability coverage, domestic workers, and owners who may waive coverage for themselves. Maine is not a monopolistic state; MEMIC must offer coverage to employers that cannot find it elsewhere.
Sources
- Maine: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Maine: State operating authority
- Maine: Workers’ compensation
- Maine: BMV overlimit permits and Maine Turnpike 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.