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: SHA hauling permits.
What Maryland requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MarylandMaryland law requires every registered truck over 10,000 lbs, truck tractor and bus to display either a USDOT number or a Maryland intrastate identification number (MD DOT number), with exemptions for farm trucks, emergency vehicles, government vehicles and a few others. Carriers that never leave Maryland or handle interstate cargo can use the MD DOT number instead of a USDOT number. Source
- Maryland operating authorityMaryland does not issue operating authority for intrastate property carriers. The Maryland Public Service Commission regulates intrastate for-hire passenger carriers (sedans, vans, limousines, motor coaches and taxis in certain jurisdictions), not freight. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersMaryland law lets the MVA apply the federal Part 387 financial responsibility rules to for-hire intrastate property vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR and to placarded hazmat vehicles, which brings in the federal minimums (generally $750,000 for general freight). Source
Once a Maryland truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Maryland doesn’t participate in UCR; interstate carriers based here still register through a participating state.
Maryland trucking taxes and permits
- SHA hauling permitsThe Maryland State Highway Administration issues oversize/overweight hauling permits for state highways. Source
Workers’ comp for Maryland trucking companies
Maryland requires each employer to secure workers' comp for all covered employees through an authorized insurer, an approved self-insurance group or individual self-insurance. Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company insures some public-sector risks, but Maryland is not a monopolistic state. Source
Where Maryland trucks run
I-95 links the Port of Baltimore and BWI cargo with the Washington and Philadelphia markets, while I-70 and I-81 meet at Hagerstown, a major distribution hub, and I-83, I-68, I-695 and I-495 complete the network. The busiest freight markets include Baltimore, Hagerstown, Frederick, Elkton/Cecil County, Prince George's County and Salisbury.
Maryland does not take part in UCR and issues its own intrastate DOT number. Many hazmat classes, including bulk flammable liquids, explosives and propane over 10 lbs per container, are barred from Baltimore’s harbor tunnels, and since the 2024 Key Bridge collapse those loads detour around the western half of I-695.
Maryland trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Maryland | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,348 | #18 of 51 | +2.5% from the year before; 64% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 74 | #32 of 51 | 70 fatal crashes among 3,440 reportable truck crashes; 603 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 18.4% | #38 of 49 | 80,315 inspections; drivers out of service 8.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,462 | #14 of 51 | 14.0 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 90 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 16 | #42 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 Maryland?
Maryland law requires every registered truck over 10,000 lbs, truck tractor and bus to display either a USDOT number or a Maryland intrastate identification number (MD DOT number), with exemptions for farm trucks, emergency vehicles, government vehicles and a few others. Carriers that never leave Maryland or handle interstate cargo can use the MD DOT number instead of a USDOT number.
What insurance does Maryland require for intrastate trucking?
Maryland law lets the MVA apply the federal Part 387 financial responsibility rules to for-hire intrastate property vehicles over 26,000 lbs GVWR and to placarded hazmat vehicles, which brings in the federal minimums (generally $750,000 for general freight).
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Maryland?
Maryland requires each employer to secure workers' comp for all covered employees through an authorized insurer, an approved self-insurance group or individual self-insurance. Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company insures some public-sector risks, but Maryland is not a monopolistic state.
Sources
- Maryland: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Maryland: State operating authority
- Maryland: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Maryland: Workers’ compensation
- Maryland: SHA hauling 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.