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: MassDOT commercial truck permits (OASIS), Massachusetts Vehicle Check commercial and diesel inspection.
What Massachusetts requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MassachusettsSince September 1, 2018, Massachusetts has required carriers in intrastate commerce to obtain and display a USDOT number on vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001 lbs or more. The rule also covers placardable hazmat vehicles and vehicles designed to carry more than 15 passengers. It applies to private and for-hire carriers alike, under 540 CMR 2.22. Source
- Massachusetts operating authorityNo state operating authority for general-freight intrastate carriers was found. Household goods movers that work within Massachusetts must get operating authority (a license) from the Department of Public Utilities' Transportation Oversight Division, which also sets their cargo insurance minimums. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersMassachusetts' motor carrier safety rules (540 CMR 14.00) incorporate the federal minimum financial responsibility rule, 49 CFR Part 387, for motor carriers in both intrastate and interstate commerce. The state did not publish a separate lower dollar schedule that we could find. Source
Once a Massachusetts truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Massachusetts is a UCR participating state.
Massachusetts trucking taxes and permits
- MassDOT commercial truck permits (OASIS)MassDOT's Highway Division issues oversize and overweight permits through its online Oversize Overweight Permitting and Routing Application, called OASIS. Source
- Massachusetts Vehicle Check commercial and diesel inspectionMassachusetts Vehicle Check runs an annual commercial vehicle inspection that also satisfies the federal annual inspection. Older diesel vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR that lack on-board diagnostics must also pass an annual opacity (smoke) test. Source
Workers’ comp for Massachusetts trucking companies
Every Massachusetts employer with one or more full- or part-time employees must carry workers' comp, under M.G.L. c. 152. The Department of Industrial Accidents can issue stop-work orders and daily fines to uninsured employers. Massachusetts is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where Massachusetts trucks run
The main freight corridors are I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike), I-95, I-93, I-495, I-91 and I-84. Key hubs are the Port of Boston's Conley Container Terminal, Logan Airport cargo, and the Worcester-area distribution and rail intermodal cluster. The busiest freight markets include Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell and New Bedford.
Massachusetts requires intrastate-only trucks over 10,000 lbs to carry a USDOT number, the same as interstate trucks. Its commercial vehicle inspection doubles as the federal annual inspection.
Massachusetts trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Massachusetts | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 1,692 | #24 of 51 | +11.4% from the year before; 64% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 35 | #38 of 51 | 33 fatal crashes among 1,681 reportable truck crashes; 319 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 23.3% | #28 of 49 | 28,085 inspections; drivers out of service 13.7% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 817 | #24 of 51 | 12.1 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 64 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 19 | #40 of 51 | Most often for severe storm, snowstorm. |
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 Massachusetts?
Since September 1, 2018, Massachusetts has required carriers in intrastate commerce to obtain and display a USDOT number on vehicles with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001 lbs or more. The rule also covers placardable hazmat vehicles and vehicles designed to carry more than 15 passengers. It applies to private and for-hire carriers alike, under 540 CMR 2.22.
What insurance does Massachusetts require for intrastate trucking?
Massachusetts' motor carrier safety rules (540 CMR 14.00) incorporate the federal minimum financial responsibility rule, 49 CFR Part 387, for motor carriers in both intrastate and interstate commerce. The state did not publish a separate lower dollar schedule that we could find.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Massachusetts?
Every Massachusetts employer with one or more full- or part-time employees must carry workers' comp, under M.G.L. c. 152. The Department of Industrial Accidents can issue stop-work orders and daily fines to uninsured employers. Massachusetts is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- Massachusetts: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Massachusetts: State operating authority
- Massachusetts: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Massachusetts: Workers’ compensation
- Massachusetts: MassDOT commercial truck permits (OASIS)
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Vehicle Check commercial and diesel inspection
- 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.