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: Spring load restrictions, MnDOT oversize/overweight permits.
What Minnesota requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MinnesotaMinnesota law requires the owner of a truck or truck-tractor over 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight to report its USDOT number when registering the vehicle. Owners without one must apply at registration (Minn. Stat. 168.185). This covers private as well as for-hire carriers, with limited exceptions. Source
- Minnesota operating authorityFor-hire property carriers operating within Minnesota must get a Motor Carrier of Property Certificate of Registration from MnDOT's Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations, unless a statutory exemption applies (for example some aggregate, farm and solid-waste hauling). Household goods movers need a separate Household Goods Mover Permit, and passenger carriers need a passenger certificate of registration. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersMnDOT requires intrastate for-hire property carriers to file a Form E showing at least $100,000/$300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage. Household goods movers need the same plus $50,000 of cargo coverage on a Form H. Hazmat haulers must meet the federal 49 CFR 387.9 amounts. Source
Once a Minnesota truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Minnesota is a UCR participating state.
Minnesota trucking taxes and permits
- Spring load restrictionsEach spring, MnDOT restricts loads by frost zone on state highways that don't meet the 10-ton design standard, typically from early March into May. Source
- MnDOT oversize/overweight permitsMnDOT issues oversize and overweight permits for trunk highways through its online permitting system. Source
Workers’ comp for Minnesota trucking companies
Minnesota has no minimum number of employees: an employer with even one part-time employee generally must carry workers' comp or be approved to self-insure. Some business owners, such as sole proprietors and certain LLC members and corporate officers, are not required to be covered. Minnesota is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where Minnesota trucks run
The main corridors are I-94, I-35 and I-90. Key hubs are the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro, the Port of Duluth-Superior on Lake Superior, and Mississippi River barge terminals. The busiest freight markets include Minneapolis–St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud and Mankato.
MnDOT won't issue intrastate for-hire authority without proof of workers' compensation compliance. New carriers must complete an Initial Motor Carrier Contact education session within 90 days or lose their authority.
Minnesota trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Minnesota | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,580 | #13 of 51 | +11.7% from the year before; 63% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 72 | #31 of 51 | 62 fatal crashes among 1,982 reportable truck crashes; 616 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 40.4% | #1 of 49 | 27,560 inspections; drivers out of service 7.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 963 | #21 of 51 | 11.9 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 85 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota law requires the owner of a truck or truck-tractor over 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight to report its USDOT number when registering the vehicle. Owners without one must apply at registration (Minn. Stat. 168.185). This covers private as well as for-hire carriers, with limited exceptions.
What insurance does Minnesota require for intrastate trucking?
MnDOT requires intrastate for-hire property carriers to file a Form E showing at least $100,000/$300,000 public liability and $50,000 property damage. Household goods movers need the same plus $50,000 of cargo coverage on a Form H. Hazmat haulers must meet the federal 49 CFR 387.9 amounts.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Minnesota?
Minnesota has no minimum number of employees: an employer with even one part-time employee generally must carry workers' comp or be approved to self-insure. Some business owners, such as sole proprietors and certain LLC members and corporate officers, are not required to be covered. Minnesota is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- Minnesota: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Minnesota: State operating authority
- Minnesota: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Minnesota: Workers’ compensation
- Minnesota: Spring load restrictions
- Minnesota: MnDOT oversize/overweight 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.