State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes · State trucking taxes or permits: MDOT ExpressPass oversize/overweight permits.
What Mississippi requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MississippiMDOT's intrastate general freight application asks for the carrier's USDOT number. However, a state rule requiring a USDOT number on all intrastate vehicles above a set weight was not confirmed. Source
- Mississippi operating authorityCarriers hauling property other than household goods within Mississippi register with MDOT's Motor Carrier Section for Intrastate General Freight Operating Authority (as a restricted motor carrier) and must have insurance filed. Household goods and passenger carriers need a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, which involves a public hearing. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersIntrastate general freight carriers must carry $750,000 liability for non-hazardous loads, or $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for hazmat as set by 49 CFR Part 387. Cargo insurance must be $5,000 for loads of three tons or less and $10,000 for heavier loads. Source
Once a Mississippi truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Mississippi is a UCR participating state.
Mississippi trucking taxes and permits
- MDOT ExpressPass oversize/overweight permitsMDOT sells and issues oversize and overweight permits online through its ExpressPass system, administered by MDOT's permit division. Source
Workers’ comp for Mississippi trucking companies
Mississippi employers with five or more regularly employed workers must carry workers' compensation coverage; below five it is voluntary. Mississippi is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where Mississippi trucks run
The main corridors are I-55, I-20, I-10, I-59, I-22 and I-269. Freight hubs include the Gulf Coast ports of Gulfport and Pascagoula, the Jackson metro, and the DeSoto County distribution cluster next to Memphis. The busiest freight markets include Jackson, Gulfport–Biloxi, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Meridian and Tupelo.
Mississippi still requires a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity, with a public hearing, for intrastate household goods and passenger carriers. Its intrastate general freight liability minimum matches the federal $750,000.
Mississippi trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Mississippi | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 1,213 | #27 of 51 | +1.3% from the year before; 66% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 90 | #23 of 51 | 80 fatal crashes among 1,367 reportable truck crashes; 876 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 11.5% | #49 of 49 | 43,529 inspections; drivers out of service 6.6% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 816 | #25 of 51 | 15.0 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 70 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 46 | #7 (tied) 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 Mississippi?
MDOT's intrastate general freight application asks for the carrier's USDOT number. However, a state rule requiring a USDOT number on all intrastate vehicles above a set weight was not confirmed.
What insurance does Mississippi require for intrastate trucking?
Intrastate general freight carriers must carry $750,000 liability for non-hazardous loads, or $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for hazmat as set by 49 CFR Part 387. Cargo insurance must be $5,000 for loads of three tons or less and $10,000 for heavier loads.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Mississippi?
Mississippi employers with five or more regularly employed workers must carry workers' compensation coverage; below five it is voluntary. Mississippi is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- Mississippi: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Mississippi: Workers’ compensation
- Mississippi: MDOT ExpressPass 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.