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: MoDOT oversize/overweight permits.
What Missouri requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in MissouriMoDOT requires a USDOT number before it grants Missouri intrastate operating authority, so for-hire intrastate carriers must have one. A separate requirement and weight threshold for private intrastate carriers was not confirmed. Source
- Missouri operating authorityAll for-hire carriers of property or passengers operating wholly within Missouri must get Missouri Intrastate Operating Authority from MoDOT Motor Carrier Services, applying through MoDOT Carrier Express with a Form E insurance filing. The exemptions are listed in RSMo 390.030. Household goods and passenger carriers must also file annual financial statements. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersUnder 7 CSR 265-10.030, intrastate carriers of non-hazardous property or household goods need at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 property damage. Household goods movers also need cargo coverage of $2,500 per vehicle and $5,000 per occurrence. Hazmat carriers need $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the material. Source
Once a Missouri truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Missouri is a UCR participating state.
Missouri trucking taxes and permits
- MoDOT oversize/overweight permitsMoDOT Motor Carrier Services issues oversize and overweight permits, which carriers can get online through MoDOT Carrier Express. Source
Workers’ comp for Missouri trucking companies
Missouri employers with five or more employees must carry workers' comp; construction-industry employers must carry it with even one employee. Part-time, casual and family-member workers count toward the total. Missouri is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where Missouri trucks run
The main corridors are I-70, I-44, I-55, I-35 and I-29. Kansas City is one of the largest rail and truck interchange hubs in the US, and St. Louis anchors Mississippi River barge and rail freight. The busiest freight markets include Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Joplin and St. Joseph.
Missouri still requires state operating authority and insurance filings for intrastate for-hire general freight. Its minimum liability limits for those carriers are well below the federal $750,000 interstate minimum.
Missouri trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Missouri | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 1,976 | #21 of 51 | +12.5% from the year before; 61% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 149 | #12 of 51 | 128 fatal crashes among 5,071 reportable truck crashes; 1,296 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 30.2% | #13 of 49 | 55,443 inspections; drivers out of service 6.6% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,210 | #19 of 51 | 14.0 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 75 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 48 | #5 (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 Missouri?
MoDOT requires a USDOT number before it grants Missouri intrastate operating authority, so for-hire intrastate carriers must have one. A separate requirement and weight threshold for private intrastate carriers was not confirmed.
What insurance does Missouri require for intrastate trucking?
Under 7 CSR 265-10.030, intrastate carriers of non-hazardous property or household goods need at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 property damage. Household goods movers also need cargo coverage of $2,500 per vehicle and $5,000 per occurrence. Hazmat carriers need $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 depending on the material.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Missouri?
Missouri employers with five or more employees must carry workers' comp; construction-industry employers must carry it with even one employee. Part-time, casual and family-member workers count toward the total. Missouri is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- Missouri: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Missouri: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Missouri: Workers’ compensation
- Missouri: MoDOT 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.