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: NJDOT oversize/overweight permits and Code 23 trailers.
What New Jersey requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in New JerseyNew Jersey requires an active USDOT registration and number for intrastate commercial vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more (by rating or registered weight), and for vehicles hauling placarded hazmat or carrying more than the passenger thresholds (N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1). Source
- New Jersey operating authorityMovers of household goods operating within New Jersey must be licensed as public movers by the Division of Consumer Affairs, which requires owning or leasing at least one moving vehicle, filing a tariff, and filing proof of insurance (N.J.A.C. 13:44D-2.1). Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersLicensed New Jersey public movers must file insurance with the Division of Consumer Affairs on Forms E and H, with at least $25,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and cargo coverage of $25,000 per accident and $50,000 for losses at any one time and place (N.J.A.C. 13:44D-4.7). Source
Once a New Jersey truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). New Jersey doesn’t participate in UCR; interstate carriers based here still register through a participating state.
New Jersey trucking taxes and permits
- NJDOT oversize/overweight permits and Code 23 trailersNJDOT issues New Jersey's oversize and overweight permits. Trailers for non-divisible heavy loads must first get a special Code 23 registration from the Motor Vehicle Commission. Source
Workers’ comp for New Jersey trucking companies
Every employer operating in New Jersey must carry workers' comp or be approved to self-insure once one or more people other than the principal owner perform paid services for the business. New Jersey is not a monopolistic state-fund state. Source
Where New Jersey trucks run
The main corridors are the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), I-78, I-80, I-287 and I-295. The hubs are Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the Turnpike Exit 8A warehouse cluster, the Meadowlands, and the Port of Camden/South Jersey ports. The busiest freight markets include Newark, Elizabeth, Jersey City, Edison, Secaucus and Camden.
Port Newark–Elizabeth, the largest container port complex on the East Coast, drives heavy short-haul drayage in North Jersey. New Jersey does not participate in UCR, so NJ-based interstate carriers pay UCR through a participating base state.
New Jersey trucking by the numbers
| Measure | New Jersey | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 4,277 | #9 of 51 | +5.6% from the year before; 68% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 77 | #26 of 51 | 70 fatal crashes among 5,326 reportable truck crashes; 785 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 16.8% | #42 of 49 | 50,491 inspections; drivers out of service 7.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 3,202 | #6 of 51 | 19.1 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 299 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 24 | #28 (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 New Jersey?
New Jersey requires an active USDOT registration and number for intrastate commercial vehicles of 10,001 lbs or more (by rating or registered weight), and for vehicles hauling placarded hazmat or carrying more than the passenger thresholds (N.J.A.C. 13:60-2.1).
What insurance does New Jersey require for intrastate trucking?
Licensed New Jersey public movers must file insurance with the Division of Consumer Affairs on Forms E and H, with at least $25,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, $10,000 for property damage, and cargo coverage of $25,000 per accident and $50,000 for losses at any one time and place (N.J.A.C. 13:44D-4.7).
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in New Jersey?
Every employer operating in New Jersey must carry workers' comp or be approved to self-insure once one or more people other than the principal owner perform paid services for the business. New Jersey is not a monopolistic state-fund state.
Sources
- New Jersey: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- New Jersey: State operating authority
- New Jersey: Intrastate insurance minimums
- New Jersey: Workers’ compensation
- New Jersey: NJDOT oversize/overweight permits and Code 23 trailers
- 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.