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: Highway Use Tax (HUT), NYSDOT special hauling permits.
What New York requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in New YorkYes. Any truck used for business with a GVWR of 10,001 lbs or more, or a truck-trailer combination with a GCWR of 10,001 lbs or more, needs a USDOT number, even if it never leaves New York. Trucks used only for personal or recreational purposes are exempt. Source
- New York operating authorityNYSDOT issues a certificate of authority for intrastate for-hire property carriers other than household goods carriers, and applications go through its online Carrier Certification System. Applicants file a Form E and show workers' compensation and disability benefits coverage. Household goods movers need a separate probationary or permanent NYSDOT certificate. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersNew York requires intrastate for-hire property carriers to carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. Common carriers also need cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 aggregate. Source
Once a New York truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). New York is a UCR participating state.
New York trucking taxes and permits
- Highway Use Tax (HUT)Trucks, tractors and other self-propelled vehicles with a gross weight over 18,000 lbs need a HUT certificate of registration and a decal before driving on New York public highways. Carriers must file HUT returns even in periods when no tax is due. Source
- NYSDOT special hauling permitsOversize, overweight and divisible-load overweight moves on state highways need permits from NYSDOT, issued through its NYPermits system. Source
Workers’ comp for New York trucking companies
Almost every New York employer must carry workers' compensation, including for part-time workers and family members. The only real exemption is a business owned by one person with no employees of any kind. Coverage can come from a private insurer, the New York State Insurance Fund, or self-insurance. Source
Where New York trucks run
The main corridors are the New York State Thruway (I-87 and I-90), I-81, I-84, I-86 and I-95. The New York City metro handles Port of New York and New Jersey drayage, and Buffalo and Champlain are major Canada border crossings. The busiest freight markets include New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Long Island.
New York has a lower USDOT threshold than most states (10,001 lbs, including intrastate). Its Highway Use Tax is a separate state credential for trucks over 18,000 lbs, and New York City operations often involve port drayage and dense urban delivery.
New York trucking by the numbers
| Measure | New York | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 3,675 | #10 of 51 | +8.0% from the year before; 58% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 124 | #14 of 51 | 119 fatal crashes among 3,691 reportable truck crashes; 1,201 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 20.6% | #35 of 49 | 114,118 inspections; drivers out of service 9.9% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,256 | #18 of 51 | 15.5 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 97 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 44 | #10 (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 New York?
Yes. Any truck used for business with a GVWR of 10,001 lbs or more, or a truck-trailer combination with a GCWR of 10,001 lbs or more, needs a USDOT number, even if it never leaves New York. Trucks used only for personal or recreational purposes are exempt.
What insurance does New York require for intrastate trucking?
New York requires intrastate for-hire property carriers to carry at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage. Common carriers also need cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 aggregate.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in New York?
Almost every New York employer must carry workers' compensation, including for part-time workers and family members. The only real exemption is a business owned by one person with no employees of any kind. Coverage can come from a private insurer, the New York State Insurance Fund, or self-insurance.
Sources
- New York: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- New York: Intrastate insurance minimums
- New York: Workers’ compensation
- New York: Highway Use Tax (HUT)
- New York: NYSDOT special hauling 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.