USDOT number for in-state trucks: not required by the state · State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes · State trucking taxes or permits: NDHP oversize/overweight permits.
What North Dakota requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in North DakotaNo. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says carriers that operate only within North Dakota do not need a USDOT number unless they need a federal hazardous materials safety permit. Source
- North Dakota operating authorityNorth Dakota does not require state operating authority for intrastate property carriers. Household goods carriers are the exception: they need a household goods carrier permit from NDDOT and must file liability insurance. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersNorth Dakota does not set a separate intrastate trucking minimum. Highway Patrol guidance applies the federal Part 387 minimums to for-hire property carriers in interstate commerce and to hazardous materials carriers, including intrastate ones. Other vehicles need standard auto liability. Source
Once a North Dakota truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). North Dakota is a UCR participating state.
North Dakota trucking taxes and permits
- NDHP oversize/overweight permitsThe North Dakota Highway Patrol issues single-trip and other oversize/overweight permits, including through its online E-Permits system, for loads that cannot be reduced and exceed legal limits. Source
Workers’ comp for North Dakota trucking companies
North Dakota is a monopolistic state. Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI) is the only workers' compensation insurer, and private carriers cannot write it. With limited exceptions, all employers must cover all employees, including part-time, seasonal and occasional workers, before they start work. Source
Where North Dakota trucks run
Freight moves on I-94 and I-29 and US-2, with US-85 serving the Bakken oil region. Fargo and Grand Forks are the eastern distribution hubs, and Williston and Dickinson anchor oilfield traffic in the west. The busiest freight markets include Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Williston and Dickinson.
Bakken oilfield hauling (crude, water, sand and equipment) and seasonal agricultural hauling drive much of the state's trucking. Workers' comp must come from WSI, and because WSI policies do not include employers' liability, employers often add separate stop-gap employers' liability coverage from a private insurer.
North Dakota trucking by the numbers
| Measure | North Dakota | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 348 | #43 of 51 | +11.5% from the year before; 57% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 22 | #43 of 51 | 21 fatal crashes among 501 reportable truck crashes; 202 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 19.9% | #36 of 49 | 11,016 inspections; drivers out of service 3.3% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 289 | #40 of 51 | 15 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 38 | #18 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 North Dakota?
No. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says carriers that operate only within North Dakota do not need a USDOT number unless they need a federal hazardous materials safety permit.
What insurance does North Dakota require for intrastate trucking?
North Dakota does not set a separate intrastate trucking minimum. Highway Patrol guidance applies the federal Part 387 minimums to for-hire property carriers in interstate commerce and to hazardous materials carriers, including intrastate ones. Other vehicles need standard auto liability.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in North Dakota?
North Dakota is a monopolistic state. Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI) is the only workers' compensation insurer, and private carriers cannot write it. With limited exceptions, all employers must cover all employees, including part-time, seasonal and occasional workers, before they start work.
Sources
- North Dakota: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- North Dakota: State operating authority
- North Dakota: Workers’ compensation
- North Dakota: NDHP 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.