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: ODOT special hauling permits.
What Ohio requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in OhioFor-hire carriers: PUCO rules say intrastate applicants should get a USDOT number before applying for PUCO registration, and they may display their PUCO number instead of the USDOT number. Private carriers that operate only within Ohio do not have to display a USDOT or PUCO number. Source
- Ohio operating authorityA for-hire motor carrier may not operate intrastate in Ohio until it registers with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and holds a current certificate, renewed every year. Household goods carriers register with PUCO too and have extra cargo insurance requirements. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersIntrastate for-hire property carriers must carry $750,000 in public liability coverage. Carriers that run only vehicles under 10,001 lbs GVWR or GCWR need $300,000. Household goods carriers also need cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence. Source
Once a Ohio truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Ohio is a UCR participating state.
Ohio trucking taxes and permits
- ODOT special hauling permitsVehicles and loads over Ohio's legal size and weight limits need an ODOT special hauling permit, issued through the Ohio Hauling Permit System. The Ohio Turnpike and local roads have their own processes. Source
Workers’ comp for Ohio trucking companies
Ohio is a monopolistic state. Employers with one or more employees must either pay premiums into the state insurance fund run by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation or qualify to self-insure, and private insurers cannot sell standard Ohio workers' comp. Source
Where Ohio trucks run
Ohio's main freight corridors are I-70, I-71, I-75, I-77 and the Ohio Turnpike (I-80/I-90). Hubs include Columbus and Rickenbacker, the Cincinnati area, and the Lake Erie ports of Toledo and Cleveland. The busiest freight markets include Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron and Dayton.
Ohio has two state-level layers: intrastate for-hire carriers must hold a PUCO certificate, and workers' comp must come from the state fund, not a private carrier. Its central location makes it a major distribution and warehousing state.
Ohio trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Ohio | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 5,109 | #6 of 51 | +7.7% from the year before; 67% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 164 | #6 of 51 | 144 fatal crashes among 5,186 reportable truck crashes; 1,651 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 21.7% | #32 of 49 | 62,783 inspections; drivers out of service 5.6% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 2,989 | #8 of 51 | 11.8 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 284 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, 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 Ohio?
For-hire carriers: PUCO rules say intrastate applicants should get a USDOT number before applying for PUCO registration, and they may display their PUCO number instead of the USDOT number. Private carriers that operate only within Ohio do not have to display a USDOT or PUCO number.
What insurance does Ohio require for intrastate trucking?
Intrastate for-hire property carriers must carry $750,000 in public liability coverage. Carriers that run only vehicles under 10,001 lbs GVWR or GCWR need $300,000. Household goods carriers also need cargo coverage of $5,000 per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Ohio?
Ohio is a monopolistic state. Employers with one or more employees must either pay premiums into the state insurance fund run by the Bureau of Workers' Compensation or qualify to self-insure, and private insurers cannot sell standard Ohio workers' comp.
Sources
- Ohio: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Ohio: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Ohio: Workers’ compensation
- Ohio: ODOT 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.