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: SCDOT oversize/overweight permits.
What South Carolina requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in South CarolinaSouth Carolina is on FMCSA’s list of states that require intrastate carriers to obtain a USDOT number. Confirm the weight threshold and marking rules with the state before you register. Source
- South Carolina operating authoritySCDMV issues a Certificate of Compliance to intrastate for-hire property carriers: Class E-L for very low-value commodities like dump-truck loads, and Class E-LC for general cargo. Household goods, passenger and hazardous-waste-for-disposal carriers instead need a certificate from the Public Service Commission, with oversight by the Office of Regulatory Staff. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersFor a Certificate of Compliance, freight vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more need $750,000 of liability coverage for non-hazardous loads. Vehicles under 10,000 lbs need $300,000, and hazmat requires $5,000,000. E-LC carriers also need $5,000 of cargo coverage per vehicle. Source
Once a South Carolina truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). South Carolina is a UCR participating state.
South Carolina trucking taxes and permits
- SCDOT oversize/overweight permitsSCDOT's OSOW Permit Office issues permits for vehicles and loads that exceed South Carolina's legal size or weight limits. Source
Workers’ comp for South Carolina trucking companies
Workers' compensation is required for employers that regularly employ four or more people. Employers with fewer than four employees, or with a total annual payroll under $3,000 in the previous year, are exempt. South Carolina is not a monopolistic state. Source
Where South Carolina trucks run
Freight runs on I-26, I-85, I-95, I-20 and I-77. Key hubs include the Port of Charleston, the inland ports at Greer and Dillon, and the Greenville-Spartanburg manufacturing corridor. The busiest freight markets include Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Rock Hill and Florence.
Container drayage between the Port of Charleston and the inland ports, and manufacturing freight along I-85, are major trucking segments. Intrastate for-hire carriers need an SCDMV Certificate of Compliance, which sets its own insurance minimums.
South Carolina trucking by the numbers
| Measure | South Carolina | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,351 | #17 of 51 | +1.2% from the year before; 67% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 145 | #15 of 51 | 130 fatal crashes among 3,072 reportable truck crashes; 1,198 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 36.5% | #3 of 49 | 53,337 inspections; drivers out of service 5.4% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,519 | #13 of 51 | 13.5 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 107 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 20 | #38 (tied) of 51 | Most often for hurricane, severe ice storm. |
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 South Carolina?
South Carolina is on FMCSA’s list of states that require intrastate carriers to obtain a USDOT number. Confirm the weight threshold and marking rules with the state before you register.
What insurance does South Carolina require for intrastate trucking?
For a Certificate of Compliance, freight vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more need $750,000 of liability coverage for non-hazardous loads. Vehicles under 10,000 lbs need $300,000, and hazmat requires $5,000,000. E-LC carriers also need $5,000 of cargo coverage per vehicle.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in South Carolina?
Workers' compensation is required for employers that regularly employ four or more people. Employers with fewer than four employees, or with a total annual payroll under $3,000 in the previous year, are exempt. South Carolina is not a monopolistic state.
Sources
- South Carolina: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- South Carolina: State operating authority
- South Carolina: Workers’ compensation
- South Carolina: SCDOT oversize/overweight permits
- 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.