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: Oversize/overweight permits (SD Highway Patrol), Commercial vehicle registration, IFTA through the Department of Revenue.
What South Dakota requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in South DakotaSouth Dakota is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for carriers operating only within the state. Carriers that cross state lines, or haul placardable hazardous materials, still need one under federal rules. Source
- South Dakota operating authoritySouth Dakota's Motor Carrier Handbook lists operating authority, IFTA and UCR as credentials for interstate operators only; carriers operating solely within the state need South Dakota vehicle registration and proof of insurance, and no state operating authority is listed. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersEvery commercial vehicle operator in South Dakota must carry a South Dakota evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance card from an insurer authorized in the state, showing the registrant's name and the VIN or the words "Fleet Insured". Source
Once a South Dakota truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). South Dakota is a UCR participating state.
South Dakota trucking taxes and permits
- Oversize/overweight permits (SD Highway Patrol)The South Dakota Highway Patrol's Motor Carrier Services issues oversize and overweight permits through the online SD Automated Permitting System (sdtruckinfo.sd.gov), and permitted vehicles must carry liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident and $100,000 property damage. Source
- Commercial vehicle registrationSouth Dakota requires commercial registration, with fees based on gross vehicle weight, for vehicles used for hire or hauling more than 500 pounds of business property, and the cab card must be carried in the vehicle. Source
- IFTA through the Department of RevenueSouth Dakota-based interstate carriers license for IFTA through the Motor Fuel Section of the Department of Revenue's Motor Vehicle Division, and carriers without an IFTA license must buy a single-trip permit to run an IFTA-qualified vehicle in the state. Source
Workers’ comp for South Dakota trucking companies
South Dakota does not legally require employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, though an employer without it can be sued directly by an injured worker; most employers buy a policy or qualify to self-insure. Truck owner-operators certified by the Department of Labor and Regulation as independent contractors are excluded from coverage. Source
Where South Dakota trucks run
I-90 (east-west) and I-29 (north-south) are the main truck corridors, meeting at Sioux Falls, the state's largest distribution hub, with Rapid City serving the Black Hills and western half of the state. The busiest freight markets include Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown and Mitchell.
Freight is heavily agricultural (grain, livestock, ethanol and farm inputs), so seasonal harvest hauling and long rural runs shape exposure; carriers registering UCR can use South Dakota as their base state.
South Dakota trucking by the numbers
| Measure | South Dakota | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 286 | #46 of 51 | +32.4% from the year before; 57% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 24 | #44 of 51 | 22 fatal crashes among 481 reportable truck crashes; 196 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 30.2% | #14 of 49 | 29,614 inspections; drivers out of service 3.7% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 161 | #43 of 51 | 12 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for carriers operating only within the state. Carriers that cross state lines, or haul placardable hazardous materials, still need one under federal rules.
What insurance does South Dakota require for intrastate trucking?
Every commercial vehicle operator in South Dakota must carry a South Dakota evidence of motor vehicle liability insurance card from an insurer authorized in the state, showing the registrant's name and the VIN or the words "Fleet Insured".
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not legally require employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, though an employer without it can be sued directly by an injured worker; most employers buy a policy or qualify to self-insure. Truck owner-operators certified by the Department of Labor and Regulation as independent contractors are excluded from coverage.
Sources
- South Dakota: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- South Dakota: State operating authority
- South Dakota: Intrastate insurance minimums
- South Dakota: Workers’ compensation
- South Dakota: Oversize/overweight permits (SD Highway Patrol)
- South Dakota: Commercial vehicle registration
- South Dakota: IFTA through the Department of Revenue
- 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.