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.
What Tennessee requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in TennesseeTennessee is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for carriers operating only within the state. Intrastate for-hire carriers instead obtain Tennessee intrastate authority from the Department of Revenue; interstate carriers and placarded hazmat haulers still need a USDOT number. Source
- Tennessee operating authorityFor-hire motor carriers (and private towing and wrecker services) operating within Tennessee need Intrastate Authority from the Tennessee Department of Revenue, applied for through TNTAP with a Form E liability filing and, for general freight, household goods and mobile home haulers, a Form H cargo filing. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersTennessee's schedule of limits requires $750,000 in liability for motor carriers hauling non-hazardous property in vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more, and $300,000 for vehicles under 10,000 lbs GVWR. Source
Once a Tennessee truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Tennessee is a UCR participating state.
Workers’ comp for Tennessee trucking companies
Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers' compensation once they have five or more full- or part-time employees, so a trucking company with fewer than five employees is not required to buy it. Coverage comes from private insurers or approved self-insurance. Source
Where Tennessee trucks run
I-40 crosses the state east to west, with I-24, I-65, I-75 and I-81 feeding it, and Memphis (river port, Class I rail hubs and the FedEx air hub), Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga are the main freight centers. The busiest freight markets include Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson and Tri-Cities (Kingsport, Johnson City, Bristol).
Memphis is one of the country's largest distribution and intermodal centers, so drayage, warehouse and final-mile trucking are concentrated there.
Tennessee trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Tennessee | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,245 | #19 of 51 | +2.6% from the year before; 66% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 167 | #8 of 51 | 154 fatal crashes among 3,961 reportable truck crashes; 1,554 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 33.1% | #9 of 49 | 86,591 inspections; drivers out of service 6.3% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,554 | #12 of 51 | 12.7 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 126 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 48 | #5 (tied) of 51 | Most often for severe storm, 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for carriers operating only within the state. Intrastate for-hire carriers instead obtain Tennessee intrastate authority from the Department of Revenue; interstate carriers and placarded hazmat haulers still need a USDOT number.
What insurance does Tennessee require for intrastate trucking?
Tennessee's schedule of limits requires $750,000 in liability for motor carriers hauling non-hazardous property in vehicles of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more, and $300,000 for vehicles under 10,000 lbs GVWR.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Tennessee?
Tennessee employers outside construction and coal mining must carry workers' compensation once they have five or more full- or part-time employees, so a trucking company with fewer than five employees is not required to buy it. Coverage comes from private insurers or approved self-insurance.
Sources
- Tennessee: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Tennessee: State operating authority
- Tennessee: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Tennessee: Workers’ compensation
- 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.