USDOT number for in-state trucks: not required by the state · State operating authority: none found for general freight · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: no · State trucking taxes or permits: Vermont DMV oversize/overweight permits, VT Haul Pass, IFTA through Vermont DMV.
What Vermont requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in VermontVermont DMV describes the USDOT number as a requirement for carriers in interstate commerce, and Vermont is not on FMCSA's list of states that require one for intrastate-only carriers. Vermont-based trucks that cross state lines still need one. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersVermont's financial responsibility law requires every registered motor vehicle, trucks included, to carry liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries and $10,000 for property damage (23 V.S.A. § 800). Source
Once a Vermont truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Vermont doesn’t participate in UCR; interstate carriers based here still register through a participating state.
Vermont trucking taxes and permits
- Vermont DMV oversize/overweight permitsThe Commissioner of Motor Vehicles issues single-trip and annual blanket permits for oversize and overweight moves, and Vermont restricts many permitted moves on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Source
- VT Haul PassVT Haul Pass (vthaulpass.vermont.gov) is the Vermont DMV's online system for applying for, paying for and receiving oversize and overweight permits, including annual permits and emergency moves outside business hours. Source
- IFTA through Vermont DMVVermont's IFTA licenses are issued by the DMV's Commercial Vehicle Operations unit rather than the tax department, and a carrier must have its qualified vehicles registered in Vermont and an established place of business in the state to base there. Source
Workers’ comp for Vermont trucking companies
Vermont requires every employer with one or more full- or part-time employees working in the state to carry workers' compensation insurance, purchased from private insurers or through self-insurance. Source
Where Vermont trucks run
I-89 and I-91 are the main truck corridors, connecting Burlington and the Connecticut River valley to Canada, Boston and the New York metro area, with US-7 and US-2 carrying regional freight. The busiest freight markets include Burlington, Rutland, Barre–Montpelier, Brattleboro, St. Albans and Bennington.
Vermont does not participate in UCR, so Vermont-based interstate carriers register through another participating state; border crossings into Quebec at Highgate Springs (I-89) and Derby Line (I-91) bring cross-border freight, and much of the state's hauling is logging, dairy and fuel on rural two-lane roads.
Vermont trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Vermont | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 94 | #50 of 51 | +5.6% from the year before; 52% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 2 | #47 of 51 | 2 fatal crashes among 180 reportable truck crashes; 65 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 24.9% | #24 of 49 | 8,578 inspections; drivers out of service 6.2% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 64 | #48 of 51 | 3 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 37 | #19 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 Vermont?
Vermont DMV describes the USDOT number as a requirement for carriers in interstate commerce, and Vermont is not on FMCSA's list of states that require one for intrastate-only carriers. Vermont-based trucks that cross state lines still need one.
What insurance does Vermont require for intrastate trucking?
Vermont's financial responsibility law requires every registered motor vehicle, trucks included, to carry liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries and $10,000 for property damage (23 V.S.A. § 800).
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Vermont?
Vermont requires every employer with one or more full- or part-time employees working in the state to carry workers' compensation insurance, purchased from private insurers or through self-insurance.
Sources
- Vermont: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Vermont: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Vermont: Workers’ compensation
- Vermont: Vermont DMV oversize/overweight permits
- Vermont: VT Haul Pass
- Vermont: IFTA through Vermont DMV
- 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.