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: Virginia DMV hauling permits (EZ Haul).
What Virginia requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in VirginiaVirginia is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for intrastate-only carriers, and Virginia DMV ties the requirement to interstate operations and placarded hazardous materials. Intrastate for-hire carriers are instead regulated through DMV operating authority. Source
- Virginia operating authorityVirginia DMV Motor Carrier Services issues intrastate operating authority (a property carrier permit) to anyone hauling property for hire within Virginia in vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR, with liability insurance filed before it is issued. Household goods movers need a separate certificate of fitness with a surety bond, and passenger carriers have their own authority types. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersVirginia Code 46.2-2143.1 sets intrastate minimums of $750,000 for vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR, $300,000 for 7,501 to 10,000 lbs, and $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury plus $50,000 property damage for 7,500 lbs or less. Carriers hauling household goods must also carry $50,000 in cargo insurance. Source
Once a Virginia truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). Virginia is a UCR participating state.
Virginia trucking taxes and permits
- Virginia DMV hauling permits (EZ Haul)Virginia DMV issues single-trip, blanket and superload hauling permits for oversize or overweight moves through its EZ Haul online system. Source
Workers’ comp for Virginia trucking companies
Virginia generally requires workers' compensation once a business regularly employs more than two employees in the state, counting part-time workers, and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission enforces it. Coverage is bought from private insurers or through self-insurance. Source
Where Virginia trucks run
I-81 is one of the East's heaviest truck corridors, alongside I-95, I-64 and I-85, linking the Port of Virginia in Hampton Roads with Richmond, Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley distribution centers. The busiest freight markets include Hampton Roads (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach), Richmond, Northern Virginia, Roanoke, Winchester and Lynchburg.
The Port of Virginia in Norfolk drives heavy container drayage and the Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal, while I-81 sees some of the highest truck volumes in the eastern U.S.
Virginia trucking by the numbers
| Measure | Virginia | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 2,505 | #15 of 51 | +7.1% from the year before; 64% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 122 | #17 of 51 | 110 fatal crashes among 5,125 reportable truck crashes; 1,079 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 25.0% | #23 of 49 | 22,603 inspections; drivers out of service 8.1% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 1,580 | #11 of 51 | 13.6 for every 10 companies granted authority that year; 105 more suspended for cancelled insurance under Motus since June 2026. |
| Federal major disaster declarations since 2000 | 31 | #23 of 51 | Most often for severe storm, hurricane. |
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 Virginia?
Virginia is not on FMCSA's list of states that require a USDOT number for intrastate-only carriers, and Virginia DMV ties the requirement to interstate operations and placarded hazardous materials. Intrastate for-hire carriers are instead regulated through DMV operating authority.
What insurance does Virginia require for intrastate trucking?
Virginia Code 46.2-2143.1 sets intrastate minimums of $750,000 for vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR, $300,000 for 7,501 to 10,000 lbs, and $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury plus $50,000 property damage for 7,500 lbs or less. Carriers hauling household goods must also carry $50,000 in cargo insurance.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in Virginia?
Virginia generally requires workers' compensation once a business regularly employs more than two employees in the state, counting part-time workers, and the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission enforces it. Coverage is bought from private insurers or through self-insurance.
Sources
- Virginia: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- Virginia: State operating authority
- Virginia: Intrastate insurance minimums
- Virginia: Workers’ compensation
- Virginia: Virginia DMV hauling permits (EZ Haul)
- 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.