USDOT number for in-state trucks: required · State operating authority: yes, see below · State insurance minimums: yes, see below · UCR participant: yes.
What West Virginia requires of trucking companies
- USDOT number for trucks that stay in West VirginiaWest Virginia PSC rules require every motor carrier and private commercial carrier to obtain and display a USDOT number on vehicles operated for hire, commercial vehicles of 10,001 lbs GVWR or more, vehicles built for more than 15 passengers, and placarded hazmat vehicles, in intrastate or interstate commerce. Source
- West Virginia operating authorityFor-hire property carriers do not need a certificate, but before operating they must register each year with the Public Service Commission's Motor Carrier Section, pay the insurance registration fee and file proof of insurance. Certificates of convenience and necessity and contract-carrier permits are now required only for passenger and solid-waste carriers, and wreckers need a separate PSC authorization. Source
- Insurance minimums for intrastate carriersPSC Rule 150CSR9 sets limits for intrastate for-hire carriers of non-hazardous property of $200,000 per person and $600,000 per accident for bodily injury plus $100,000 property damage, while hazmat follows the federal 49 CFR 387.9 levels. Cargo minimums are $50,000 per vehicle and $100,000 aggregate for trucks of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more. Source
Once a West Virginia truck crosses a state line
Federal rules add a USDOT number, MC authority and a $750,000 minimum for general freight (details). West Virginia is a UCR participating state.
Workers’ comp for West Virginia trucking companies
West Virginia requires virtually all employers to carry workers' compensation from the first employee, with narrow exemptions such as domestic workers and small agricultural employers. Coverage is bought from private insurers (the state fund was privatized) or through self-insurance. Source
Where West Virginia trucks run
I-64, I-77, I-79, I-81 and I-68 are the main truck routes, linking Charleston, Huntington's Ohio River barge terminals, Morgantown and the Eastern Panhandle's distribution centers near Martinsburg. The busiest freight markets include Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling and Martinsburg.
Steep mountain grades and coal, timber, and oil and gas hauling define much of the state's trucking, and the I-77/I-64 West Virginia Turnpike between Charleston and Princeton is tolled.
West Virginia trucking by the numbers
| Measure | West Virginia | Rank among the states | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| New for-hire carriers (October 2025 to September 2026) | 343 | #44 of 51 | -1.2% from the year before; 55% started with a single power unit. |
| Deaths in truck crashes, 2024 | 26 | #36 of 51 | 24 fatal crashes among 880 reportable truck crashes; 394 deaths 2016–2025 (2025 preliminary). |
| Vehicles placed out of service at roadside inspections, 2025 | 13.4% | #47 of 49 | 18,894 inspections; drivers out of service 6.1% (US: vehicles 22.3%, drivers 6.1%). |
| Trucking companies that lost operating authority, 2025 | 194 | #42 of 51 | 15 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia PSC rules require every motor carrier and private commercial carrier to obtain and display a USDOT number on vehicles operated for hire, commercial vehicles of 10,001 lbs GVWR or more, vehicles built for more than 15 passengers, and placarded hazmat vehicles, in intrastate or interstate commerce.
What insurance does West Virginia require for intrastate trucking?
PSC Rule 150CSR9 sets limits for intrastate for-hire carriers of non-hazardous property of $200,000 per person and $600,000 per accident for bodily injury plus $100,000 property damage, while hazmat follows the federal 49 CFR 387.9 levels. Cargo minimums are $50,000 per vehicle and $100,000 aggregate for trucks of 10,000 lbs GVWR or more.
Is workers’ comp required for a trucking company in West Virginia?
West Virginia requires virtually all employers to carry workers' compensation from the first employee, with narrow exemptions such as domestic workers and small agricultural employers. Coverage is bought from private insurers (the state fund was privatized) or through self-insurance.
Sources
- West Virginia: USDOT number for intrastate carriers
- West Virginia: Workers’ compensation
- 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.