States | Ohio
Ohio trucking rules for small carriers
Updated
Before any for-hire intrastate hauling, Ohio requires registration and a current certificate from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which advises getting a USDOT number before you apply. Liability for for-hire intrastate property is $750,000 unless the whole fleet is rated below 10,001 pounds, where a fleet hauling only nonhazardous property needs $300,000. Vehicle tax at issuance is $30 per tractor and $20 per other property vehicle.
At a glance
- Intrastate for-hire authority
- Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) registration and current certificate before operating
- USDOT before PUCO
- Ohio advises getting a USDOT number before applying to PUCO
- For-hire property liability
- Intrastate for-hire property: $750,000 unless the entire fleet is rated below 10,001 pounds
- International Registration Plan (IRP)
- Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, full IRP service online through its commercial registration system
- Annual fuel-use permit
- From the Ohio tax commissioner, for taxable multijurisdiction commercial vehicles
Intrastate operating authority
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Intrastate for-hire authority | Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) registration and current certificate before operating | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| Tractor certificate vehicle tax | $30 per tractor or passenger vehicle at certificate issuance | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| Other property vehicle tax | $20 per other for-hire property vehicle at certificate issuance | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
State DOT number
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT before PUCO | Ohio advises getting a USDOT number before applying to PUCO | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
Insurance minimums and filings
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| For-hire property liability | Intrastate for-hire property: $750,000 unless the entire fleet is rated below 10,001 pounds | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| All-light nonhazardous fleets | $300,000 for a nonhazardous for-hire property fleet with every vehicle rated below 10,001 pounds | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
Drivers: CDL and medical card
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Intrastate driver age | 18 | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| Provisional medical eligibility | Qualifying intrastate drivers working on or before December 7, 1988 | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
IRP and IFTA
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International Registration Plan (IRP) | Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, full IRP service online through its commercial registration system | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| Annual fuel-use permit | From the Ohio tax commissioner, for taxable multijurisdiction commercial vehicles | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
Oversize and overweight permits
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Permit portal | Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Hauling Permit System | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
| Single-trip window | One routed movement within 5 days | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
Watch for these
| Rule | Ohio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle tax receipt | Keep each receipt in its assigned vehicle | Official source (opens in a new tab) October 20, 2026 |
Not covered yet
- Authority portal workflow and processing
- Insurance filing form
- Numeric USDOT thresholds
- Current IFTA portal and fees
- Fuel rates
- Highway-use tax status
- Hauling fees and complete legal limits
- Passenger medical and farm exceptions