Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority:   If you carry loads for delivery in your van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer inside the state of Minnesota where these loads are picked up and delivered in Minnesota without crossing state lines, you may need to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority. This is sometimes referred to as a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT Minnesota. DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number. The registration process requires applying for a USDOT Number, filing proof of liability insurance, registering with the state for a permit, and submitting a filing fee for either the application for Motor Carrier of Passengers or Household Goods. A filing fee is not required by the state of Minnesota for Motor Carriers of Property, but an application process is required, including the application for a USDOT Number, to be issued a permit.   

Private Carriers with Gross Weight / Combined Gross Weights up to 26,000-lbs:  If you are a Private Carrier hauling your own products inside the state of Minnesota without crossing state lines in a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer and the loaded weight of either the vehicle or vehicle and trailer combination is 26,000-lbs or under, you are not required to register for a USDOT Number, sometimes referred to as DOT MN, Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number.  As a Private Carrier, you will also not be required to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority (again, sometimes referred to as Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN, MN DOT Number) at these weights, but compliance with financial responsibility is required (you are required to carry Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance).

Private Carriers with Gross Weights / Combined Gross Weights 26,001-lbs and above:   If you are a Private Carrier hauling your own products inside the state of Minnesota without crossing state lines with a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer and the loaded weight of either the vehicle or vehicle and trailer combination is 26,001-lbs or greater, you are required to register for a USDOT Number, sometimes referred to as a Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number. As a Private Carrier, you will not be required to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority (sometimes referred to as a Minnesota DOT Number, DOT MN, Minnesota DOT, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number), but compliance with financial responsibility is required by the state (you are required to carry Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance).

For-Hire Carriers: If you haul items or products of any kind as a For-Hire Carrier (you are being paid to haul these items or products) inside the state of Minnesota - picking up and delivering loads inside Minnesota without crossing state lines - in a van, truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer at any weight, you are required to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority and a USDOT number (sometimes known as DOT MN, Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number).You are required to carry a minimum of $300,000 in Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance if the Gross Weight of the vehicle or Combined Gross Weights of the vehicle and trailer combination is 10,000-lbs or under. If the Gross Weight of the vehicle is 10,001-lbs or greater, or Combined Gross Weights of both the vehicle and trailer are 10,001-lbs or greater, you are required to carry a minimum of $750,000-lbs in Personal Injury / Property Damage liability insurance.

Crossing State Lines as a Private Carrier hauling your own products:   If you cross state lines as a Private Carrier hauling your own items, products or equipment in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000-lbs or under, or with a vehicle that is pulling a trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,000-lbs or under (the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the power unit plus the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of the trailer), you will not be required to register for a USDOT number. However, you will be subject to the Unified Carrier Registration process (UCR). If you cross state lines as a Private Carrier hauling your own items, products or equipment in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001-lbs or greater, or with a vehicle that is pulling a trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,001-lbs or greater, you will need to apply for a USDOT number and will be subject to the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. But you will not need to register for Trucking Authority, ICC Authority, MC Authority, or DOT Authority (they all mean the same thing).  If the vehicle crossing state lines has a Gross Weight of 26,000-lbs or less and has 2 axles, you will not be required to register for an IRP license plate, nor for IFTA fuel tax.  If the truck crossing state lines has 3 axles or more with a Gross Weight of 10,001-lbs or higher, you will be required to register for an IRP license plate and for the IFTA fuel tax with the state and for the UCR / Unified Carrier Registration process.  If the truck or truck and trailer combination / semi-tractor and trailer weigh 26,001-lbs or more crossing state lines, you will need to register with the state of Minnesota for an IRP License plate, IFTA fuel tax and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you are crossing state lines as a Private carrier in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or a vehicle pulling a trailer where the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings are 10,001-lbs or greater, you will be subject to a New Carrier Entrant Safety Audit. If you are crossing state lines with loads as a Private Carrier and picking up and delivering loads inside Minnesota without crossing state lines with loads, but your GVWR or GCWR is 10,000-lbs or under, you will not need to register for a USDOT number (sometimes referred to as DOT MN, Minnesota DOT Number, DOT State of MN US, MN DOT Number), but you will need to register for UCR, or Unified Carrier Registration. If you are crossing state lines with loads as a Private Carrier and picking up and delivering loads inside Minnesota without crossing state lines with loads, and your GVWR or GCWR is 10,001-lbs or greater, you will need to register for a USDOT Number (sometimes referred to as a Minnesota DOT Number, Minnesota DOT, DOT MN, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number for Intra-State operations). You will also need to register for UCR or the Unified Carrier Registration.

Crossing State Lines as a For-Hire Motor Carrier hauling loads for pay:  If you are hauling Exempt (exempt from Federal Motor Carrier Authority) or Non-Exempt products for pay across state lines, you will need a USDOT number and will be subject to the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you haul loads for pay (For-Hire) inside the state of Minnesota - picking up and delivering these loads without crossing state lines, you will need to register for Minnesota Intra-State Motor Carrier Authority (also known as DOT MN, Minnesota DOT Number, DOT State MN US, MN DOT Number). If you haul loads across state lines for pay as a For-Hire Carrier hauling Non-Exempt loads, you will also need to register for MC Authority / ICC Motor Carrier Authority.  If you haul Exempt loads (grain, livestock, logs) across state lines as a For-Hire Carrier, you will not need to register for MC Authority / ICC Authority, but you will need a USDOT Number and register for UCR or Unified Carrier Registration.  If the vehicle crossing state lines has a Gross Weight of 26,000-lbs or less and has 2 axles and is not pulling a trailer, you will not be required to register for an IRP license plate, nor for IFTA fuel tax.  If the truck crossing state lines has 3 axles or more with a GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight of 10,001-lbs or higher, you will be required to register for an IRP license plate and for the IFTA fuel tax with the state of Minnesota, and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If the truck or truck and trailer combination / semi-tractor and trailer weigh 26,001-lbs or more crossing state lines, you will need to register with the state of Minnesota for both an IRP License plate and for IFTA fuel tax and for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) process. If you are crossing state lines as a For-Hire Carrier in a vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 10,001-lbs or greater, or a vehicle pulling a trailer where the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings are 10,001-lbs or greater, you will be subject to a New Entrant Safety Audit.