TL;DR: Texas carriers running interstate follow federal rules: 49 CFR 387.9 liability tiers with FMCSA filings. Carriers running only inside Texas need a TxDMV Number with insurer-filed Form E coverage, $500,000 for general freight above 26,000 pounds, $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for hazmat. Workers comp is optional for Texas private employers.
Which rules apply to my Texas trucking operation?
It depends on where your wheels go, not where your yard is. Cross a state line for hire, or haul freight that starts or ends outside Texas, and the federal layer applies: operating authority from FMCSA, liability at the 49 CFR 387.9 tiers, and BMC filings made by your insurer. Stay entirely inside Texas, all origins, routes, and destinations in-state, and the Texas layer applies instead: a TxDMV Number from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles with the state's own insurance minimums filed on Form E. Many Texas carriers run both layers at once, and each must stay current on its own.
Who needs a TxDMV Number?
Intrastate carriers that meet any trigger in the TxDMV Motor Carrier Handbook: a vehicle or combination over 26,000 pounds gross weight, registered weight, or weight rating; placardable hazardous materials in any quantity; vehicles designed for more than 15 passengers; commercial school buses; farm vehicles at 48,000 pounds or more; or household goods for compensation at any weight. You need a USDOT Number first, then register through TxDMV's eLINC system, and your insurer files Form E electronically before the number activates.
How much liability coverage does Texas require?
| Operation | Texas intrastate minimum | Federal interstate minimum |
|---|---|---|
| General freight, over 26,000 lbs (TX) / 10,001 lbs (federal) | $500,000 CSL | $750,000 |
| Oil, listed hazmat, petroleum fuels | $1,000,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Worst-class bulk hazmat | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 |
| Household goods movers under 26,000 lbs | $300,000 | federal tiers apply interstate |
Two traps in that table. The Texas $500,000 floor is lower than the federal $750,000, so an intrastate carrier that adds one interstate load must first raise coverage and add federal filings. And the thresholds differ: Texas registration starts above 26,000 pounds while federal rules reach down to 10,001 pounds for interstate work. In practice most Texas carriers buy $1,000,000 anyway, because brokers and shippers require it by contract regardless of which layer governs.
What gets filed, and by whom?
Insurers file everything. For intrastate authority, your insurance company files Form E (liability) against your TxDMV registration, Forms H and I for household goods cargo, and Form K if coverage cancels, with at least 30 days electronic notice to TxDMV required before cancellation. For interstate authority, the same insurer files a BMC-91 or BMC-91X with FMCSA and attaches the MCS-90 endorsement to your policy. Keeping filings active is your responsibility even though insurers transmit them, and a lapse on either layer can bring revocation of that authority.
What about workers comp and the other coverages?
Texas is the only state where workers compensation is optional for private employers. Trucking companies that opt out, non-subscribers, lose the exclusive-remedy shield and can be sued by injured employees, so the decision deserves real analysis, not a default. Beyond that, the practical Texas trucking program looks like everywhere else: motor truck cargo, commonly $100,000, because brokers require it; physical damage for your equipment, with hail a serious Texas exposure; and general liability where shippers and facilities demand it. Personal injury protection must be offered on Texas auto policies and can only be rejected in writing.
Where do I verify Texas requirements?
Two agencies split the field. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carrier Division, runs intrastate authority, filings, and enforcement through eLINC. The Texas Department of Insurance regulates the policies themselves and handles consumer complaints, with the Division of Workers' Compensation overseeing the optional workers comp system. For interstate questions, FMCSA's registration and Licensing and Insurance systems are the federal reference.
Real questions Texas owner-operators and fleet managers ask
Do I need a TxDMV Number if I only run interstate?
No. Vehicles operating exclusively in interstate commerce register under the federal system and UCR instead. The TxDMV Number is for intrastate operations. Texas-based carriers hauling both kinds of freight commonly hold both credentials, each with its own insurance filing.
Is $500,000 really enough coverage in Texas?
It satisfies the intrastate minimum for general freight above 26,000 pounds, but almost no broker or shipper accepts it: contracts demand $1,000,000, and Texas juries have produced some of the country's largest trucking verdicts. Treat $500,000 as a legal floor, not a plan.
Who files my Form E with TxDMV?
Your insurance company, electronically, against the UIN you receive from eLINC. You cannot file it yourself. Your TxDMV Number activates only after the Form E posts and fees are paid, and it stays active only while the filing stays continuous.
Does Texas require workers comp for trucking companies?
No, Texas private employers may opt out, uniquely among states. Non-subscribers lose the exclusive-remedy defense, must file DWC Form-005 if they have five or more employees, and face suit by injured workers. Many carriers subscribe anyway or carry occupational accident coverage for leased owner-operators.
What happens if my insurance lapses on a TxDMV Number?
Your insurer must give TxDMV 30 days electronic notice before cancellation, and failure to maintain continuous coverage can bring administrative penalties or revocation of your operating authority. Replace coverage and get the new Form E filed before the old one dies.
Why truckers work with Morrow
- We know the filings. Morrow is licensed in Texas and handles both layers, FMCSA filings for interstate work and Form E filings with TxDMV for intrastate authority.
- New authority is our normal. First-year carriers pay the most and get declined the most. We work with markets that actually want new ventures and we tell you what the first renewal takes.
- Certificates and filings, fast. Certificates of insurance the same business day for most carriers, and federal or state filings submitted electronically so your authority is not sitting in a queue.
- We quote the whole picture. Liability, cargo, physical damage, and the endorsements shippers and brokers actually check for, priced together so nothing is missing when a load is on the line.
- Real people when something goes wrong. A claim, a lapse notice, or a lost certificate gets a person, not a portal.
Related Texas trucking guides
The other Texas trucking questions, answered the same way.
- Trucking insurance in Texas (start here)
- Trucking insurance requirements
- Intrastate authority and filings
- Minimum liability limits for trucks
- Cost of trucking insurance
- Business insurance in Texas
- Federal minimum liability limits by commodity
- What is an MCS-90 endorsement?
- Federal minimum liability limits by commodity
- Trucking and transportation insurance overview
This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Limits, forms, and deadlines change, so verify current requirements with the Texas Department of Insurance and TxDMV before you rely on them. Morrow is a brand name of Afthonea Inc. Last updated: July 2026.