What is a trip permit?

A trip permit is a short-term, single-crossing commercial vehicle credential that authorizes a carrier to operate in a state without enrolling in that state's full weight-distance or fuel-tax program. Most trip permits are valid for 72 hours, cover fuel and weight-distance use tax for the duration, and are issued digitally. Trip permits are the right choice for occasional out-of-state loads; carriers running a state regularly should register for the recurring account instead.

Who needs a state trucking permit?

Any commercial motor carrier operating in a state that imposes its own highway use, weight-distance, or intrastate operating authority above the federal USDOT/MC authority needs a state permit. This includes any truck over 18,000–60,000 lbs entering NY, KY, NM, CT, or Oregon (weight-distance states), any for-hire carrier operating intrastate in California, Texas, or Ohio, and any vehicle crossing a state for a single trip without an existing account (trip permit). Private carriers, owner-operators, and fleets are all covered.

How much does a trip permit cost?

A 72-hour state trip permit filed through Fast Permit Filing is $85 per permit, flat, with no hidden fees. That covers our preparation and filing work plus the state agency fee, and credentials are delivered digitally. Single-state weight-distance registrations (like NY HUT or KYU) start at $75. Multi-state bundles — such as the Big Four (NY + KY + NM + CT) at $149 — are cheaper per state than individual filings.

How long does a state permit take to process?

Most orders placed before 2:00 PM ET are filed the same business day. 72-hour trip permits are typically delivered within a few hours because the issuing states use digital portals. Weight-distance accounts (NY HUT, KYU, NM WDT, CT HUT) are usually active within one to three business days depending on state agency provisioning. Credentials are emailed as soon as the filing is processed — you can forward them straight to your driver.

What happens if I operate without a state permit?

Operating a commercial vehicle without the required state permit is enforceable at weigh stations and ports of entry. Penalties typically start at $500 and escalate to $25,000 per violation depending on the state and load. Enforcement can also place your vehicle out-of-service, which kills the revenue on your load, and the citation is reported to FMCSA where it weighs on your CSA safety score. Repeat offenses compound quickly.

What is the NY HUT and who needs it?

The New York Highway Use Tax (HUT) is required for motor vehicles with a gross weight over 18,000 lbs using New York public highways. All interstate and intrastate carriers operating in NY must register before their first New York trip.

What is a KYU permit?

The Kentucky Unified Carrier (KYU) permit is required for vehicles over 59,999 lbs operating on Kentucky roads. It is a weight-distance tax separate from IRP registration and must be obtained before any Kentucky operations.

What states have weight-distance taxes?

Five US states impose weight-distance or highway use taxes in addition to IFTA fuel tax: New York (HUT), Kentucky (KYU), New Mexico (W&D Tax), Connecticut (HUT), and Oregon (Weight-Mile Tax). All carriers operating in these states must register separately.

Do I need CA# and a Motor Carrier Permit in California?

Yes. California requires two separate permits: a CA Operating Authority number from the CHP (required for for-hire intrastate carriers) and a Motor Carrier Permit from the CA DMV (required for all carriers operating in California). Our California Gold package covers both in one filing.

What is the difference between a trip permit and a weight-distance registration?

A weight-distance registration is an ongoing account that allows unlimited travel in a state - you pay taxes based on mileage each quarter. A 72-hour trip permit is a one-time, short-term permit for a single crossing. Carriers operating regularly in NY, KY, NM, or CT should register; occasional crossings can use trip permits.

What trucking permits do I need as a new carrier?

New commercial carriers typically need several state trucking permits depending on their operating lanes. At minimum, you need highway use tax registrations for any weight-distance states you travel through (NY HUT, KYU, NM, CT, Oregon). If you operate intrastate in California, Texas, or Ohio, you also need state operating permits like CA#/MCP, TxDMV registration, or Ohio PUCO authority. Our Big Four Bundle covers the most common trucking permits for interstate carriers.

How much does commercial truck permit filing cost?

Commercial truck permit filing costs vary by state. Individual state trucking permits start at $75 for a single highway use tax registration. Our Big Four Bundle (NY HUT + KYU + NM + CT) is $149 - saving over 50% versus filing each state separately. Oregon Weight-Mile setup is $299, and California Compliance Gold (CA# + MCP) is $375. All prices are flat fees with no hidden costs.

Do I need an oversize overweight permit for my truck?

Oversize overweight permits are required when your vehicle or load exceeds standard legal dimensions or weight limits set by each state. This is separate from highway use tax and weight-distance permits. If your truck or load exceeds 80,000 lbs GVW, or exceeds standard width (8.5 ft), height (13.5 ft), or length limits, you need an oversize overweight permit for each state you travel through. Contact us for state-specific oversize overweight permit requirements.

What is a highway use tax and which states require it?

A highway use tax is a mileage-based tax imposed on heavy commercial vehicles using state highways. New York and Connecticut both call theirs HUT (Highway Use Tax), Kentucky calls theirs KYU, New Mexico has a Weight & Distance Tax, and Oregon has a Weight-Mile Tax. These are separate from IFTA fuel taxes and must be registered before your first trip in each state. Failure to register for highway use tax results in fines of $500 to $25,000.

What are state operating permits for trucking companies?

State operating permits grant legal authority to operate commercial vehicles within specific states. California requires a CA# (operating authority) and Motor Carrier Permit (MCP). Texas requires TxDMV registration for intrastate motor carriers. Ohio requires PUCO authority for intrastate operations. These state operating permits are separate from your federal USDOT number and MC authority, and must be obtained before operating commercially in those states.

FastPermit.Permits

Permits

For oversize loads

Per-trip oversize load permits

Any dimension exceeding 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, 53' long, or 80,000 lbs gross requires a per-trip oversize permit in every state of travel under 23 CFR §658. We file same-day from $85 per state per trip plus state DOT fees, with engineering review for superloads.

Standard vs superload permits

Standard oversize permits cover loads modestly above the federal default — say 10 feet wide, 14 feet tall, 60 feet long, or 90,000 lbs GVW. These permits typically issue within 1-3 business hours during state DOT business hours and cost $50-$200 per state per trip in DOT fees. Superloads (typically 16+ feet wide, 17+ feet tall, 200+ feet long, or 200,000+ lbs) trigger additional engineering review and permit fees.

See our superload permits explainer and the state-by-state guide.

What's included

Per-trip oversize permit filings in every state of the route
Superload engineering review for oversized pieces
Escort and pole-car requirement identification
Travel-window restrictions surfaced upfront
Same-day standard oversize issuance during state DOT business hours

Pricing starts at

72-Hour Trip Permit$85

View all permits

Same-day standard

Superload review

Oversize focus

Oversize load permit questions

What dimensions trigger an oversize permit?

The federal default per 23 CFR §658 is 8'6" wide, 13'6" tall, and 53' length on a single trailer (or 28' on each trailer of a double-trailer combination). State limits vary slightly — most match the federal defaults, some allow taller loads on specific routes. Any dimension above the limit requires a per-trip oversize permit in each state of travel. GVW above 80,000 lbs separately triggers an overweight permit.

What is a superload and when do I need one?

A superload is an oversize load exceeding state-specific superload thresholds — typically anything over 16 feet wide, 17 feet tall, 200 feet long, or 200,000 lbs. Superloads need a separate engineering review before the permit issues; the state DOT runs a route study, may require police escort, may impose time-of-day or seasonal restrictions, and the permit fee is substantially higher than a standard oversize permit. Lead time for a superload permit is typically 5-15 business days.

Can I haul oversize at night?

Most states prohibit oversize movement during night hours and on weekends/holidays unless the permit specifically authorizes it. Daytime restrictions also apply on certain routes (urban areas during commute hours, narrow bridges with traffic-control requirements). Each permit specifies the authorized travel windows; violating them voids the permit and exposes the carrier to citations.

Other permit contexts

You might also need

UCR registration — FastUCRFiling
Form 2290 HVUT — Fast2290Filing