What States Require Permits for Trucks?
Operating a commercial trucking business involves far more than just loading cargo and hitting the open road. One of the most complex, headache-inducing logistical challenges that fleet owners, owner-operators, and dispatchers face is regulatory compliance—specifically regarding state-level permits.
Because every single state operates as its own regulatory island, a route crossing multiple borders requires a deep understanding of varying weight limits, tax structures, and dimensional rules.
If you are planning your next multi-state haul, you need a definitive answer to a crucial question: what states require permits for trucks?
Let’s break down exactly which states enforce specific permits, the types of permits you must watch out for, and how to keep your fleet running smoothly without risking massive fines.
1. States with Highway Use Tax (HUT) and Weight-Distance Permits
While standard fuel taxes under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) apply almost universally across the country, a handful of states require entirely separate, specialized mileage and weight-distance tax accounts. If your truck meets specific gross vehicle weight thresholds, you cannot legally drive through these states without obtaining their dedicated permit first.
New York strictly enforces its Highway Use Tax (HUT). Any commercial motor vehicle operating on New York public highways with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) exceeding 18,000 pounds must hold a NY HUT permit and decal.
If your commercial vehicle has a combined licensed weight of 60,000 pounds or greater, you must establish a Kentucky Weight-Distance Tax (KYU) account.
New Mexico levies a Weight-Distance Tax (WDT) on any commercial vehicle weighing over 26,000 pounds. You must secure a New Mexico WDT registration permit before your tires touch state asphalt.
Oregon does not participate in IFTA in the traditional sense for heavy carriers. Instead, any truck weighing over 26,000 pounds must pay an Oregon Weight-Mile Tax, which requires an active Oregon weight receipt and tax bond certificate.
2. Oversize and Overweight (OS/OW) Permits
When asking what states require permits for trucks, the most dynamic answer involves Oversize and Overweight (OS/OW) loads.
The federal government establishes baseline maximums for the National Network of highways (typically 80,000 lbs gross weight, 53-foot trailer length, 8.5-foot width, and 13.5 to 14-foot height). However, every single state in the U.S. requires a specialized, trip-specific permit the moment a truck exceeds these legal structural dimensions.
Depending on where you travel, the strictness of these rules changes drastically:
Texas & California: Known for highly rigorous route survey requirements and strict enforcement of axle weight configurations.
Northeastern States (e.g., Pennsylvania, Massachusetts): Due to historic, older infrastructure, low bridges, and narrow lanes, these states require hyper-specific routing permits even for minor dimensional increases.
3. Trip and Fuel Permits for Non-IFTA/IRP Trucks
Are you operating a new truck that isn't fully registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) yet? Or perhaps you are a carrier who rarely leaves your home state, but you just picked up a rare, lucrative load heading across state lines?
If your vehicle meets the following criteria and is not registered under IRP or IFTA, almost all 50 states will require you to purchase temporary permits:
The truck has two axles and a gross vehicle weight exceeding 26,000 pounds.
The truck has three or more axles, regardless of its total weight.
In these cases, you must buy a temporary Trip Permit (to cover the registration/license plate portion) and a temporary Fuel Permit (to cover the state's fuel tax equivalent) for every state you transition through.
Avoid Costly Delays: Streamline Your State Permits Today
Failing to secure the proper credentials before crossing a state border can result in your truck being placed Out-of-Service (OOS) at a weigh station, thousands of dollars in statutory fines, and missed delivery windows that damage client relationships.
Instead of spending hours navigating confusing, outdated state government portals, let the experts handle the paperwork for you. Check out this comprehensive, state-by-state breakdown to discover exactly what states require permits for trucks, determine exact cost structures, and secure your temporary or permanent heavy vehicle permits seamlessly.
