A "motor carrier" is defined as an individual, association, corporation, or other legal entity that controls, operates, or directs the operation of one or more commercial motor vehicles that transport persons or cargo over a road or highway in this state.

A "commercial motor vehicle" includes:

• any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles with a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating in excess of 26,000 pounds, which is designed or used for the transportation of cargo in furtherance of any commercial enterprise
• all tow trucks (a tow truck is a motor vehicle including a wrecker equipped with a mechanical device, or used in combination with a mechanical device used to tow, winch, or otherwise move another vehicle), regardless of the gross weight rating of the tow truck
• any vehicle, including buses, designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver
• any vehicle used in the transportation of hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding under the regulations issued under the federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (Title 49, United States Code, App. §§1801-1813); and
• a commercial motor vehicle, as defined by 49 C.F.R. §390.5, that is owned or controlled by a person or entity that is domiciled in or a citizen of a country other than the United States.

For motor carrier registration purposes, a "commercial motor vehicle" DOES NOT include:

• a farm vehicle, as defined by 43 TAC, Section 18.2, with a gross weight, registered weight, and gross weight rating of less than 48,000 pounds
• cotton vehicles registered in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.277
• a vehicle registered with the Texas Railroad Commission pursuant to Texas Natural Resources Code, §113.131 and §116.072
• a vehicle transporting liquor under a private carrier permit issued in accordance with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, Chapter 42
• a motor vehicle used to transport passengers operated by an entity whose primary function is not the transportation of passengers, such as a vehicle operated by a hotel, day-care center, public or private school, nursing home, or similar organization
• a motor vehicle operating exclusively in interstate or international commerce (see Unified Carrier Registration).
• a vehicle operated by a governmental entity.

Transportation Code, Chapter 643, provides that a motor carrier may not operate a commercial motor vehicle or a tow truck, or transport household goods on a for-hire basis, on a road or highway of this state without first registering their operations with TxDOT.

NOTE: All for-hire transporters of household goods are required to register their operations with TxDOT, regardless of the size of equipment such carriers operate. Household goods carriers have different requirements than other types of motor carriers.

You must register as a motor carrier when you:

• Operate a vehicle designed or used to transport cargo and having a gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight rating of greater than 26,000 pounds
• Transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding
• Operate a vehicle designed to transport more than 15 passengers, including the driver
• Operate a tow truck, regardless of vehicle weight
• Transport household goods on a for-hire basis, regardless of vehicle weight
• Operate a commercial motor vehicle that is owned or controlled by a person or entity that is domiciled in, or a citizen of, a country other than the United States.

To register as a motor carrier (other than a household goods carrier), you must:

• Submit to TxDOT a completed original Texas Motor Carrier Application, Form 1899 [pdf, 4 pages, 769kb]
• Have your insurance company file proof on insurance that meets minimum levels on a:
  • Form E – for auto liability insurance
  • Form H and I – for on-hook cargo insurance for towing companies that perform non-consent tows
  • Fax applications to 512/465-3521 (must include credit card or escrow account payment information). Please do not mail the original documents if you are filing your application by fax.
  • Mail applications to TxDOT-Attn. MCD-BC, P.O. Box 12984, Austin TX 78711-2984.
  • Motor Carrier registration is available for 7 calendar days, 90 days, 1 year, or 2 years.
  • All applications must be accompanied by the appropriate fees and insurance filing. Incomplete applications will not be processed and may be returned to the applicant.
  • A motor carrier certificate of registration is nontransferable between carriers.

Depending on the cargo type you select, this registration will allow you to:

• Operate a tow truck
• Transport intrastate passengers for hire
• Transport cargo in:
  • Intrastate private carriage
  • Intrastate for-hire carriage
  • Interstate for-hire carriage of exempt commodities
  • Interstate private carriage.

Motor carrier registration fees* are as follows:

*see household goods carriers for information on those fees.
**payable by the carrier or the insurance company

Credit will be given for fees paid under the Single State Registration System.

Fees are payable by:

• MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express (a $1 processing fee will be charged)
• Electronic funds transfer
• Personal check, business check, cashier's check, or money order, payable to the Texas Department of Transportation
• Funds deposited in a pre-established escrow account.

Electronic and faxed applications must include credit card or escrow account payment information. All fees are nonrefundable.
 

Yes, requirements for household goods carriers are different from general motor carrier requirements.
 

Required auto liability insurance levels are as follows:

The motor carrier's insurance policy shall be kept in full force and effect as long as the carrier continues operations. The carrier's insurance policy shall provide that the insurance company will give MCD 30 days prior written notice of any policy cancellation or expiration. TxDOT MCD will revoke a motor carrier's certificate of registration if the insurance has been canceled or has expired. Additionally, proof of insurance and/or cancellations must be submitted by your insurance company as follows:

1. proof of liability must be filed on a Form E,
2. liability cancellation must be filed on a Form K, and
3. proof of on-hook cargo insurance for towing companies that perform non-consent tows must be filed on Forms H and I.

This requirement applies to motor carriers whose primary business is transportation for compensation or hire, and who operate between two or more incorporated cities, towns, or villages. Proof of this coverage is not filed with TxDOT.

Workers' Compensation
For more information on Workers' Compensation requirements please contact:

Division of Workers' Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)
333 Guadalupe
Austin 78701
P.O. Box 149104
Austin 78714-9104
Customer Services 800-252-7031 (800-372-7713 x4636 in Austin)

Accidental Insurance Coverage

Type of coverage	Minimum Coverage
Medical expenses and coverage for at least 104 weeks	$300,000
Accidental death and dismemberment, 70% of employee's pre-injury income for not less than 104 weeks when compensating for loss of income	$100,000
Maximum weekly benefit	$500

 

 
• TxDOT will mail renewal notices to a carrier’s last known address approximately 60 days before expiration of annual and biennial certificates of registration. Renewal notices must be returned to TxDOT as indicated on the renewal notice. Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve the registrant of the responsibility to renew the motor carrier registration.
• The renewal form must be received by TxDOT no later than 15 days before expiration to ensure timely return of the registration listing.
• To renew registration after it has expired, a motor carrier must identify its vehicles on a form prescribed by the director, pay all vehicle fees, and if current proof of insurance is not on file with TxDOT, meet all insurance requirements. 43 TAC § 18.14 (b) (5).
• 7-day and 90-day certificates of registration can not be renewed.

In order to re-register a certificate that has been revoked, the motor carrier must complete a Supplemental Application, an Equipment Report, file proof of insurance and pay all required fees.
 

Use the Supplemental Application to:

• Cancel a certificate of registration
• File a name change (no change in ownership)
• File a corporate conversion
• File a change of address
• Change corporate officers/titles
• Change legal agent
• Change the type of motor carrier operations
• Change drug-testing consortium information

Upon approval of your application, TxDOT will issue a certificate of registration and a registration listing. Registered carriers must keep a copy of the registration listing in each vehicle the carrier operates, with the appropriate vehicle highlighted on the registration listing.
 

A registered carrier does not have to pay the vehicle fee ($10 or $25 for tow trucks) or the biennial registration vehicle fee ($20 or $50 for tow trucks) when replacing a vehicle for which the fee was previously paid, provided that the motor carrier notifies TxDOT of the vehicle being taken out of service and identifies the replacement vehicle on a Form 1901, Vehicle Substitution [Word, 1 page, 120kb], before the replacement vehicle is put into operation.
 

Regular mail should be sent to TxDOT - MCD, P. O. Box 12984, Austin, TX 78711-2984. Customers may also fax information to (512) 465-3595, or fax forms directly to our scanning system at (512) 465-3521. If you fax an application and fees are due, you must provide a credit card or escrow account number.
 

Applications may be dropped off at our office, but will not be processed while you wait.
 

In general, a complete application takes approximately 10 working days to process. If your application is incomplete and we request additional information, the amount of time it takes to process your application will increase.
 

Call us at (800) 299-1700. From the automated telephone menu, select option 2, followed by option 1.
 

Generally 3 to 5 days, but it may take as long as 10 days.
 

The Motor Carrier Division keeps records for a limited retention period, and not all records are available. Copies of documents can be requested under the Public Information Act. Fees are based upon the amount of time it takes to research a record, as well as other factors.
 

With the exception of signage requirements for household goods carriers, these requirements are under the jurisdiction of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) for operations in Texas.

For operations that cross state lines, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

You can also contact these agencies by calling our One-Stop Shop at 1-800-299-1700 (from the automated menu, select Option 7 for DPS or Option 8 for FMCSA).
 

Texas motor carrier registration fees are deposited to the Texas General Fund (Fund 001).