Trucking compliance in Florida: USDOT, UCR, IFTA, permits
1,204 carriers got a new USDOT number in Florida in August 2026. Here is what each of them needs in the first year: the federal stack, the Florida layer on top, and the government fees kept apart from ours.
What a new carrier in Florida needs
Federal, same in every state
- USDOT number, filed in Motus (motus.dot.gov, the only real site). No government fee. Company official verifies identity through Login.gov.
- Operating authority for for-hire interstate loads: $300 per authority type on Pay.gov, granted about 21 days after filing, insurance and BOC-3. 49 CFR 365.
- BOC-3 process agent designation, no government fee, required before authority is granted. 49 CFR 366.
- UCR in your base state: $46 for 0 to 2 vehicles in 2026.
- Drug and alcohol program with a C/TPA: random pool at 50 percent drugs and 10 percent alcohol. 49 CFR 382.305. Owner-operators must use a consortium.
- FMCSA Clearinghouse registration, C/TPA designation, pre-employment full query and annual limited query per driver.
- Driver qualification file per driver. 49 CFR 391.51.
- MCS-150 biennial update on the schedule set by your USDOT number. 49 CFR 390.19.
- New-entrant safety audit within 12 months of the USDOT number.
Florida layer
- Intrastate authority: None. Florida does not issue intrastate operating authority for property carriers. IRP plates and IFTA come from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
- IFTA licence and decals: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Qualified vehicle: 26,001 lb or more, three or more axles, or a combination over 26,000 lb.
- IRP apportioned plates for interstate vehicles over 26,000 lb, from the Florida registration agency.
- UCR: Florida participates in UCR. A Florida-based carrier registers UCR with Florida as the base state.
- USDOT for intrastate: Florida requires a USDOT number for commercial motor vehicles operating in intrastate commerce, following the federal 10,001 lb GVWR definition.
- Weight-distance taxes elsewhere: Florida has none, but runs through New York (HUT), Kentucky (KYU), New Mexico or Oregon need those permits before entry.
Florida at a glance
New USDOT numbers, August 2026: 1,204
Intrastate authority: None for property carriers
IFTA: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)
Weight-distance tax: No
Metros: Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville
Servicio en español: profirmusa.com/es/
Border and ports
PortMiami, Port Everglades, JAXPORT and Port Tampa Bay handle container and roll-on cargo bound for Latin America and the Caribbean. No land border.
Florida quirks
One agency, FLHSMV, handles both IRP apportioned plates and the IFTA licence, which simplifies setup for a new carrier.
No state operating authority to obtain, so a Florida intrastate carrier is compliant with a USDOT number, insurance, and the federal safety rules.
Florida ranks third in the country for new USDOT registrations, and a large share of them are Spanish-speaking owner-operators.
Federal fee stack for a one-truck Florida carrier
Government fees on the left, ours on the right, never blended. FMCSA warns about vendors that blur the two and never charges for a USDOT number itself.
| Service | Our fee | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| USDOT number filing (Motus) | $99 | one-time |
| Operating authority filing (for-hire) | $199 | one-time |
| BOC-3 process agent filing | $49 | one-time |
| UCR registration filing | $49 | per year |
| Consortium enrollment, owner-operator | $99 | per year |
| IFTA license and decals | $99 | one-time |
Government total for this stack: $346 (authority plus 2026 UCR, 0 to 2 vehicles; IFTA decal fee varies by state). Profirm total: $594. The new carrier start-up package bundles these filings for $649.
Florida intrastate authority, IRP plates and state permits are quoted separately because their fees depend on the vehicle and the jurisdictions you run.
Florida metros we serve
- Miami and Fort Lauderdale
- Tampa
- Orlando
- Jacksonville
Collection sites for DOT tests are part of a network of more than 12,000 locations, so a driver in any of these metros goes to the closest one. Filings are federal or base-state, so nothing on this page requires a visit.
Cross-border: Profirm has filed US registrations for Quebec and Ontario carriers since 1988. If your Florida operation runs into Canada, or a Canadian partner runs into Florida, the same desk handles both sides.
Get your Florida checklist in writing
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Florida questions
Do I need operating authority to run intrastate in Florida?
None. Florida does not issue intrastate operating authority for property carriers. IRP plates and IFTA come from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). For interstate loads you need FMCSA operating authority ($300 government fee per type), a BOC-3 and UCR.
Who issues the IFTA licence in Florida?
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). One licence and one set of decals from your base state cover every IFTA jurisdiction, including Quebec and Ontario. Returns are due April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31. Profirm sets up the account for $99 and files each quarter for $75 for 1 to 3 trucks.
Where do I register UCR as a Florida carrier?
Florida participates in UCR. A Florida-based carrier registers UCR with Florida as the base state. The 2026 fee for 0 to 2 vehicles is $46; 2027 registration opens October 1, 2026 at $55 and enforcement starts after January 1, 2027.
Does Florida require intrastate operating authority?
No, not for property carriers. A Florida carrier that stays in state needs a USDOT number, insurance and the federal safety rules (drug and alcohol program, driver qualification files, hours of service). Interstate carriers add operating authority, BOC-3, UCR and IFTA.
Where do I get IRP plates and my IFTA licence in Florida?
Both from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. One agency for both accounts makes Florida simpler than most states for a new interstate carrier.
Starting a trucking company in Florida?
Tell us what you haul and where. We list every filing, the government fee and our fee, the same business day. No fake deadlines.