The short version
Federal law requires USDOT marking for interstate carriers at 10,001 lbs. But if you operate intrastate only (your whole trip and your cargo's whole journey stay inside one state), your own state decides — and states disagree wildly.
Three very different answers to the same question
- Federal-style states (10,001 lbs): Alaska, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Virginia and others apply the federal definition to intrastate trucks — if your GVWR is 10,001 lbs or more, the number goes on.
- Connecticut does its own thing (18,001 lbs): the only state with an 18,001-lb intrastate trigger.
- CDL-style states (26,001 lbs): Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Delaware, Idaho, Oklahoma and others only pull intrastate trucks in at 26,001 lbs.
Nearly every state also triggers on placarded hazmat at any weight, and most have a passenger trigger (often 9+ for-hire or 16+ total).
Why the confusion costs money
A 14,000-lb box truck needs USDOT marking in Alaska but not in Michigan. The same truck moved from Las Vegas to Boise changes obligations. Guessing wrong either means an avoidable violation at a roadside inspection — or paying for decals you didn't need.
Look up your state
We keep a full 50-state marking rules table, verified against each state's statutes and regulations, and every state has its own page under DOT decals by state with the local requirement spelled out.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change — confirm current federal and state requirements with the FMCSA and your state agency before you operate. Our state summaries were verified against primary sources July 2026.
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