Texas Intrastate Trucking Rules: ELD, Hours of Service & TxDMV (2026)

Quick Answer

As of October 2026, Texas intrastate drivers of trucks over 26,000 lbs may drive 12 hours within a 15-hour on-duty limit after 8 consecutive hours off, capped at 70 hours in 7 days with a 34-hour restart. Texas still requires an ELD unless an exemption applies. The carrier also needs a USDOT number registered as intrastate and a TxDMV certificate (the old "TxDOT number").

Key Takeaways

• Texas replaces the federal 11/14/10 hours-of-service rules with 12 hours driving, a 15-hour on-duty limit and 8 hours off for intrastate drivers (37 TAC §4.12).
• Texas intrastate carriers must use an ELD that meets the federal Part 395 subpart B standard unless an exemption applies.
• Texas safety rules for intrastate trucks start above 26,000 lbs, not the 10,001 lbs federal threshold.
• The minimum age for a Texas intrastate CMV driver is 18. Interstate drivers must be 21.
• TxDMV registration costs a $100 application fee, $10 per vehicle per year and a $100 Form E insurance filing, as of October 2026.
• General freight carriers over 26,000 lbs need at least $500,000 in liability coverage on file with TxDMV.

Does Texas require an ELD for intrastate trucking?

Yes. As of October 2026, 37 TAC §4.12(a)(7) says a motor carrier operating commercial vehicles intrastate "must install and require each of its drivers to use an ELD" in line with 49 CFR Part 395, unless otherwise exempted. The device has to meet the same federal technical standard as any interstate ELD.

Texas has its own exemptions on top of that:

• 150 air-mile short haul. No logbook is needed if you stay within 150 air miles of your normal work reporting location, return and get released within 14 consecutive hours, and get at least 8 consecutive hours off between shifts. Your carrier must keep time records for 6 months.
• Agriculture. Part 395 does not apply to drivers hauling agricultural commodities intrastate within 150 air miles of the source. Texas defines planting and harvesting season as January 1 to December 31, so this exemption applies all year.
• Utility service vehicles. These are exempt from the Texas hours-of-service rules.
• Specialty equipment. The Texas safety rules do not apply to oil or water well servicing rigs, mobile cranes, or vehicles hauling seed cotton when they operate intrastate.

For how the federal exemptions work, see our ELD exemptions guide.

What are the Texas intrastate hours of service rules?

Texas sets aside 49 CFR 395.3 for intrastate commerce and writes its own limits. Here's how they compare to the federal property-carrier rules, as of October 2026:

Here are some other Texas-specific rules:

• Out-of-service time. If you break the 12- or 15-hour limit, you're placed out of service for 8 consecutive hours. If you break the 70-hour limit, you stay out of service until you're back under it.
• Sleeper berth. You can make up the 8 hours off with two sleeper periods, as long as neither is shorter than 2 hours. Driving before and after them can't add up to more than 12 hours. The federal split-sleeper rules work differently.
• Adverse driving conditions. You get up to 2 more hours to finish the run or reach a safe place.
• 24-hour restart. Drivers who only haul oilfield equipment, or mainly haul construction materials, can end their 7-day period with 24 hours off instead of 34.

For the full federal rule set, see FMCSA hours of service rules.

Who counts as a Texas intrastate carrier?

The trip your freight takes decides it, not where your truck goes. Under 49 CFR 390.5, a move between two Texas cities is still interstate commerce if the freight started or will end outside Texas. Our intrastate vs. interstate guide walks through the test.

Two examples:

• Intrastate: You haul gravel from a quarry in New Braunfels to a San Antonio jobsite. The freight starts and ends in Texas, so Texas rules apply.
• Interstate: You pull a container from the Port of Houston to a Dallas warehouse. The cargo came from overseas, so federal rules apply even though you never leave Texas.

Texas safety rules cover intrastate vehicles in any of these groups (37 TAC §4.11(c)):

• Over 26,000 lbs actual gross weight or weight rating
• Farm vehicles at 48,000 lbs or more
• Vehicles carrying more than 15 passengers
• Any vehicle carrying hazmat that requires placards

If you run mixed weeks with some interstate loads, those trips fall under federal rules.

Do you need a USDOT number for Texas intrastate trucking?

Usually, yes. As of October 2026, TxDMV says you must have a valid USDOT number before you apply for Texas authority. If you only run in Texas, register it with FMCSA as intrastate, not interstate. FMCSA lists Texas among the states that require intrastate carriers to get a USDOT number.

The "Texas DOT number" people search for is really two credentials:

1. USDOT number from FMCSA. It identifies your company, and you update it every two years with Form MCS-150.
2. TxDMV certificate number. This is your Texas intrastate operating authority, formerly called a "TxDOT number."

If you haul both intrastate and interstate loads, you need TxDMV authority and an FMCSA MC number. TxDMV is clear that one does not cover the other. Our DOT number vs. MC number guide explains the federal side.

How do you get TxDMV intrastate authority?

You need TxDMV registration if you operate in Texas and you do any of the following:

• Run a truck or combination over 26,000 lbs
• Haul placarded hazmat
• Run a farm vehicle at 48,000 lbs or more
• Carry more than 15 passengers or run a commercial school bus
• Move household goods for pay, at any weight

The process, per TxDMV as of October 2026:

1. Get a USDOT number and mark it intrastate.
2. Sign up and apply at the Texas Motor Carrier Credentialing System (TxMCCS), txmccs.txdmv.gov.
3. Wait for review, which usually takes 24 to 48 business hours. Add 7 business days if you are linked to a past authority.
4. When you get the approval email, have your insurer file Form E electronically. Household goods movers also need Forms H and I.
5. Log in and pay the fees. TxMCCS then issues your TxDMV certificate number.
6. Keep a current cab card in every registered truck, paper or electronic.

You can file this yourself. TxDMV warns about companies that look official and charge to file paperwork you can do on your own. The Motor Carrier Division phone number is (800) 299-1700.

What insurance and fees does TxDMV require?

As of October 2026, TxDMV lists these fees, except for household goods movers:

Minimum liability coverage, as listed by TxDMV:

• $500,000: Private or for-hire carriers over 26,000 lbs hauling general freight. The federal minimum for interstate for-hire freight is $750,000 under 49 CFR 387.9.
• $1,000,000: Oil and listed hazardous materials, including petroleum fuels and lubricants.
• $5,000,000: The highest-risk hazmat classes.
• $300,000: Household goods movers under 26,000 lbs.

Your insurance filing has to stay "Active" in TxMCCS the whole time you operate. If it lapses, TxDMV can bring penalties or sanctions or revoke your certificate.

What happens if you break Texas intrastate rules?

As of October 2026, breaking a DPS safety rule, including the hours-of-service and ELD rules, is a Class C misdemeanor under Texas Transportation Code §644.151. Each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Knowingly driving under a federal out-of-service order is a Class A misdemeanor, and it becomes a felony if a crash causes injury or death.

On the registration side, TxDMV can fine you up to $5,000 per violation, or up to $15,000 if you broke the rule knowingly (Transportation Code §643.251). It can also suspend or revoke your certificate.

Watch for one 2025 change. Texas used to exempt intrastate drivers from the federal English-proficiency rule. DPS removed that exception effective December 11, 2025 (Texas Register), so intrastate CDL holders now face the same requirement as interstate drivers.

Medical rules are close to federal. Your card can't be valid for more than two years, as covered in our DOT medical card guide. Drivers regularly employed in Texas before August 28, 1989 who don't haul placarded hazmat are exempt from federal medical standards, but not from drug and alcohol testing.

If you use an FMCSA-registered ELD such as Lucid ELD, ask your provider to confirm which hours-of-service ruleset each driver profile uses before a Texas-only week.

Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.

FAQ

Does Texas require an ELD for intrastate drivers?

Yes. As of October 2026, 37 TAC §4.12 requires intrastate carriers to use an ELD that meets the federal Part 395 standard unless an exemption applies. The 150 air-mile short-haul exemption and the agricultural exemption are the most common ones.

How many hours can you drive in Texas intrastate?

You can drive 12 hours after 8 consecutive hours off. You can't drive after 15 hours on duty or after 70 hours in 7 days, and a 34-hour break restarts the 7-day period.

Is the 30-minute break required for Texas intrastate drivers?

No. The federal 30-minute break is part of 49 CFR 395.3, and Texas says §395.3 does not apply to intrastate commerce. The 30-minute break does apply to any load that counts as interstate.

Can an 18-year-old drive a truck in Texas?

Yes, for intrastate trips only. Texas sets the minimum age for intrastate CMV drivers at 18. Interstate commerce still requires age 21 under 49 CFR 391.11.

Is a TxDMV number the same as a USDOT number?

No. A USDOT number is a federal identifier from FMCSA. A TxDMV certificate is Texas intrastate operating authority. Most Texas intrastate carriers need both, and you need the USDOT number before you apply to TxDMV.