Georgia Intrastate DOT Rules: What Applies When Your Trucks Never Leave Georgia

Plenty of Georgia operators believe the DOT rules stop at the state line. They don’t. If your trucks are 10,001 pounds or more and do business on Georgia roads, Georgia holds you to nearly the same safety rules as an interstate carrier.

Georgia adopts the federal rules for in-state trucks

The Georgia Department of Public Safety rulebook says its motor carrier rules apply to for-hire and private carriers in both interstate and intrastate commerce. Its definition of a commercial motor vehicle for in-state work starts at the same weight as the federal one, 10,001 pounds, and goes further on hazardous materials: a vehicle hauling hazardous materials in any amount counts, even below the federal placard threshold (Georgia DPS Transportation Rules, Chapter 1).

That covers far more than tractor-trailers. A pickup pulling an equipment trailer, a stake-bed, a box truck or a service body can cross the 10,001-pound line, because the definition counts the combined weight rating of the truck and trailer (49 CFR 390.5).

What is different for Georgia-only carriers

A few Georgia rules differ from the federal ones, and they cut both ways. Intrastate drivers can be 18 instead of 21 (Georgia DPS Rules 1-8 and 1-391.75, 49 CFR 391.11). Georgia allows limited medical exceptions for in-state drivers with diabetes, epilepsy or certain vision conditions, under conditions set in the rule (Georgia DPS Rule 1-391.2(d)).

Other differences add work. Georgia-only carriers still need a USDOT number and must keep the MCS-150 updated on the federal schedule, and each truck must show the number followed by “GA” (Georgia DPS Rules 1-390.19(j) and 1-390.21(h)). Lighter commercial vehicles also need the carrier’s name, city and state, and phone number marked (Georgia DPS Rule 1-390.21(h)(2)). Intrastate carriers have used ELDs since January 1, 2019 (Georgia DPS Rule 1-395.8).

The files an in-state carrier still keeps

Staying in Georgia doesn’t shrink the paperwork. Each driver needs a qualification file kept while they work for you and three years after (49 CFR 391.51). Each truck needs inspection, repair and maintenance records (49 CFR 396.3) and a yearly inspection (49 CFR 396.17). If your drivers need a CDL, a drug and alcohol testing program applies whether or not they ever cross a state line (49 CFR 382.103).

Common questions

This page explains the rules in general. It isn’t legal advice, and exemptions depend on the details of your operation.