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Michigan trucking rules

Fees, CDL costs, weight and size limits, chain laws and new bills for truckers and trucking companies in Michigan. Updated 2026-10-22.

Must-know rules · Weight, oversize & chains · Fees · Bills

Must-know rules

Michigan is unusual for its axle-based weight law. Trucks can run up to 164,000 lb on 11 axles, against the federal 80,000 lb norm. Trucks also have a lower freeway speed cap than cars, and commercial drivers are covered by a hold-or-use ban on mobile devices. I could not confirm official pages for idling limits, winter chain or traction rules, weigh-station rules or a weight-distance tax, so those are left out.

Researched by our AI agent from the linked sources on 2026-10-21. Always confirm with the source.

• Must knowGross and axle weight (Michigan axle-weight law)

  Michigan limits weight per axle by axle spacing, with a maximum of 11 axles. A standard 5-axle federal-weight truck is capped at 80,000 lb, with 17,000 lb on four axles and 12,000 lb on the steer axle. The heaviest Michigan-weight-law truck is 164,000 lb, which needs 11 properly spaced axles, most carrying only 13,000 lb.

  MDOT: Michigan's Truck-Weight Law and Truck-User Fees
• Must knowOversize/overweight permits (MDOT Transport Permits Unit)

  MDOT requires loads to be arranged to the minimum height, length and width, and staggered loading is not permitted. An older copy of the MDOT T-2 form says single-trip permits are not issued above 16 ft wide, 15 ft high or 150 ft overall length, and are valid for a 5-day period. That copy is dated 07/14, so confirm current limits and fees with MDOT before you haul.

  MDOT T-2: Information on the Movement of Oversize or Overweight Vehicles and Loads

Weight limits, oversize permits and chain laws

Our agent is still researching Michigan's weight, size and chain rules. Check back soon.

Fees and DOT requirements

Michigan's state CDL fees are low: $25 for a standard CDL, with $5 per endorsement. The big costs are the registration tax and intrastate authority. Registration is a flat tax by elected gross weight. Intrastate for-hire carriers also need state authority from the Michigan State Police (MSP), with per-vehicle annual fees.

Class B CDL

$25 for 4 years (about $6.25 a year)
The SOS page lists $25 for both first-time and renewal of a standard CDL, $5 for each group designation or endorsement, and $18 to replace or correct. Enhanced CDL: $25 first-time and renewal, $33 replace/correct, $10 for the X endorsement. Michigan does not run skills tests at SOS offices. Third-pa Source

Class A CDL

$25 for 4 years (about $6.25 a year)
The fee is the same as Class B; the SOS fee page does not list a different Class A fee. Endorsements (hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples) are $5 each, and the X endorsement is $10 on an enhanced CDL. SOS says a CDL is valid for up to four years. Third-party skills-test fees are set by the testing busin Source

Registration, 26,001 lb straight truck

$670 a year Source

Registration, 80,000 lb combination

$1,992 a year Source

How registration is figured

The Secretary of State collects a registration tax by schedule when a vehicle is registered. For trucks of 8,001 lb or more, road tractors and truck tractors, the tax follows a schedule of elected gross weights. The tax does not depend on vehicle value. Michigan farm, milk and log trucks pay a reduc
The statute lists $670 for 26,001 to 28,000 lb and $1,992 for 72,001 to 80,000 lb. I used the 72,001–80,000 lb bracket for an 80,000 lb combination. Plate, title and service fees are not included. Carriers with qualified fleet vehicles can apportion registration fees among states under the International Registration Plan (IRP). IRP apportioned fees depend on miles traveled in each jurisdiction. I Source

Intrastate operating authority

Intrastate operating authority ("CVED Authority" / certificate of authority), issued by the Michigan State Police Commer. $100, annual.
The Motor Carrier Act requires all intrastate for-hire carriers to obtain CVED Authority before operating on any public road in Michigan. The certificate application fee is $100, and a renewal application is $50. There is also an annual administration fee of $100 for each self-propelled intrastate vehicle, or $50 if the vehicle starts operating after June 30. The annual per-vehicle fee is clearly Source

State DOT requirements

• Must knowIntrastate driver age and medical rules

  For intrastate transport, a driver must meet 49 CFR Parts 383 and 391, except the minimum age is 18 for property or passengers. The minimum age is 21 when hauling placarded hazardous materials. Michigan also has a state medical waiver card provision for intrastate drivers.

  Michigan Compiled Laws Chapter 480 - Motor Carrier Safety (MCL 480.12d)

See all 7 DOT requirements with full access

Fees change; confirm with the linked state source. Compare all states.

New Michigan trucking bills

Enacted signed into law · Pending still moving through the legislature · Did not pass

• Pending MI HB4181: Streamline sales and use tax: exemptions; tax on motor fuel; exclude. Amends secs. 3 & 5 of 2004 PA 175 (MCL 205.173 & 205.175). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4180'25, HB 4182'25, HB 4183'25, SB 0578'25 Assigned Pa 18'25 With Immediate Effect · 2025-10-08

Bill data from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).