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Pennsylvania trucking rules

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

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

Must-know rules

Pennsylvania's big trucking issues are the Act 124 diesel idling limit (5 minutes per hour, with signs required at some sites), the PA Turnpike's hazmat tunnel bans, and PennDOT's storm-driven speed cuts and right-lane-only rules for commercial vehicles. I could not confirm from official sources any truck-specific speed limit, the handheld phone rule, or weigh-station rules, so those are left out.

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

• Must knowWinter storm speed cuts and truck lane rule

  During storms PennDOT can cut I-80 to 45 mph, and commercial vehicles not covered by the restrictions must move to the right lane. In some east-central PA storm orders, commercial vehicles must stay in the right lane while the restrictions are in place. I did not find a standing truck-only speed limit in the sources reviewed.

  PennDOT Reduces Speed and Restricts Commercial Vehicles to the Right Lane Only on Several East Central Pennsylvania Interstates
• Must knowWeather event vehicle restrictions (Tier 1)

  PennDOT's weather event vehicle restriction plan has tiers. A Tier 1 vehicle restriction can start alongside speed reductions, for example 6:00 AM during winter storm Kassandra. The snippet I found did not list which vehicles each tier covers, so check PennDOT or 511PA before a storm.

  PennDOT Issues Update on Regional Speed Restrictions

Weight limits, oversize permits and chain laws

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

Fees and DOT requirements

Pennsylvania has no separate state fee for Class A versus Class B (both are $127.50 for 4 years). Truck registration is steep and set by weight: $822 a year at 26,001 lb and $2,935 a year at 80,000 lb. Intrastate for-hire carriers need a PUC Certificate of Public Convenience, a one-time $100 filing for trucks. A USDOT number is also required on intrastate trucks of 17,001 lb or more, which is lower than the federal threshold.

Class B CDL

$127.50 for 4 years (about $31.88 a year)
PennDOT's fee table does not split Class A from Class B. $127.50 is the 4-year commercial license fee (renewal). Hazmat adds $22 to the 4-year fee ($149.50), plus a separate federal $60 hazmat fee. Drivers 65+ can choose a 2-year license for $71.50. Upgrading a non-commercial license to commercial i Source

Class A CDL

$127.50 for 4 years (about $31.88 a year)
Same fee table as Class B: $127.50 for 4 years, or $71.50 for a 2-year license at age 65+. Endorsement or class upgrades are $21.50. Hazmat renewal is $149.50 plus the federal $60 hazmat fee. Skills tests for Class A are given by PennDOT-certified third parties, whose fees are not set in the officia Source

Registration, 26,001 lb straight truck

$822 a year Source

Registration, 80,000 lb combination

$2,935 a year Source

How registration is figured

Registered gross weight. PennDOT's fee schedule (MV-70S, rev. 4-26) puts regular trucks and truck tractors into 25 weight classes. The fee is not based on vehicle value. Farm-truck rates are lower.
These are 1-year fees for regular (non-farm) trucks and truck tractors: Class 9 (26,001-30,000 lb) is $822, and Class 25 (79,001-80,000 lb) is $2,935. The 2-year fees are $1,644 and $5,870. The $2,935 is for the tractor registered at 80,000 lb combined weight. Trailers are registered separately on the same schedule, and I did not pull a trailer amount for this 80,000 lb case. IRP apportioned regis Source

Intrastate operating authority

Certificate of Public Convenience (PUC number), issued by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; the truck applicat. $100, one-time.
Applies when both origin and destination are in Pennsylvania and the haul is for hire. The PUC FAQ says a USDOT or federal motor carrier number does not authorize intrastate business, and that brokering inside PA also needs PUC authority. It also says the property (truck) application is $100, all other types are $350, and the fee is one-time with no annual fee. You cannot operate or advertise unti Source

State DOT requirements

• Must knowUSDOT number for intrastate trucks

  A truck with a GVWR or GCWR of 17,001 lb or more operated in intrastate commerce must display the carrier's USDOT number (67 Pa. Code §231.7). Farm trucks, school buses and government vehicles are exempt for intrastate operation. PennDOT says there is no separate state DOT number. The requirement is the USDOT number, which an intrastate carrier may need.

  PennDOT Fact Sheet - USDOT Number (April 2025)

See all 5 DOT requirements with full access

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

New Pennsylvania trucking bills

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

• Pending PA HB960: In commercial drivers, further providing for disqualification. Referred to Transportation · 2025-06-03

Bill data from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0).