Map › All states › Texas

Texas trucking rules

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

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

Must-know rules

Texas sets the legal truck limits at 80,000 lb gross and 8'6" wide. Overweight and oversize moves need a TxDMV permit with an assigned route. Idling limits are enforced only in local jurisdictions that have signed an agreement with the state environmental agency (TCEQ). Hazmat routes are set city by city, and the texting ban is statewide. I could not confirm the truck speed-limit differential, chain rules, IFTA/IRP details, or any weight-distance tax from official pages, so those are left out.

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

• Must knowLegal size and weight limits (no permit)

  Max width is 8'6" for trucks and loads. Max gross weight is 80,000 lb. Axle limits are 20,000 lb single, 34,000 lb tandem, 42,000 lb triple and 50,000 lb quad. Axles in a group must be at least 40 inches apart.

  Texas Size/Weight Limits (TxDMV)
• Must knowOversize/overweight permit required

  A vehicle or load over Texas legal size or weight limits needs a TxDMV OS/OW permit and an authorized route (when applicable) before it moves on public roads. You must know the exact dimensions and weight of the vehicle and load before you apply.

  Oversize/Overweight Permits (TxDMV)

Weight limits, oversize permits and chain laws

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

Fees and DOT requirements

Texas charges the same state CDL fee for Class A and B ($97 for 8 years). Truck registration is a flat weight-bracket fee ($340 at 26,001 lb, $840 at 80,000 lb), before diesel, county and processing fees. Texas also requires its own intrastate operating authority, the TxDMV Number, on top of a USDOT number, for in-state carriers above set thresholds. It costs $100 to apply, plus $10 per vehicle per year and a $100 insurance filing.

Class B CDL

$97 for 8 years (about $12.12 a year)
Age 85+: $26 for 2 years. CDL with hazmat endorsement: $61 for 5 years. Commercial learner permit: $25, valid 180 days. Test fee after the initial CDL application: $11 per test. Hazmat fingerprint background check: $78.20. Replacement CDL: $11. The DPS page says a $1 administrative fee is included i Source

Class A CDL

$97 for 8 years (about $12.12 a year)
Same fee schedule as Class B: age 85+ is $26 for 2 years, hazmat CDL is $61 for 5 years, CLP is $25, and tests after the initial application are $11 each. A Class A applicant also takes the Combination Vehicles knowledge test, which DPS lists as part of the Class A testing. I found no separate state Source

Registration, 26,001 lb straight truck

$340 a year Source

Registration, 80,000 lb combination

$840 a year Source

How registration is figured

Flat annual fee by gross weight. Gross weight is the empty weight plus the heaviest load carried during the registration year (Transportation Code 502.253). Value is not used. Truck-tractors and combinations are also registered by gross weight under 502.255, and a semitrailer token fee applies. I di
The $340 figure is the 26,000-40,000 lb bracket and the $840 figure is the 70,001-80,000 lb bracket. Both are in Transportation Code 502.253 (https://codes.findlaw.com/tx/transportation-code/transp-sect-502-253/) and the TxDMV Motor Vehicle Registration Manual, August 2026 (https://www.txdmv.gov/sites/default/files/body-files/Motor_Vehicle_Registration_Manual_Book_298.pdf). The TxDMV 2026 fee char Source

Intrastate operating authority

TxDMV Number (motor carrier registration, also called Certificate of Operating Authority; formerly called the 'TxDOT num. $100, Choose 7-day, 90-day, 1-year or 2-year registration. 1-year .
TxDMV requires intrastate-only carriers to register with it. A valid USDOT number is required first, registered as INTRAstate. The fee table for non-household-goods carriers is: application $100 for annual or biennial registration ($5 for 7-day, $25 for 90-day). Vehicle fee is $10 per vehicle for annual or $20 per vehicle for biennial. Insurance filing (Form E) is $100. TxDMV notes the application Source

State DOT requirements

• Must knowUSDOT number for intrastate carriers

  TxDMV requires a valid USDOT number before it will start a TxDMV Number application. An intrastate-only carrier should register with USDOT as INTRAstate, not INTERstate. An interstate designation can trigger UCR filings for every year since it was assigned.

  TxDMV - TxDMV Number

See all 9 DOT requirements with full access

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

New Texas trucking bills

No new trucking bills found here recently. The agent checks every morning.