Iowa trucking requirements for hot shot & box truck operators

Qualified trucks based in Iowa need IRP apportioned plates and an IFTA license from Iowa. It has no separate weight-distance tax.

What a small carrier based in or running through Iowa (IA) should check, with links to official sources.

Fuel tax & registration

IFTA: qualified motor vehicles (two axles and over 26,000 lb, three or more axles, or combination over 26,000 lb) based in Iowa that travel to other member jurisdictions get an IFTA license and decals from Iowa and file quarterly fuel-tax returns. Find the Iowa contact in the IFTA jurisdiction directory.

IRP: apportioned plates for the same qualified vehicles are issued by Iowa as your base jurisdiction. See the IRP jurisdiction contacts.

Weight-distance taxes

Iowa is not one of the four states with a separate weight-distance tax (Kentucky, New Mexico, New York, Oregon).

Size & weight

On the Interstate System, federal law caps gross vehicle weight at 80,000 lb, 20,000 lb single axle and 34,000 lb tandem (23 CFR 658.17), subject to grandfathered state exceptions. Iowa sets limits on other roads and issues oversize/overweight permits – see FHWA state permit contacts.

Federal registrations

Interstate carriers need a USDOT number and, if for-hire, MC authority, BOC-3 and UCR – use our authority & insurance checker. Intrastate rules vary; contact Iowa through the FMCSA field office and the Iowa DOT.

Look up a Iowa carrier

Use the DOT/MC lookup to check any carrier or broker partner.