Rhode Island trucking requirements for hot shot & box truck operators

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

What a small carrier based in or running through Rhode Island (RI) 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 Rhode Island that travel to other member jurisdictions get an IFTA license and decals from Rhode Island and file quarterly fuel-tax returns. Find the Rhode Island contact in the IFTA jurisdiction directory.

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

Weight-distance taxes

Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island through the FMCSA field office and the Rhode Island DOT.

Look up a Rhode Island carrier

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