Trucking coverage and compliance, built for Washington.

Washington's biggest difference is workers comp: it is a monopolistic state fund. Here is a plain-language overview, with the official sources to confirm it.

State operating authority

For-hire intrastate carriers of general commodities in Washington generally must obtain a permit from the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), and household goods carriers hold a separate UTC permit. WSDOT handles commercial vehicle size-and-weight road permits, not for-hire operating authority. So authority lives at the UTC; WSDOT is the road-permit agency. Verify your requirement with the UTC.

State insurance minimums

Washington sets its own intrastate minimums through the UTC, generally a lower combined single limit for vehicles under 10,000 pounds and a higher one for vehicles over 10,000 pounds, filed with the UTC. Confirm the current figures directly with the UTC before relying on a number.

Workers compensation (monopolistic)

This is the key point. Washington is a monopolistic workers comp state: employers generally cannot buy workers comp from a private insurer. Coverage must come from the state through the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), or a large employer must qualify to self-insure. A trucking employer opens an L&I account and reports hours, and an out-of-state private policy will not satisfy Washington.

State and road permits

The practical split to remember is UTC for for-hire intrastate authority and the state insurance filing, and WSDOT for commercial vehicle and size-and-weight road permits. Keeping those straight avoids stalled registrations. Verify with each agency.

Federal rules still apply

Most trucking compliance is federal. Your USDOT number, interstate authority, the BMC-91 filing, the MCS-90, BOC-3, and UCR all still apply alongside Washington's requirements. We help line up the coverage behind both. Verify federal requirements with the FMCSA.