Class Insurance Agency, an affiliated office of AIC Insurance
Truck insurance for Wisconsin haulers
Wisconsin trucking runs on dairy, paper and manufacturing, with a frozen road law in winter and weight limits every spring. We quote Wisconsin owner-operators, new authorities and fleets by phone, email and online from our office in Vancouver, Washington, in English, Russian, Ukrainian or Romanian.
Call 360-450-2211 or start a quote online.
Hauling for hire inside Wisconsin
- LC number. For-hire carriers hauling property inside Wisconsin need WisDOT intrastate authority, called an LC number.[1] You apply on form MV2843 for $500, and your insurance filing must already be on file. An active federal BMC-91X in the same legal name can substitute.[2]
- USDOT number. Required for intrastate trucks of 10,001 lb or more and for placarded hazmat, and WisDOT won’t register the truck without it.[3]
- Weigh stations. Every truck over 10,000 lb must stop at an open weigh station.[3]
Insurance limits and Form E
Wisconsin sets its own limits for for-hire property carriers.[4]
| Truck and cargo | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 lb, non-hazmat | $300,000 |
| Over 10,000 lb, non-hazmat | $750,000 |
| Oil or hazmat | $1,000,000 |
| Bulk hazmat over 3,500 gallons, explosives, poison gas | $5,000,000 |
Your insurer files a Form E (or Form EX) with WisDOT. Carriers registered under UCR through another state are exempt from the state filing.[4][5] Wisconsin’s adoption of the federal safety rules doesn’t include the federal insurance part; the limits above come from its own rule.[6] There’s no state cargo minimum, but applicants certify that they can provide cargo insurance or pay claims.[2]
Frozen roads, spring limits and harvest weights
- Frozen road law. Declared zone by zone once frost reaches at least 18 inches, on average from December 22 to March 4.[7] Loads of logs and forest products, salt or sand may run up to 98,000 lb on 5 or more axles, versus the normal 80,000 lb, but not on posted roads or bridges.[8][9]
- Spring restrictions. Class II limits cover about 1,400 miles of state highway, on average from March 9 to May 9.[7] Local officials post local roads. Check the status line at 608-266-8417.[10]
- Harvest exception. From August 1 to December 31, corn, soybeans, potatoes, vegetables and cranberries may run up to 15% overweight without a permit, from field to storage or processing, in vehicles registered at 50,000 lb or more. Interstates are excluded except the I-39 and I-41 corridors.[11]
Permits, taxes and Wisconsin freight
IRP and IFTA go through WisDOT Motor Carrier Services (608-266-9900).[2] Oversize and overweight permits also come from WisDOT (608-266-7320).[7] Wisconsin has no weight-distance tax.
Trucks carried 489 million tons of Wisconsin freight worth about $620 billion in 2023.[12] I-94 through Milwaukee carries 158,000 to 178,000 vehicles a day[13], and the state has 29 commercial ports.[14] Wisconsin makes about a quarter of the country’s cheese, 3.64 billion pounds in 2025, from about 5,000 dairy farms[15], and has led the nation in papermaking for more than 50 years.[16]
What to have ready for a Wisconsin quote
- USDOT and MC numbers, and your LC number if you have one
- Where the trucks are garaged, your usual routes and your radius
- What you haul: milk, logs and paper, farm products, manufactured goods or general freight
- Whether you use the frozen road or harvest weight allowances
- Driver names, license numbers and years of experience
- Year, make, VIN and value of each truck and trailer
- Current policy and loss runs, if you have been insured before
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a USDOT number if I only run inside Wisconsin?
Yes, for trucks of 10,001 lb or more and for placarded hazmat. WisDOT won’t register the truck without it.[3]
What is a Wisconsin LC number?
WisDOT’s intrastate for-hire authority. You apply on form MV2843 for $500, with your insurance filing already on file.[1][2]
What liability limit do I need in Wisconsin?
$750,000 for non-hazmat trucks over 10,000 lb, $300,000 up to 10,000 lb, and $1,000,000 or $5,000,000 for hazmat.[4]
How heavy can I run under the frozen road law?
Up to 98,000 lb on 5 or more axles with logs, salt or sand, in declared zones only and not on posted roads or bridges.[8][9]
Is there a harvest weight exemption in Wisconsin?
Yes. From August 1 to December 31, listed crops may run 15% over without a permit, but not on Interstates other than the I-39 and I-41 corridors.[11]
Get a Wisconsin truck insurance quote
Call 360-450-2211 or start your quote. We’re open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central).
Related coverage and nearby states
Sources
- [1] WisDOT: Intrastate motor carrier authority (LC)
- [2] WisDOT: Form MV2843, intrastate authority application
- [3] WisDOT: USDOT number requirements
- [4] Wis. Admin. Code Trans 176: insurance requirements
- [5] Wis. Stat. § 194.41: insurance filings
- [6] Wis. Admin. Code Trans 327.03: federal rules adopted
- [7] WisDOT: When is it frozen? Seasonal weight history
- [8] WisDOT: Frozen road declaration news release
- [9] Wis. Stat. § 348.175: frozen road loads
- [10] WisDOT: Seasonal weight restrictions
- [11] Wis. Stat. § 348.17(5): harvest weight exception
- [12] WisDOT: Wisconsin freight flows (2023)
- [13] WisDOT: I-94 East-West corridor
- [14] WisDOT: Harbor assistance program (commercial ports)
- [15] Wisconsin DATCP: Agricultural statistics
- [16] Wisconsin DNR: Forest businesses
General information only, checked September 2026. Rules change; confirm with the agency that issues your permits. Coverage availability, terms and filings depend on underwriting and the policy issued; a quote request does not bind insurance.