Does Texas have its own motor carrier registration?

Yes. The Texas DMV Motor Carrier Division registers many intrastate carriers. It is separate from the federal FMCSA new-entrant safety audit that interstate carriers complete. Verify current requirements with the TxDMV.

§ New-entrant audit — Texas

The new-entrant safety audit in Texas

The FMCSA new-entrant safety audit works the same way in Texas as everywhere else: it is a federal program. Every new Texas interstate motor carrier is monitored for 18 months and undergoes a safety audit of the six factors (General, Driver, Operational, Vehicle, Hazardous Materials, and Accident), generally after at least 3 months of operation. What is specific to Texas is intrastate registration, handled by the state.

When does the new-entrant audit happen for a Texas carrier?

After a new entrant satisfies its pre-operational requirements, it is subject to new-entrant safety monitoring for 18 months, and a safety audit is conducted once it has operated long enough to have sufficient records — generally at least 3 months (49 CFR 385.307).

What does the audit check?

The same six factors evaluated in every state: General (Parts 387, 390), Driver (Parts 382, 383, 391), Operational (Parts 392, 395), Vehicle (Parts 393, 396), Hazardous Materials (Parts 171, 177, 180, 397), and Accident (recordable rate per million miles). This grouping is defined in 49 CFR Appendix A to Part 385.

What is specific to Texas?

Texas intrastate matters are handled by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Motor Carrier Division. These are separate from the federal new-entrant audit.

Texas requires many intrastate motor carriers to register with the Texas DMV Motor Carrier Division and obtain a TxDMV number.
Interstate carriers domiciled in Texas complete the federal FMCSA new-entrant safety audit in addition to any Texas intrastate registration.

Common questions

Does Texas have its own motor carrier registration?: Yes. The Texas DMV Motor Carrier Division registers many intrastate carriers. It is separate from the federal FMCSA new-entrant safety audit that interstate carriers complete. Verify current requirements with the TxDMV.

Prep your own new-entrant audit

The CarrierReady Audit-Prep Kit gives you fillable templates mapped to all six factors — driver qualification files, a written maintenance program, a drug-and-alcohol testing policy, an accident register, and a document-by-document checklist.

See the kit

Primary sources

49 CFR 385.301 (requirements before interstate operations) — verified as of 2026-07-04
49 CFR 385.307 (18-month new-entrant monitoring; safety audit timing) — verified as of 2026-07-04
49 CFR Appendix A to Part 385 (six audit factors) — verified as of 2026-07-04
Texas DMV — Motor Carriers — verified as of 2026-07-04

CarrierReady is an independent audit-preparation tool — not legal advice, and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the FMCSA or any government agency; always verify against the official regulations at ecfr.gov.