Stay Road-Ready in 2026: Time to Renew Your State Permits and DOT Programs

The new year is around the corner are your permits and compliance programs ready for 2026? At CDL Services Inc., we’re here to help both new and experienced carriers take the stress out of renewals, reporting, and compliance.

Whether you just started your trucking company or have been operating for years, renewing your state-specific permits and federal DOT programs is essential to keeping your business legal and protected.

Here’s what you need to know and how we can help.

Who Needs These Permits?

If you operate commercial motor vehicles over 26,000 lbs., cross state lines, or travel through specific states, you are required to maintain active permits and tax accounts with both state and federal agencies.

These permits are required for carriers based in or traveling through:

• New York (NY HUT – Highway Use Tax)

• New Mexico (WDT – Weight Distance Tax)

• Kentucky (KYU – KY Weight Distance License)

• Connecticut (CT WDT – Highway Use Fee)

• All states under the IFTA jurisdiction (IFTA fuel tax license)

Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) — for all interstate carriers

What Needs to Be Renewed for 2026?

1. IFTA License

Who needs it: Carriers operating in more than one IFTA member state/province
Obligation: File quarterly fuel tax reports; failure leads to penalties, suspensions, or audits
Renewal Deadline: December 31, 2025

2. NY HUT

Who needs it: Commercial vehicles over 18,000 lbs. traveling in New York
Obligation: File mileage returns quarterly and maintain trip records
Renewal/Update Needed: Ensure account is active for 2026

3. New Mexico WDT

Who needs it: Vehicles over 26,000 lbs. using NM roads
Obligation: Report mileage and pay taxes quarterly
Reminder: NM permits must be linked with IRP/IFTA registration

4. Kentucky KYU

Who needs it: Carriers operating vehicles over 59,999 lbs. in Kentucky
Obligation: File quarterly weight-distance tax returns

5. Connecticut WDT

Who needs it: CMVs over 26,000 lbs. operating in Connecticut
Obligation: File monthly highway use fee reports through CT portal
Reminder: Reporting begins January 2026 if you plan to operate in CT

6. UCR (Unified Carrier Registration)

Who needs it: All interstate carriers (private, for-hire, brokers, freight forwarders)
Obligation: Annual registration per number of vehicles in fleet
Renewal Opens: October 1, 2025

Other Annual Requirements You Shouldn’t Miss

✅ State Corporations & Business Filings

Whether you’re registered in Florida, Georgia, or another state — your LLC or Corporation needs to stay active with the Secretary of State to maintain good standing and avoid penalties.

✅ DOT Drug & Alcohol Random Testing Program

FMCSA requires that all CDL drivers under a DOT number be enrolled in a random testing consortium. If you’re not enrolled, your operation is out of compliance.

✅ Fuel Tax Reporting Service

Avoid late filings, penalties, and headaches. Let CDL Services handle your IFTA, NY HUT, NM WDT, CT HUF, and KYU returns on time, every time.

✅ DOT Compliance Program

We help manage your entire DOT compliance lifecycle, including:

• Driver qualification files
• Drug & alcohol testing
• Hours-of-service logs (HOS)
• Maintenance files
• Audit preparation
  

Let CDL Services Handle It All

Managing all these moving parts takes time — and one mistake can cost you thousands in fines or suspended operations. That’s why hundreds of carriers trust CDL Services Inc. to stay on top of:

• State & federal renewals

• Quarterly and annual filings

• DOT program setup and management

Safety audit readiness

How Road Tax Audits Work

Road tax audits focus on verifying:

• Vehicle weights and usage
• Actual miles driven in applicable states
• Consistency across filings, logbooks, and GPS records

Auditors can look back up to four years, and discrepancies in declared mileage or vehicle classification can result in back taxes and penalties.