In Texas, fleet compliance depends on whether your load is intrastate or interstate, the load, not the route, determines the rules. Fleets must meet insurance, hours-of-service, ELD, maintenance, and inspection requirements. With proper training, record-keeping, and preventive care, you can avoid fines, reduce downtime, and keep your fleet running smoothly.

Running trucks in Texas isn’t just about keeping wheels turning. It’s about understanding fleet management in Texas rules and applying them consistently. The most common source of confusion is whether a load falls under intrastate vs interstate trucking Texas rules. 

Get that classification right, and everything else, from hours of service to inspections and record-keeping, falls into place. This guide explains how the rules work, what fleet regulations require, and how to build durable fleet compliance processes.

Intrastate vs. Interstate: The Load Dictates the Rules

It’s not the route or the driver that sets the rules. It’s the movement of the freight. If the shipment originated outside Texas (for example, a container offloaded at the Port of Houston) and you’re hauling it to a distribution center in Houston, that’s still interstate. If the freight originates in Texas and stays in Texas, you’re under Texas intrastate trucking rules.

Key takeaway: The load determines whether you follow Texas interstate trucking rules or intrastate rules. Make the determination before dispatch, so drivers know exactly which regulations, record types, and break requirements apply.

Mixed Fleets Are Allowed

A persistent myth says if one truck runs interstate, the whole fleet must. Not true. Part of your fleet can operate under Texas intrastate trucking rules while other units run interstate. What matters is ensuring that each truck’s logs, inspection records, and hours align with the correct regulatory framework for the load it is hauling.

Border Trips and Reset Choices

If you’re dispatched from Texas to Louisiana, that’s interstate. On the return trip to Texas, you may either continue under interstate rules or complete a 34-hour restart and then run under intrastate rules. The decision needs to be made before dispatching the next load. Waiting until you cross the state line creates risk and confusion in audits.

Texas DOT Compliance: How State and Federal Rules Interact

Many federal requirements are mirrored in state law, but enforcement depends on the operation:

• Interstate carriers: primarily governed by FMCSA regulations and federal audits.
• Intrastate carriers: enforced by state agencies under Texas DOT compliance frameworks.

Think of state and federal authorities as operating in parallel “lanes”, each enforcing the rules that apply to your operation.

Insurance: Getting Coverage Right

Insurance is a pillar of Texas trucking compliance. The right limits and endorsements depend on:

• Vehicle class and gross vehicle weight rating
• Cargo (including hazardous materials)
• Whether you’re operating interstate or intrastate

Align policies with Texas trucking insurance requirements to avoid citations, claim denials, or out-of-service orders.

Maintenance: Building Uptime and Compliance Together

Preventive care is the heartbeat of fleet maintenance Texas. Beyond safety, it’s your first line of defense in inspections and litigation. Create a schedule that covers:

• Regular inspections (brakes, tires, lights, steering, coupling devices)
• OEM-recommended service intervals
• Documentation that is easy to produce during audits

Mobile maintenance partners (e.g., on-site services) help you execute preventive maintenance for fleets without sacrificing uptime.

Roadside Inspections: What Drivers Should Expect

Texas follows CVSA standards for Texas fleet inspections:

• Level 1: Complete driver and vehicle inspection (HOS, CDL, med card, BoL, hazmat, and full vehicle check).
• Level 2: Similar to Level 1 with a walk-around vehicle inspection only.
• Level 3: Driver-focused—HOS and qualification file elements.

Your Inspection Selection System (ISS) score derives from previous inspections tied to your DOT number. Clean inspections lower your pull-in probability. Train drivers to:

• Present logs (and transfer them electronically when required)
• Produce documents quickly and confidently
• Conduct thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections and fix defects proactively

Hours of Service: Intrastate Nuances

Texas recognizes intrastate differences while still requiring robust hours of service Texas trucking compliance. Train dispatchers and drivers to understand cycle limits, reset options, and short-haul allowances. Misclassifying runs or misunderstanding exemptions can generate violations fast.

ELD Mandate in Texas and Key Exemptions

The ELD mandate in Texas aligns with federal rules but includes notable exceptions:

1. Short-haul (150 air-mile radius): Return to the reporting location within 12 hours (14 hours for certain concrete/asphalt operations) and keep accurate start/end/total hours. This does not exempt you from the intrastate cycle.
2. Drive-away tow-away operations.
3. Pre-2000 engines.

Watch for a common pitfall: running an ELD in AOBRD mode. ELD edits must be certified by the driver, while AOBRD edits didn’t require that. Train drivers and admins so your logs match the device mode you’re actually running.

Environmental Responsibilities and Hazardous Materials

Under Texas commercial vehicle regulations, fleets are responsible for environmental stewardship, especially with hazmat. Prepare for:

• Spill response and environmental restoration liability
• Proper handling and disposal of used oil, batteries, antifreeze, and tires
• Air emissions control and water source protection.

Work with disposal vendors that provide manifests and certificates of destruction. Those documents often decide audit outcomes.

Record-Keeping: Documents That Win Audits

Auditors want records that are complete, legible, and easily retrievable. Build a documentation system that covers:

• Driver qualification files (CDL, med cards, MVRs)
• HOS logs and supporting documents (fuel, tolls, receipts)
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance files (DVIRs, repair orders, parts invoices)
• Accident registers and drug/alcohol testing where applicable
• Hazmat training and shipping papers (if applicable)

Set retention timelines that satisfy both federal and Texas fleet regulations. Digitize wherever possible, tag documents consistently, and audit your own files quarterly.

Training That Sticks

Compliance is a habit, not a one-time event. High-performing fleets run:

• Monthly or quarterly driver refreshers on HOS, inspections, hazmat (if applicable), and inspection etiquette
• Dispatcher training on classification (intrastate vs interstate), trip planning, and realistic time estimates
• Mechanic/tech training on documentation and defect closure
• Internal safety audits to catch gaps before roadside officers do

Practical Playbook for Fleet Compliance Texas

Use this quick checklist to operationalize your program:

1. Classify the load at dispatch (interstate vs intrastate). Document the rationale.
2. Confirm insurance matches operation type and cargo.
3. Run a preventive maintenance plan with clear intervals and DVIR closure timelines.
4. Standardize ELD procedures (driver edits, annotations, log transfers).
5. Prepare for inspections with a cab-ready binder (or digital equivalent) including HOS transfer instructions.
6. Audit driver files and unit files every quarter; remediate findings within 30 days.
7. Track ISS trends and use coaching to address repeat violations.
8. Document hazmat processes and spill response plans where relevant.
9. Hold recurring training and record attendance and curriculum for audit proof.
10. Measure outcomes (violations per inspection, OOS rate, preventable accident rate) and tie them to incentives.

Final Thoughts

Misclassifying freight, skipping a DVIR, or mishandling edits can shut down a revenue day or an entire lane. By mastering Texas fleet management fundamentals, classification, maintenance, inspections, insurance, environmental controls, and training, you prevent costly citations and improve uptime. More importantly, you build a safety culture that protects drivers, the public, and your brand.

Stay ahead of Texas intrastate and interstate trucking rules with Simply Fleet. From preventive maintenance tracking to driver compliance checks and inspection readiness, our all-in-one fleet management software makes compliance simple. Keep your vehicles safe, your records accurate, and your operations audit-ready. Partner with Simply Fleet today and drive compliance with confidence.

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