Interstate operation means a carrier transports property or passengers across state lines, or as part of a shipment's continuous interstate journey even if a particular leg stays within one state — for example, drayage from a port that's ultimately moving an import to another state. Intrastate operation means the carrier's freight movements begin and end entirely within a single state and aren't part of any larger interstate shipment. This distinction matters because interstate carriers fall under full FMCSA federal jurisdiction, while purely intrastate carriers are primarily regulated by their state, though many states have adopted rules closely mirroring the FMCSR, and some require even intrastate-only carriers to get a USDOT number. Intrastate carriers hauling hazardous materials are typically pulled into federal jurisdiction regardless of the interstate/intrastate distinction, since hazmat transportation carries its own regulatory triggers. A carrier's operation type also affects minimum insurance requirements and which safety regulations strictly apply, making it a meaningful classification beyond just describing the geography of where a company drives.
A regional carrier that only moves freight within Texas is intrastate; the moment it regularly hauls loads that cross into Oklahoma or Louisiana, it becomes interstate and falls under full federal jurisdiction.
Reflected in the authority note under the address, and as an Interstate/Intrastate chip in the Operation Classification section, on every carrier profile.