Intrastate vs. interstate: The subtle differences that matter for motor carriers Improper registration of a motor carrier can lead to fines and even out-of-service orders, but many don’t understand the differences 5 minutes read Carriers continue to face fines and out-of-service violations because they don’t understand the difference between intrastate and interstate operating authority. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) Joe’s Trucking has operated successfully for 20 years as a registered intrastate carrier, handling dedicated freight for two well-known manufacturers that routinely move goods between San Antonio and Dallas. What started as a single-truck operation by 2020 had grown to 10 trucks, none of which have ever left the state of Texas.