| When it comes to commerce within the United | | | | Intrastate commerce is when trade, traffic, or any |
| States, it is not enough to simply say you are | | | | transporting of goods is strictly kept within a single |
| transporting goods within the borders of the country. | | | | state's boundaries. If your business operations are |
| State lines have an important impact in the | | | | classified entirely as intrastate commerce, you are |
| terminology of long distance movers. One of the | | | | required to only concern yourself with complying with |
| most important differences in terminology that you | | | | state and local regulations. There are only two |
| should understand is between the terms interstate | | | | federal legalities you must be aware of. The first is |
| and intrastate transportation. While they sound very | | | | the requirement that every freight driver must hold a |
| similar, the two terms delineate when the moving of | | | | commercial driver's license. This is obviously applicable |
| goods crosses over a state line or not. | | | | to interstate commercial drivers as well. The second |
| Interstate commerce is when trade, traffic, or any | | | | is that a minimum level of financial responsibility for |
| transporting of goods involves crossing over a state | | | | intrastate travel is required when certain amounts of |
| line. This applies for vehicles, passengers, or cargo | | | | materials deemed hazardous are transported within |
| and is an appropriate term to use even if there is | | | | the state. |
| merely the intent to cross a state boundary. Even if | | | | Clearly, while the terms interstate and intrastate |
| the final destination is within the same state, if | | | | commerce both fit into the category of long distance |
| cutting into another state is necessary to travel from | | | | commercial transportation, the legal difference is |
| Point A to Point B, it is considered interstate | | | | apparent. If you are considering dealing in commerce |
| commerce. If your operations include this form of | | | | within the United States, you should certainly become |
| commerce, you must comply with both federal and | | | | fully familiar with these two highlighted terms as well |
| state safety regulations and operating authority rules. | | | | as other important terminology associated with the |
| Notification of the state you plan to register in is | | | | transportation of goods on a commercial level. |
| necessary. The base state, or the one you start in, | | | | Complying with state and federal regulations is the |
| will collect appropriate fees and distribute the correct | | | | only way to keep your long distance transportation |
| proportion to the other state or states you plan to | | | | company in business. |
| operate your vehicle through. | | | | |