ITD Encourages Full Fee Commercial Vehicle Customers to Choose New Expiration Months to Improve Efficiency

A semi truck with front license plate partially covered.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is working to improve customer service and streamline operations by addressing the annual influx of Full Fee commercial vehicle registration renewals in December and January. With thousands of registrations expiring during these two months, the high volume of transactions creates challenges in maintaining timely processing for all customers.

To mitigate this issue, ITD has been offering customers the option to select a different registration expiration month in their Full Fee renewal packets for the past three years. This initiative is designed to evenly distribute registration renewals throughout the year, enabling the Commercial Vehicle Services team to provide faster, more efficient support.

What Full Fee Customers Need to Know

  1. Action Required for December/January Renewals
    If you submit your Full Fee renewal without selecting an expiration month other than December or January, you will receive the following email when your renewal invoice is generated:

In order to serve our customers more efficiently and reduce the extremely high volume of renewals that come in every December and January, please select a vehicle registration expiration month that is not December or January, as indicated on the flyer that was included in your renewal packet.

Please be aware that if a month of expiration other than December or January is not selected, you will be assigned an expiration month for the 2026 renewal period.

If you have a preference on a month of expiration (other than December or January), do not pay the attached invoice. Instead, reply to this message and inform ITD which month you prefer your registration renewal, and a new invoice will be provided.

The email also explains payment options for the current invoice if you choose not to change expiration months at this time.

  1. Default Assignment for Future Renewals
    Customers who do not select an alternate expiration month will automatically be assigned a non-December/January expiration month for their 2026 renewal period.

By spreading the workload across all 12 months, ITD aims to improve processing times and ensure a smoother renewal process for everyone.

For questions or assistance, please contact the ITD Commercial Vehicle Services team at cvs@itd.idaho.gov or (208) 872-3163.

Twin Falls commercial registration office closed

Long line of cars behind a truckLong line of cars behind a truck

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has closed the Twin Falls commercial registration and permitting office due to staffing changes.

ITD is working to reestablish commercial registration and permitting at the Hollister Port of Entry. In the meantime, Magic Valley commercial vehicle customers can still conduct business in several ways.

  • E-mail – All e-mails must be sent to cvs@itd.idaho.gov. Please reference your Motor Carrier Account Number on the subject line of your message. Documents must be in PDF format and inserted into your message as an attachment.
  • Boise Headquarters (drop box only, no in-person services) – 11331 West Chinden, Building 8 (do not mail or express mail to this location).
  • Mail – Motor Carrier Services, PO Box 7129, Boise ID 83707 or Express mail – 3311 W State Street, Boise, Idaho 83703.
  • Appointment – To schedule an in-person or phone appointment, go to idaho.gov/poe.
    • Huetter Port of Entry, 2 miles west of Coeur d’Alene on I-90. Phone 208-769-1551
    • Lewiston Port of Entry, 1 mile east of Lewiston on US-12/US-95. Phone 208-799-4824
    • Declo Port of Entry, MP 218.7 on I-84. Phone 208-878-6995
    • Inkom Port of Entry, 8 miles south of Pocatello on I-15. Phone 208-775-3311
    • Marsing Port of Entry, 6 miles south of State Highway 55/US 95. Phone 208-896-4814
    • East Boise Port of Entry, 11 miles east of Boise on I-84. Phone 208-334-3272
    • Sage Junction Port of Entry, 8 miles north of Roberts on I-15. Phone 208-228-3636
  • County DMV Office County offices can register non-commercial vehicles; commercial-use power units through 26,000 pounds; farm-use power units through 60,000 pounds; annual renewal trailers; and permanent trailers.

All locations can process titles for private sale new purchases. Titles for dealer sales will be handled by the dealer.

Don’t want to come into the Port of Entry? Try pre-clearance devices

Inspector David Larsen looks on as trucks drive through the East Boise Port of Entry.
Here are some tips for your pre-clearance devices that may help you legally bypass the port.

Using your license plate for pre-clearance

Idaho weigh-in-motion stations are equipped with License Plate Readers (LPR) that read a vehicles plate number to then determine compliance based on all credentials and safety data that is linked to that plate number. This technology allows Commercial vehicles to be screened without the need of a transponder.

The information listed below will help ensure that your license plate is read correctly when going through one of the locations.

  • Mount the plate in accordance of Idaho statue 49-428:
    • Every license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned to prevent the plate from swinging, be at a height not less than twelve (12) inches from the ground, measuring from the bottom of the plate, be in a place and position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible, and all registration stickers shall be securely attached to the license plates and shall be displayed as provided in section 49-443(4), Idaho Code.
  • Ensure front-end safety equipment and license plate holders are not obscuring your license plate.
  • Bent and or distorted plates should be straightened out or replaced.
A semi truck with front license plate partially covered.
LPR camera cannot read a partially covered plate.

Using your transponder for pre-clearance

Your transponder should be placed in the top, center of your windshield where a rear-view mirror would be in a car, below any metal visors that could block the signal.

If you update your registration or any other vehicle information, you need to contact your transponder provider to keep your information up to date.

If you are still having trouble gaining pre-clearance with your transponder, come into the port office to have one of our inspectors run a report to find out exactly WHY you are being pulled in.

File Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) online

A semi truck next to the East Boise Port of Entry building.

You can file your Form 2290 Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) online!

Although you cannot file your Form 2290 with the Idaho Transportation Department, all of the information that is needed to file with the IRS can be found below.

You can E-file and E-Pay your HVUT at the Trucking Tax Center website.

What will you need to E-File Form 2290?

  • You must have an employer identifier number (EIN). If you do not have an EIN, you can apply for one from the IRS online.
  • You must know the taxable gross weight of your vehicle(s). If you do not know, you can figure your taxable gross weight by using the instructions provided by the IRS.
  • Your name on your Form 2290 must be the same as the name on your EIN.
  • You must have a complete vehicle identification number (VIN).
  • You must have an email address.

Need more help? View the IRS guide for Form 2290.

Idaho Transportation Department seeks feedback on draft seven-year transportation plan

Drone shot of I-90 weaving through the mountains in North Idaho

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is seeking feedback on the just-released draft Idaho Transportation Investment Program (ITIP). The ITIP outlines the state’s transportation priorities and guides investment decisions for the next seven years through 2031. ITD encourages everyone to review the draft and provide comments July 1-31.

Transportation projects included in the draft ITIP range from large-scale interstate improvements to smaller projects like the installation of new guardrail. Projects are located throughout Idaho’s 44 counties and involve all modes of transportation. Project selection is determined through technical data, as well as input from local officials and residents.

Visit itd.idaho.gov/funding to view an interactive map to learn about projects and submit a comment through the portal.

This draft ITIP shows plans for $6.9 billion in funding, including $200 million dedicated to pavements and $100 million dedicated to bridges each year.

Chief Deputy Director Dan McElhinney confirmed, “With the growth of traffic accelerating the need for improvements and the impacts of inflating costs since 2020, the added annual investment in highway pavement and bridge repairs proposed in this draft ITIP plan will provide the Idaho Transportation Board effective options to consider looking ahead for Idaho.”

Comments can be emailed to itipcomments@itd.idaho.gov, recorded at 208-334-8063 or mailed to:

ITIP – Comments
Attn: Abby Peterson
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID  83707

Paper copies of the ITIP will be available at regional offices and provided upon request by contacting the Idaho Transportation Department at 208-334-4455.

All comments will be reviewed and incorporated into the ITIP where appropriate. Responses will be sent by September.

After approval by the Idaho Transportation Board in September, the ITIP will then be submitted to the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency in October.

Public input is crucial in ensuring that the ITIP includes the prioritized needs of Idaho’s communities.

$5 online license renewal discount, 8-year CDL, and more coming to the DMV on July 1

Several changes are coming to the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on July 1 as new legislation takes effect. These changes will improve customer service and offer more options to Idahoans.

Driver’s License and ID Cards

  • Customers who are eligible to renew their driver’s license online will get a $5 discount for completing the transaction online.
  • The requirements for getting a free identification card (ID) for voting have been reduced. Legislation has removed the rule that applicants must not have had a valid driver’s license for 6 months before applying for the free ID.

Commercial Drivers and Vehicles

  • Commercial drivers will now be able to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for eight years. The previous limit for CDLs was four years. CDLs will also be checked against the National Drug and Alcohol Clearing House.
  • DMV will now issue two-year weighted registrations for commercial and non-commercial vehicles up to 60,000 lbs. The previous limit was one year.

License Plates

  • Idaho will offer a Space Force Plate to eligible customers.
  • All Purple Heart recipients will be able to get a Purple Heart plate for free. Previously the fee exemption only applied to disabled Purple Heart recipients.
  • Legislation also created a Gadsden Flag “Don’t Tread on Me” plate. Plate sales will help fund educational grants for firearms safety training. While the legislation goes into effect on July 1, per the timeline included in the law, plates will be made available by January 1, 2025.

Driver’s Education

  • Parents in rural school districts or districts without driver’s education programs will be able to teach the on-the-road portion of driver’s ed. Parents must keep a log of drive time and skills learned. Students will complete the classroom driver’s ed course through the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA). More information is available from the Idaho Department of Education.

Other

  • The definition of “resident” to get a vehicle registration, title, license, or identification card has been changed from 90 days to 30 days. This does not change the definition of resident for voting purposes.
  • If an owner wants to sell a vehicle that has no active registration, they can get up to two 30-day temporary registrations for the purpose of selling the vehicle.

New Commercial Driver Record Dashboard Available

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) and Tyler Idaho are offering commercial fleets a Driver Record Dashboard (DRD) to help companies manage their driver risks. The DRD service allows motor carriers to build a roster of Idaho drivers to monitor changes and receive an alert if any of their drivers’ statuses change.

Benefits:

  • Driver roster is checked twice a month (early and mid-month) for changes.
  • Email notification when a driver’s status changes.
    • Status changes include new conviction/suspension, a class change, expired or cancelled DLR.
  • Nightly monitoring for medical certification issues and expiration dates.
  • Flags records, driver’s licenses, and CDL expiration dates are for review and download.

Companies can build a roster one driver at a time or through bulk employee uploading. After building the roster you can purchase driver records individually or in bulk. If there is an issue with a driver’s status, the tracking history is saved each month, to create a compliance record. The record will be a full view of a driver’s history and available for review for 24 months.

Auto dealers, bus companies, school districts, state agencies, and food distribution fleets have used DRD for managing multiple driver records and compliance.

What does DRD Cost?

  • Monthly DRD service $10.00/month
  • Twice a month monitoring fee per record $0.16
  • Automatic record pull following a status change $10.00/Driver’s license record (DLR)
  • Manual driver’s license record pull $10.00/DLR
  • Tyler Idaho subscription $95/year

For more information on participating in this program call Tyler Idaho at 208-332-0102 or visit https://www.tyleridaho.com/demo/drd/ to view a demo and sign up.

ITD installing sensors at Idaho Ports of Entry to find damaged tires

A damaged outside tire on a semitruck.

A tire blowout on a semitruck traveling at highway speeds can be dangerous, even deadly. As part of the Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) ongoing commitment to safety, the agency will begin installing Tire Anomaly and Classification (TAC) Systems at Ports of Entry (POE) around the state.

Ports of Entry inspect commercial vehicles and oversee their safe operation on Idaho roads. TAC systems are installed in the road and screen semitruck tires for anomalies and damage. Port employees can use the TAC data to notify truck drivers of damaged or underinflated tires before they cause a safety problem.

Idaho’s first TAC system was installed at the Declo POE in February 2023. Over 1,100 tire anomalies have been detected since the system went live.

“Installing TAC systems is a proactive approach to safety,” explained ITD Commercial Vehicle Services Manager Craig Roberts. “The driving public is much safer when commercial vehicles with tire issues are stopped to correct blowouts, flats, or missing tires.”

The TAC installation schedule is as follows:

  • East Boise POE in both directions, week of May 28.
  • Lewiston POE in both directions, week of July 15.
  • Sage POE in both directions, tentatively late July or early August depending on other road construction in the area.
  • Huetter POE in both directions, tentatively August depending on other road construction in the area.
  • Inkom POE will have a phased installation. Southbound is to be completed in June. Northbound is to be completed next year during work on the Inkom interchange.

The cost for all the new TAC systems combined is $1.2 million. In 2022, the economic cost of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles in Idaho was over $627 million.

A damaged inside tire on a semitruck. A damaged inside tire on a semitruck.

Pictured above: Tires caught by the TAC system.

Idaho Truck Driving Championships May 3-4 in Meridian

Idaho truck driving championship logo.

Do you have what it takes to be a truck driving champion? The Idaho Trucking Association (ITA) is hosting The Idaho Truck Driving Championships (TDC) on May 3 and 4 at the Idaho State Police Training Facility (POST), 700 S. Stratford, Meridian, ID 83642.

Drivers compete for the top positions in Idaho and for the right to compete at the National Truck Driving Championship that will be held in Indianapolis in August.

The TDC is a family-friendly event. The ITA encourages drivers’ families to attend and watch the competition from designated viewing areas.

For registration and full contest information, visit the ITA website.

Get your CDL medical certificate through a registered provider

A truck climbs a hill

Is your Commercial Driver Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Form MCSA-5876) coming from an FMCSA-registered medical examiner? As of February, medical examiners are required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Using a medical provider who is not on FMCSA’s national registry could lead to a downgrade of your commercial driver’s license (CDL) if it is not fixed within 45 days.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has received a few Medical Examiner’s Certificates from providers that have been removed from the registry. Those drivers who didn’t use a registered provider will need to book new appointments with someone on the registry and submit a new Form MCSA-5876 to ITD.

Save yourself time and hassle by looking up registered providers on FMCSA’s website before booking an appointment: https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/home