What exactly is a USDOT Number?
Companies operating commercial vehicles for interstate passenger transport or cargo hauling must register with the FMCSA and obtain a USDOT Number. Furthermore, commercial intrastate hazardous materials carriers who haul types and quantities requiring a safety permit must apply for a USDOT Number.
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Interstate vs. intrastate transportation
When determining if an employer needs a USDOT number, consider whether they perform operations (e.g., trade, traffic, or transportation) in intrastate or interstate commerce.
Interstate commerce occurs when an employer extends operations beyond the state of its headquarters.
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Is a USDOT Number Required for an Employer?
Any employer who uses vehicles in interstate commerce and falls into one of the following categories must obtain a USDOT number:
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Have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of at least 10,000 pounds.
Are designed or used for compensation transportation of more than eight passengers (including the driver); or
Are not used for compensation and are designed or used to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver).
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Under FMCSA regulations, employers involved in interstate commerce and using vehicles to transport specific types and quantities of hazardous materials that require a safety permit in intrastate commerce must also obtain a USDOT number. This requirement applies if an employer needs a safety permit for transporting certain hazardous materials within their state and operates outside their state as well. A USDOT number becomes necessary for any motor carrier that meets these vehicle descriptions and engages in interstate commerce, as the vehicle qualifies as a commercial motor vehicle.
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Vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds
When it comes to DOT regulations, vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds are the most perplexing to employers. Vehicles or vehicle/trailer combinations weighing more than 10,000 pounds but less than 26,001 pounds are classified as CMVs by the FMCSA. If these CMVs engage in interstate commerce and belong to one of the following categories, they must obtain a USDOT number:
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Have a GVWR, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight of at least 10,000 pounds.
Are designed or used to transport more than eight passengers (including the driver) for compensation;
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Intend or use to transport more than 15 passengers (including the driver) without compensation.
Vehicles that transport specific types and quantities of hazardous materials requiring a safety permit for intrastate commerce and that participate in interstate commerce must comply with FMCSA regulations.
CMVs that weigh between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds, operate intrastate, and do not transport hazardous materials that require a safety permit do not require a USDOT number under federal rules.
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How to Calculate the GVWR
The GVWR is a vehicle or trailer’s safety weight rating. An employer must examine the vehicle, or the vehicle and trailer, to determine the total GVWR for the setup they are using.
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First, an employer should check the vehicle’s GVWR, which is usually located in the truck door jamb or inside the door. The owner’s manual also contains this information. This will provide the employer with the vehicle’s maximum weight. If it weighs more than 10,000 pounds and falls into one of the listed categories above, it requires a USDOT number.
Second, in the case of combination vehicles, an employer must determine the trailer’s weight. You can find the trailer weight rating on a visible sticker on the trailer or in the owner’s manual (if provided). If neither of these individuals is available to provide a weight, the employer must weigh the trailer to determine the weight.
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Third, the employer must calculate the total weight of the vehicle and trailer by determining the gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCVWR). This is calculated by adding the vehicle and trailer weights.
The combination weight rating is especially important because most employers are unaware of when they should be following FMCSA regulations when operating a half-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup truck. Employers who use half-ton or three-quarter-ton pickup trucks and attach them to trailers frequently exceed the 10,000-pound limit. This subjected the vehicle (with trailer) to DOT regulations and necessitated the acquisition of a USDOT number.
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If authorities pull employers over and they do not know the trailers’ weight or the FMCSA requirements, the DOT may fine them for failing to properly label a commercial motor vehicle. This will influence their safety fitness score.
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States Requiring a DOT Number
Although all states must comply with FMCSA regulations, some states also require intrastate CMVs to obtain a USDOT number. For intrastate CMV registrants, the FMCSA provides a list of those who require a USDOT number. It is the responsibility of motor carrier operators and drivers to understand and comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which means that it is up to commercial and passenger vehicle operators and their drivers to determine whether regulations apply and to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance. Employers must also check with their state agency for those requirements.
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Furthermore, 35 states and Puerto Rico require intrastate commercial vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT Number, whereas the following 15 states do not:
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Arkansas \Delaware
Hawaii
Illinois
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Mississippi
State of New Hampshire
State of New Mexico
North Dakota (ND)
Providence, Rhode Island
Dakota State
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
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How to Apply to the FMCSA
Registration with the FMCSA entails several steps. First, check if you need to register with the FMCSA (operators or drivers who meet the applicability rules outlined above must register). This interactive questionnaire can help you determine if you need a USDOT number.
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Then you must decide whether you require an interstate Operating Authority number (known as an MC number). Companies that must obtain an MC number in addition to a DOT number include:
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For a fee or other compensation, transport passengers in interstate commerce, whether direct or indirect.
Transport or arrange for the transport of federally regulated commodities owned by others in interstate commerce for a fee or other compensation.
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The FMCSA typically assigns operating authority identified by types such as MC, FF, or MX numbers. In some cases, companies need to secure multiple operating authorities to support their planned business operations. Conversely, a single application process grants USDOT numbers, covering all operations. The Operating Authority determines the type of operation a company can run, the types of cargo a company can carry, and the insurance coverage requirements set by the FMCSA.
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