DOT

US DOT / USDOT

DOT Number

Call Us at (765) 742-2610 to apply for a DOT Number, US DOT Number, USDOT Number

Definitions and General Information:

USDOT numbers / DOT numbers are issued by the United States Department of Transportation

Commercial vehicles affected by the USDOT number / DOT number requirements involve pickup trucks, vans, trucks, semi- tractors and vehicles transporting passengers

In general, vehicles used commercially (in your business or your company) with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating stamped on the frame or doorframe of the vehicle showing 10,001-lbs or more; or a combination of a powered vehicle and a trailer with Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Ratings of 10,001-lbs or more; or certain passenger vehicles; are required to be registered for a USDOT number / DOT number when crossing state lines.  In addition, many states require the above mentioned vehicles to be registered for a USDOT number / DOT number when operating exclusively within these states and not crossing state lines.

Commercial Motor Vehicles as described by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regualtions Part 390.5 for the purpose of compliance with USDOT Marking Requirements 390.21 are as follows: 

• A Commercial Motor Vehicle implies that any self-propelled motor vehicle, or towed vehicle used on public roads and highways in interstate commerce to transport property or passengers when the vehicle:
• Has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) or Gross Combination Weight of 10,001-lbs or more
• Is designed to transport more than 8 passengers (including driver) for compensation
• Is designed to transport 16 or more people including driver, and is not used to transport passengers for compensation
• Is transporting hazardous materials in quantities requiring the vehicle to be placarded.   With hazardous materials, there are no weight stipulations regarding placarded vehicles (the vehicle can be at any weight when transporting materials in quantities requiring placarding) and regulations apply to both intrastate and interstate operations

• If you are a Private Carrier hauling your own products across state lines with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Combination Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,001-lbs or above, you will need a USDOT number / DOT number.  In addition, if your gross weight or combined gross weights exceed 26,000-lbs when crossing state lines, you will need to register for an IRP license plate / Apprtioned license plate,  IFTA fuel tax and Unified Carrier Registration (UCR).    If your gross weight exceeds 54,999-lbs, you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN)  and file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax.    If your truck or your truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer weigh more than 18,000-lbs and you will be crossing into New York state, you will need to pre-register for a NYHUT.  If your truck or truck and trailer or semi-tractor and trailer weigh 60,000-lbs or more and you will be crossing into Kentucky, you will need to pre-register for a Kentucky KYU number.   If you cross into New Mexico or Oregon, you can either pay at the Port of Entry or pre-regsiter with these states for the Weight-Distance tax.  If you plan to haul loads for pay across state lines that require a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit, in addition to the items mentioned above, you will need ICC Authority / DOT Authority, or Trucking Authority / MC Number or ICC Number/ICC Carrier or Truck Authority/Operating Authority (they all mean the same thing).

• If you are leased to a trucking company with a straight truck or with a semi-tractor as an owner-operator with a gross weight above 26,000-lbs, you will need to register for a DOT number / USDOT number.  You will be classified as a Registrant and not as a Carrier by the USDOT.  If you cross state lines, you will need an Apportioned license plate / IRP license plate.   If the trucking company you are leased to does not issue a plate, you will need to apply for your own IRP licens plater / Apportioned license plate.  Most trucking companies provide IFTA fuel tax stickers and cab-cards but, if they do not, you will need to apply for your own IFTA fuel tax stickers and cab-card.    If your gross weight exceeds 54,999-lbs, you will need to register for an EIN - Employer Identification Number and file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax.  If you plan to haul your own Exempt loads across state lines, or loads that require a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit, in addition to the above items, you will need to register for Interstate Authority / Federal Highway Authority, or ICC Numbers / ICC MC or ICC MC Number / FMCSA Authority or ICC Permit / ICC Number (they all mean the same thing) and UCR / Unified Carrier Registration.

• If you haul Exempt products such as grain, livestock or logs across state lines For-Hire with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Combination Weight Ratings of 10,001-lbs or more, you will need a USDOT number / DOT number.  In addition, if your gross weight or gross combined weights exceed 26,000-lbs and you cross state lines, you will also need to register for an IRP license plate / Apportioned license plate and IFTA fuel tax.  When you haul Exempt commodities, you are generally classified as a Carrier.  As a Carrier crosing state lines, you are required to register for UCR - Unified Carrier Registration.  If your gross weight exceeds 54,999-lbs, you will need to register for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax.   You may also need to register proof of liability insurance with certain states you travel into.  If you are going to haul loads that require a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit, in addition to the items mentioned above, you will need to register for ICC US / ICC Filing, or Interstate Trucking Authority / ICC Information or ICC MC Authority / Federal Transportation Authority or US DOT Authority / Federal Authority (they all mean the same thing).

• If you already have ICC Authority / DOT Authority, or if you are going to apply for a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit for ICC Interstate Authority / How To Get Your Own Trucking Authority  or Interstate Trucking Authority and Permits / MC Authority or DOT MC Number / Get Your Own Trucking Authority or ICC Authority Requirements / ICC Motor Carrier Authority (they all mean the same thing) and your gross weight, or combined gross weights exceed 26,000-lbs, you are required to have a DOT number / USDOT number, an IRP license plate / Apportioned license plate,  IFTA fuel tax and need to register for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR).   If your gross weight exceeds 54,999-lbs, you will need an EIN - Employer Identification Number and file the 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax.

• A Farmer with a straight truck or a semi-tractor plated with a farm plate not crossing state lines is not required to register for a USDOT number / DOT number.  Farm-plated trucks imply the farmer is hauling only his own livestock, products or items and is not For-Hire.  If the gross weight or weights exceed 54,999-lbs, he is required to have an EIN - Employer Identification Number and file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use tax.  If a farmer hauls loads on a For-Hire basis, he is deemed Commercial and is required to comply with state rules and regulations concernig commercial operations.  Most states require the registration for a USDOT number / DOT number if the GVWR of the truck, or GCWR of truck and trailer are 10,001-lbs or above and, when the gross weight of his straight truck or semi-tractor exceeds 26,000-lbs, is required to register for a Commercial license plate and the state fuel tax.  If you are going to haul loads across state lines for pay such as grain, livestock or logs, these are Exempt loads (exempt from Federal Motor Carrier Authority).  You will need to register for an IRP license plate /Apportioned license plate, IFTA fuel stickers and UCR / Unified Carrier Registration.  If you are going to haul loads for pay across state lines that require a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit, you will need to register for ICC Authority / DOT Authority or Trucking Authority / MC Number or ICC Number / Absolute Trucking Authority or ICC Carrier / Truck Authority (they all mean the same thing).  For both Exempt loads you haul across state lines and for loads that require Authority to be hauled across state lines, you will need to have an IRP / Apportioned license plate, register for IFTA fuel tax and UCR / Unified Carrier Registration.

• A Farmer crossing state lines with a truck, truck and trailer or semi-tractor with a GVWR or GCWR of 10,001-lbs or above plated with a farm plate is required to register for a USDOT number / DOT number.  If the gross weight exceeds 26,000-lbs, he is also required to register for IFTA fuel tax and UCR - Unified Carrier Registration.   If you are going to haul Exempt loads for pay across state lines (grain, livestock or logs), or loads that require a Motor Carrier Number / Motor Carrier Permit, you will need to register for Operating Authority / Interstate Authority or Federal Highway Authority / ICC Numbers or an ICC MC Number / ICC MC or FMCSA Authority / ICC Permit (they all mean the same thing).  You will also need to get an IRP license plate / Apportioned license plate, register for IFTA fuel tax and UCR / Unified Carrier Registration.

• For-Hire truck owner LEASING to a trucking company - you are a 'Registrant' needing a USDOT number

• For-Hire truck owner getting your own MC Motor Carrier Authority (ICC Authority) hauling General Commodities with van, flat bed, drop-deck, tanker, etc - hauling non-hazardous materials

• For-Hire truck owner hauling hazardous materials with your own authority

• For-Hire truck owner hauling exempt commodities - Grain, Livestock or Logs

• Private commercial carrier, not-for-hire, hauling your own non- hazardous products (placards not required to haul loads)
  

• Private commercial carrier, not-for-hire, hauling your own Hazardous Materials  (placards are required)

• Farmer with farm-plated truck crossing state lines

• Pickup truck,  Van,  Tow truck

• Passenger Vehicles

• Broker
• Freight Forwarder
• Hazardous Materials Shipper
• Cargo Tank Facility