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Do I Need a DOT Number / USDOT Number?What is a USDOT Number? Companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number. Also, commercial intrastate hazardous materials carriers who haul types and quantities requiring a safety permit must register for a USDOT Number. The USDOT Number serves as a unique identifier when collecting and monitoring a company's safety information acquired during audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections. Click the button below to access our interactive tool that will determine if you need a US DOT number: You are required to obtain a USDOT number if you have a vehicle that:
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AND IS INVOLVED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE:Trade, traffic, or transportation in the United States—
You are required by FMCSA to obtain a USDOT Number and comply with the Federal Regulations. It is the responsibility of motor carrier operators and drivers to know and comply with all applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Safety compliance and safe operations translate into saved lives and protected property. We believe the information in this package, when effectively applied, will contribute to safer motor carrier operations and highways. States that Require a DOT NumberApart from federal regulations, some states require their intrastate commercial motor vehicle registrants to obtain a USDOT Number. These states include:
For intrastate motor carrier registration, check with your responsible state agency. The Motor Carrier Safety PlannerThe Motor Carrier’s Guide to Improving Highway Safety has changed to The Motor Carrier Safety Planner
For years, carriers have relied on FMCSA’s “A Motor Carrier’s Guide to Improving Highway Safety” to understand the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and how to comply. This was just one important way the Agency provided education and technical assistance (ETA) to industry. In 2018, FMCSA updated and renamed this important guide, making it easier to search and customize the content by presenting it as an interactive website called “The Motor Carrier Safety Planner.” The guide is available to anyone, but carriers with an FMCSA Portal account have the added capability to create a customized version of the guide called “My Safety Planner” to save chapters and forms, and make highlights and notes about the content most relevant to their operations. Motor carriers and drivers are responsible for knowing and complying with all applicable FMCSRs. The information on this website, when effectively applied, will contribute to safer motor carrier operations and roadways. Please visit the new Motor Carrier Safety Planner, share its content, and send us feedback to let us know how we can continue to improve our education resources. DisclaimerThis Motor Carrier Safety Planner is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It is meant to serve as a guide only; the Agency does not assume responsibility for any omissions, errors, or ambiguity contained therein. The contents may not be relied upon as a substitute for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. .
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PennDOT Number / DOT Number / USDOT Number for Intrastate operations only : You are required to register for a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number, also referred to as a PennDOT number if you stay within the state and do not cross state lines when the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your truck or van is 18,000-lbs or greater, or when the Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of a truck and trailer or van and trailer are 18,000-lbs or greater. This applies only to vehicles used in commerce - vehicles which are used in your business - whether you are a Private Operator or For-Hire Operator or haul 'Exempt' commodities on a For-Hire basis. You are not required to register for a DOT number / USDOT number, also referred to as a PennDOT number where the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your truck or van is less than 18,000-lbs, or Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of your truck and trailer or van and trailer is less than 18,000-lbs. You may have a truck or van with a GVWR that is less than 18,000-lbs and if you are driving the truck or van with a GVWR that is less than 18,000-lbs and you are driving that vehicle by itself and not pulling a trailer, you do not need a DOT number / USDOT number. often referred to as a PennDOT number. But if you pull a trailer where the combination of Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings of both the truck and trailer, or van and trailer is 18,000-lbs or greater, you are required to obtain a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number. When you look at the door frame of your truck or van, you should see an aluminum tag with the letters GVWR and a number showing the maximum weight in lbs it should weigh when fully loaded. We can set you up for a DOT number, also known as a USDOT number / US DOT number and often referred to a s PennDOT number for your business. Pennsylvania does not actually issue a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number. DOT numbers are issued by one computer in Washington for the entire country. You may be operating within the state of Pennsylvania without leaving the state, but the number is issued by the Federal Government in Washington, DC. Once you are issued a DOT number, the number is unique to your business and no-one else in the country will have this number. The DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number also referred as a PennDOT number is issued to your business and not to individual power units. Every power unit in your business will have the same DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number and often referred to as a PennDOT number. You are not required to display the number on trailers. In State For Hire, Exempt loads: When hauling what are commonly called Exempt Loads (bulk grain, livestock, logs) within the state of Pennsylvania without leaving the state and crossing state lines, you may be required to have a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number often referred to as a PennDOT number. If you are hauling what are commonly referred to as 'Exempt Loads' (these are Exempt from MC Authority requirements if you transport these loads across state lines), you are required to register for a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number, also referred to as a PennDOT number if you stay within the state and do not cross state lines when the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of your truck or van is 18,000-lbs or greater, or when the Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of a truck and trailer or van and trailer are 18,000-lbs or greater. This applies only to vehicles used in commerce - vehicles which are used in your business - whether you are a Private Operator or For-Hire Operator or haul 'Exempt' commodities on a For-Hire basis. You are not required to register for a DOT number / USDOT number, also referred to as a PennDOT number where the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of yur truck or van is less than 18,000-lbs, or Gross Combined Weight Rating of your truck or van is less than 18,000-lbs, or Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of yur truck and trailer, or your van and trailer less than 18,000-lbs. You may have a truckor van with a GVWR that is less than 18,000-lbs and if you are driving the truck or van with a GVWR that is less than 18,000-lbs and you are driving that vehicle by itself and not pulling a trailer, yu do not need a DOT number / USDOT number. often referred to as a PennDOT number. But if you pull a trailer where the combination of Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings of both the truck and trailer, or van and trailer is 18,000-lbs or greater, you are required to obtain a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number. When you look at the doorframe of your truck or van, yu should see an aluminum tag with the letters GVWR and a number showing gthe maximum weight in lbs it should weigh when fully loaded. We can set you up for a DOT number, also known as a USDOT number / US DOT number and often referred to a s PennDOT number for your business. Pennsylvania does not actually issue a DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number. DOT numbers are issued by one computer in Washington for the entire country. You may be operating within the state of Pennsylvania without leaving the state, but thenumber is issued by the Federal Governmant in Washington, DC. Once you are issued a DOT number, the number is unique to yur business and no-one else in the country will have this number. The DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number also known as a PennDOT number is issued to your business and not to individual power units. Every power unit in your business with have the same DOT number / USDOT number / US DOT number and often referred to as a PennDOT number. Y9u are not required to display the number on trailers.
Crossing State Lines with DOT 10,001 - 26,000-lbs: When you cross state lines with a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001-lbs or more, or a commercial vehicle and trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,001-lbs or more, a DOT number / USDOT number is required. You may have a small truck or van with a GVWR at 10,000-lbs or under which, if driven by itself across state lines, will not be required to have a DOT number / USDOT number unless placarded when hauling hazardous materials. But if the truck or van pulls a trailer across state lines on a commercial basis and the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Ratings (GCWR) is greater than 10,000-lbs, the power vehicle is required to have a DOT number / USDOT number. The trailer is not required to show a DOT number / USDOT number on it. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number, you are referred to as a 'Carrier'. When transporting items, goods, loads that belong to you and you are not getting paid to transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'Private Carrier'. If you are a service provider with a service vehicle, or service vehicle pulling a trailer, you are a 'Private Carrier' as you are not specifically getting paid to transport items, goods or loads across state lines. When you transport items, goods or loads across state lines and get paid to specifically transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'For-Hire Carrier'. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number showing you are an Interstate Carrier, you will be required to do the annual UCR filings. You will also be subject to a one-time New Entrant Safety Audit, normally conducted around 100 days after a DOT number has been issued to you. If you wish, we can apply for a DOT number/USDOT number, register you for MC Authority, do your annual UCR filings and assist with the New Entrant Safety Audit.
Crossing State Lines with DOT above 26,000-lbs: When you cross state lines with a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001-lbs or more, or a commercial vehicle and trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 26,001-lbs or more, a DOT number / USDOT number is required. The trailer is not required to show a DOT number / USDOT number on it. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number, you are referred to as a 'Carrier'. When transporting items, goods, loads that belong to you and you are not getting paid to transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'Private Carrier'. If you are a service provider with a service vehicle, or service vehicle pulling a trailer, you are a 'Private Carrier' as you are not specifically getting paid to transport items, goods or loads across state lines. When you transport items, goods or loads across state lines and get paid to specifically transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'For-Hire Carrier'. When you cross state lines and your truck is plated above 26,000-lbs, or your truck and trailer combination weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, or your semi-tractor and trailer weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, you will be required to register with the state for IFTA fuel tax and get an IRP plate. If your vehicle or power unit and trailer gross more than 26,000-lbs crossing state lines, read more about crossing state lines below. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number showing you are an Interstate Carrier, you will be required to do the annual UCR filings. You will also be subject to a one-time New Entrant Safety Audit, normally conducted around 100 days after a DOT number has been issued to you. If you wish, we can apply for a DOT number/USDOT number, register you for MC Authority, do your annual UCR filings and assist with the New Entrant Safety Audit.
Crossing State Lines with Exempt Loads on a For-Hire Basis 10,001 - 26,000-lbs - Exempt loads are usually grain in bulk, livestock and logs and when you cross state lines on a For-Hire basis with these loads, you are not required to have MC Authority. When you cross state lines with a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001-lbs to 26,000-lbs, or a commercial vehicle and trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 10,001-lbs to 26,000-lbs, a DOT number / USDOT number is required. You may have a small truck or van with a GVWR at 10,000-lbs or under which, if driven by itself across state lines, will not be required to have a DOT number / USDOT number unless placarded when hauling hazardous materials. But if the truck or van pulls a trailer across state lines on a commercial basis and the combined Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings are between 10,001 and 26,000-lbs, the power vehicle is required to have a DOT number / USDOT number. The trailer is not required to show a DOT number / USDOT number on it. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number, you are referred to as a 'Carrier'. When transporting items, goods, loads that belong to you and you are not getting paid to transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'Private Carrier'. If you are a service provider with a service vehicle, or service vehicle pulling a trailer, you are a 'Private Carrier' as you are not specifically getting paid to transport items, goods or loads across state lines. When you transport items, goods or loads across state lines and get paid to specifically transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'For-Hire Carrier'. Please note that when you cross state lines and your truck is plated above 26,000-lbs, or your truck and trailer combination weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, or your semi-tractor and trailer weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, you will be required to register with the state for IFTA fuel tax and get an IRP plate. If your vehicle or power unit and trailer gross more than 26,000-lbs crossing state lines, read more about crossing state lines below. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number showing you are an Interstate Carrier, you will be required to do the annual UCR filings. You will also be subject to a one-time New Entrant Safety Audit, normally conducted around 100 days after a DOT number has been issued to you. If you wish, we can apply for a DOT number/USDOT number, do your annual UCR filings and assist with the New Entrant Safety Audit.
Crossing State Lines hauling 'Exempt Loads' on a For-Hire basis with a Gross Weight of 26,001-lbs or more: Exempt loads are usually grain in bulk, livestock and logs and when you cross state lines on a For-Hire basis with these loads, you are not required to have MC Authority. When you cross state lines with a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001-lbs or more, or a commercial vehicle and trailer with Gross Combined Weight Ratings (GCWR) of 26,001-lbs or more, a DOT number / USDOT number is required. You may have a dually pickup truck with a GVWR of 12,000-lbs or more and when hooked to a trailer, may exceed 26,000-lbs. But if the truck pulls a trailer across state lines on a commercial basis and the combined Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings are greater than 26,000-lbs, the power vehicle is required to have a DOT number/USDOT number, a set of IFTA stickers and an IRP license plate. The trailer is not required to show a DOT number / USDOT number on it. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number, you are referred to as a 'Carrier'. When transporting items, goods, loads that belong to you and you are not getting paid to transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'Private Carrier'. If you are a service provider with a service vehicle, or service vehicle pulling a trailer, you are a 'Private Carrier' as you are not specifically getting paid to transport items, goods or loads across state lines. When you transport items, goods or loads across state lines and get paid to specifically transport these items, goods or loads, you are referred to as a 'For-Hire Carrier'. When you cross state lines and your truck is plated above 26,000-lbs, or your truck and trailer combination weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, or your semi-tractor and trailer weigh more than 26,000-lbs loaded, you will be required to register with the state for IFTA fuel tax and get an IRP plate. If your vehicle or power unit and trailer gross more than 26,000-lbs crossing state lines, read more about crossing state lines below. When issued a DOT number / USDOT number showing you are an Interstate Carrier, you will be required to do the annual UCR filings. You will also be subject to a one-time New Entrant Safety Audit, normally conducted around 100 days after a DOT number has been issued to you. If you wish, we can apply for a DOT number/USDOT number, do your annual UCR filings and assist with the New Entrant Safety Audit.
Farmers remaining in state and not crossing state lines - When a farmer operates within the state and does not cross state lines, he will not need a DOT number/USDOT number, also referred to as a PennDOT number if he is transporting items, commodities or loads that belong to him and he is not being compensated for the movement of these loads. He, presumabley, has a farm plate on the power unit. He will not need to register for fuel tax with the state. If you are plated above 54,999-lbs, you will need to file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax. For the filing, you will be required to have a Federal ID number/EIN/ Employer Identification number. Farm-plated trucks are suspended from paying tax if the truck travels 7,500 miles or under within a tax year. The 2290 tax is due at the start of each tax year, or when the truck starts running with a plate. If you exceed the 7,500 miles within a tax year, you will be subject to paying the full tax based on when the truck first starts running within the tax year. The IRS has instructed each and every license branch to receive a copy of the filed 2290 form at the time you apply for a farm plate, or renew your farm plate. The license branch will not issue a plate or renew your plate if you cannot provide a stamped 2290 form. We can assist with the application for a Federal ID number/EIN/Employer Identification number. We can also do the annual 2290 Federal Highway-Use Tax filings.
Farmers Crossing State Lines - When a farmer crosses state lines with a farm-plated truck transporting items, commodities or loads belonging to the farmer and the power vehicle has a Gross Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001-lbs and above, or the power vehicle is pulling a trailer where the gross combined weight ratings (GCWR) add up to 10,001-lbs or greater, the farmer is required to apply for a DOT number/USDOT number. This number is assigned to the business and not to individual trucks. One number will be issued to the business/farm and not separate numbers for each power unit. This is a Federal requirement and not a state requirement as two or more states are involved. DOT numbers/USDOT numbers are related directly to Federal safety requirements. The state does not issue these numbers. No state agency will be able to assist you with the application process for a DOT number/USDOT number. The Federal Government in Washington issues these numbers. Hence the reference to United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). When you apply for and get a farm plate at your local license branch, the state collects the plate money and does not pass any of this money to the the state you will be travelling into. The only way that state will be able to be paid for your travels into that or those states is through the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) process. Once you have been issued a DOT number/USDOT number, you will need to go to the state IFTA offices and register for an IFTA license. You will be issued a pair of IFTA stickers and a cab card license. You will keep your farm plate. Once you have been issued a DOT number/USDOT number and a set of IFTA stickers, you will need to have a sign made up that shows the DOT number on it. It will typically read 'USDOT ' followed by the number. The letters and numbers need to be a minimum of 2" high, contrast in color to the color of the power unit, and be placed on both sides of the power unit. You will then be required to follow the requirements of the IFTA department. At the start of each quarter, you will need to write down the odometer reading of the power unit. At the end of each quarter, you will do the same. Each time you cross state lines, you will need to write down the odometer reading. On this basis, you will keep a record of miles traveled both in your state and the state you will be travelling into. In the month following each quarter, you will complete a quarterly IFTA report with the state and submit this to the state, showing the breakdown of miles traveled in each state and the gallons of fuel purchased in each state (probably all fuel will be purchased in your home state). You will probably then owe some fuel tax that needs to be paid to the state you will have gone into. The tax you will be paying is for the gallons of fuel consumed in the state or states you travel into. This is the only way that state or those states get compensated for the use of their roads. Your state will not collect any fuel tax as you will be farm-plated, but you will write a check to your IFTA department for that department to pass on the funds to the other state or states. You will need to keep a record of each trip routes and destination in the other state. Get a little notebook and keep it in the truck for those records. Once a DOT number is issued, the number will indicate you are a 'Carrier' and show the number category is Interstate. You will then need to do an annual UCR filing. Depending on the state, you may be subject to a one-time New Entrant Safety Audit. Then once every two years, you will need to do a biennial DOT update. If you are plated above 54,999-lbs, you will need to file the annual 2290 Federal Highway Use Tax. For the filing, you will be required to have a Federal ID number/EIN/ Employer Identification number. Farm-plated trucks are suspended from paying tax if the truck travels 7,500 miles or under within a tax year. The 2290 tax is due at the start of each tax year, or when the truck starts running with a plate. If you exceed the 7,500 miles within a tax year, you will be subject to paying the full tax based on when the truck first starts running within the tax year. The IRS has instructed each and every license branch to receive a copy of the filed 2290 form at the time you apply for a farm plate, or renew your farm plate. The license branch will not issue a plate or renew your plate if you cannot provide a stamped 2290 form. Call us. We can assist with many of these processes.
Pre-Employment Drug Testing - Before a driver that is required to have a CDL drivers license starts to drive a commercial vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating above 26,000-lbs, or a combination of power unit and trailer with combined Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings above 26,000-lbs, that driver is required to have taken a pre-employment drug screen test. The result of the pre-employment test must show to be negative. You can do a search online for places that perform pre-employment drug testing for commercial drivers. Results typically take a week to ten days to be returned. Once the results have been returned to show negative, the driver then can be put into a Random Drug Testing Program.
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IFTA FUEL TAX
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