Usdot numbers - do you need one?

**Indy Power Wash** · 06-01-2009, 11:40 AM

Couldn't agree more. Motor homes for personal use are exempt just like they are for CDL's. As near as I can tell farm vehicles by the owners and employees are too.

One thing we can all agree on is that's it's all about money. How is a vehicle with DOT numbers safer?

**Indy Power Wash** · 06-01-2009, 01:38 PM

This may answer some of this.

USDOT

Registration Guide by States

You'll see it is different for different states.

Guidelines for Indiana US DOT Number and Marking Requirements
Who Must Have a US DOT Number?
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting property or passengers interstate and/or intrastate and
have a GVWR or gross combined vehicle weight of 10,001 lbs. or more; you use the vehicle to transport more
than 9 passengers (including the driver); or you use the vehicle to transport placardable amounts of hazardous
materials, you must mark your vehicle with a US DOT Number. You will receive evidence of your registration
via the registration receipt.
Exemption: If you operate a farm-plated vehicle and do not leave Indiana, you do not need a US DOT number.

Commercial of course means for hire or business. Personal vehicles RV's etc are also exempt.

I figured out why most of the confusion in Indiana anyway. The law is required through the "Indiana Department of Revenue" not DOT. The DOT and police are supposed to enforce it. Violation can result in a $5,000 Civil Penalty not a motor vehicle violation.

It looks like the 10K and up is a federal law concerning travel from state to state. Some states decided to adopt it as a state law for inside their state some chose not to.

What a mess.

**Tony Shelton** · 06-01-2009, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Indy Power Wash

This may answer some of this.

USDOT

Registration Guide by States

You'll see it is different for different states.

Guidelines for Indiana US DOT Number and Marking Requirements
Who Must Have a US DOT Number?
If you operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting property or passengers interstate and/or intrastate and
have a GVWR or gross combined vehicle weight of 10,001 lbs. or more; you use the vehicle to transport more
than 9 passengers (including the driver); or you use the vehicle to transport placardable amounts of hazardous
materials, you must mark your vehicle with a US DOT Number. You will receive evidence of your registration
via the registration receipt.
Exemption: If you operate a farm-plated vehicle and do not leave Indiana, you do not need a US DOT number.

Commercial of course means for hire or business. Personal vehicles RV's etc are also exempt.

I figured out why most of the confusion in Indiana anyway. The law is required through the "Indiana Department of Revenue" not DOT. The DOT and police are supposed to enforce it. Violation can result in a $5,000 Civil Penalty not a motor vehicle violation.

It looks like the 10K and up is a federal law concerning travel from state to state. Some states decided to adopt it as a state law for inside their state some chose not to.

What a mess.

Thank you.

**Doug T** · 06-02-2009, 01:10 PM

A few comments, and take them for what it cost you...When you get a DOT number for interstate biz you are then REQUIRED to comply with the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement. See www.ucr.in.gov, the only official UCR site. And get your check-book out.

Mr. Hicks, Oregon is listed on the FMSCA web site as needing a DOT number for intrastate biz. It MAY be that Oregon has a higher weight limit than the 10k that has been discussed. I suggest you check with your state authorities. NY lowered theirs in '06 from 16k to 10k

JC, NJ does not have any state requirements for the 10k

**StainlessDeal** · 06-15-2009, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by Doug T

A few comments, and take them for what it cost you...When you get a DOT number for interstate biz you are then REQUIRED to comply with the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement. See www.ucr.in.gov, the only official UCR site. And get your check-book out.

Mr. Hicks, Oregon is listed on the FMSCA web site as needing a DOT number for intrastate biz. It MAY be that Oregon has a higher weight limit than the 10k that has been discussed. I suggest you check with your state authorities. NY lowered theirs in '06 from 16k to 10k

JC, NJ does not have any state requirements for the 10k

Fellas, the point I was actually making in my article quoted by Mr. Fenner may have slipped past. I may need to do a better job communicating in the future.

The point actually is that the rules vary, are not clearly stated in easily found resources, and are enforced in a haphazard manner across the country. What's more, they are often misunderstood by the primary regulators, ie. your local and state carrier enforcement bureaus and police.

Mr. Hicks' experience is valid, but I willstate for the record, unequivocally, that Oregon has a draconian carrier enforcement system, manned by a group of napoleons the likes of which I've only seen in Third Reich movies. At one time, and until within the last 6 years or so, EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE that operated for any (and I mean ANY) miles or minutes in Oregon was required to be registered and plated with an Oregon plate, as well as the plate of the home state.

Doug, I hope your truck is compliant there, because the day they find you out of compliance will be a new experience in punitive regulation. I have always done well there myself, but truckstops across the nation resound with fables of the antics of Oregon Carrier Enforcement paddies.

It is useful, although not particularly kind, to think of these carrier enforcement troopers as being more like tax clerks with nightsticks, tasked with balancing the state budget through fines.

The bottom line is that compliance is fairly easy, relatively (compared with the actual cost of owning and operating the equipment) inexpensive, and mandatory. The troopers don't have any obligation to get you compliant, on the contrary, they are obliged to fine you when you aren't.

Find your local resources, and get the good word, check the facts, and comply. It is the easiest route, and will pay off in peace of mind.

By the way, I'm not knocking Doug Hicks or his state, I very much like them both, as far as I know them. I'd hate to see any BS fines land in his lap.

These discussions are exactly the sort of topics we should be working out, because the misinformation is everywhere. This is something that a national organization can help to tackle in any industry.

Check out the American Trucking Association's efforts in regard to regulation, or those of the Teamsters' and other trade associations, both nationally, and in your state.

Finally, I'd like to point out to all contractors that it is useful when buying equipment, and laying out trucks and trailers as cleaning rigs, to know the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), the towing capacity of the tractor/truck being used, and the weight ratings of your axles. Not all vehicle's are identical, even in the same models. An under-equipped truck will be an overloaded truck, and overloaded equipment fails. People die due to this every day. Aside from driver fatigue, it may well be the most dangerous easily-preventable condition contributing to highway fatalities.

You can weigh your vehicle, accurately and cheaply, with readouts for each axle, at most any civilized truckstop in the nation. It is a wise use of a few minutes

Good thread.

**JCinNJ** · 06-15-2009, 08:50 AM

I checked with NJ DOT again and found out that I DO NOT need a DOT number as long as I do not leave the state with the vehicle and its under 26K LBS

**Chemical Doctor** · 07-10-2009, 04:49 PM

One more note on this subject: If you are a chemical supplier and ship HazMat you need a DOT number. This applies even if you are shipping them via freight company and do not deliver it yourself. I found out several years ago many suppliers were unaware of this. Regulations add to the cost of everyone in business regardless which side of the business you are on. Also if you have a diesel truck they can check your fuel to make sure it is not "off road" fuel which has red dye added. If you do it is a very large fine.

**Clean Image** · 07-11-2009, 01:36 AM

We do, it's free and fairly painless, at least that was our experience.

**Jim@GarageCleaning** · 07-11-2009, 10:20 PM

Could we post the dot requirements for every state in regards to weight of a trailer, chemicals allowed ( Soaps, Waste etc) as far as volume amount allowed.

Our DMV in California says a trailer cannot be over 10,000 lbs. Fuel not over 115 gallons per container or trailer/ vehicle. The truck towing the trailer IS NOT in the quote of the 10 k. The combine is in the 20's GVW of the trailer AND truck. Again it is a combined weight of truck and trailer.

If someone has the knowledge of each state, they should post the threads so that one may look it up for their state.

**welder** · 07-29-2009, 08:35 PM

There are many issues covered by dot, some of which were not mentioned here. There is a push to have ALL comercial vehicles registered with the DOT, It has to do with homeland security. Also, If a co. has 1 vehicle that requires a dot num. then all vehicles owned by that co must show the dot number. I have had a dot number since 1985 and a class a cdl since the inception of them. I have also had the displeasure of going through a dot audit, all 6.5 hrs of it. I pulled these few papres out of my file to post if any one is interested.

There are a few things all dot stickered vehicles must have, regardless of weight,
1, fire extinguisher
2, first aid kit
3, triangle reflectors
4, spare fuses

A trailer has a whole bunch more stuff.
The med card mentioned earlier has to be renewed every 2 yrs.