[AT] OT: Truck USDOT number

Steve W. swilliams268 at frontier.com
Fri Oct 18 15:54:34 PDT 2013


Tom wrote:
> Curiosity lead to the site FMCSA where it said:
> 
> "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 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."
> 
> You say you're not licensed for interstate so why the DOT #? Do you haul hazardous materials in bulk?
> 
> Tom
> 





Washington State requires the number not the FMCSA

Types of vehicles that must have a DOT number

If you operate any of the following commercial vehicles within 
Washington State, you must get a DOT number and display it on the vehicle:

Commercial motor vehicles with Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 
16,001 pounds or more.

Combinations of commercial motor vehicles including a towed unit with a 
GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more and having a total GVWR of 16,001 pounds 
or more.

Commercial motor vehicles of any size used in the transportation of 
placarded hazardous materials.

Commercial motor vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers, 
including the driver.

Private school buses of any weight or size.

And what they use it for.

How DOT numbers improve safety:

The DOT number will be used to track citations for unsafe vehicles, 
traffic violations, and accidents. The data collected will be used to 
establish safety ratings that the Washington State Patrol will use to 
perform compliance reviews on businesses identified as higher risk. If a 
review is unsatisfactory, the DOT number will be placed out of service 
and all the registrations for vehicles listed under that number will be 
cancelled.




-- 
Steve W.



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